Updated: June 2026 with the latest Eurostat data
Europe is home to some of the richest countries in the world. But how much workers actually earn varies enormously from one country to another. According to Eurostat, average salaries in Europe range from €15,387 in Bulgaria to €82,969 in Luxembourg. That is a difference of more than €67,000 between the highest and lowest paying countries — and both are members of the same economic bloc.
Only nine EU countries pay above the EU-wide average of €39,808. The remaining 17 fall below it. High salaries in Europe are largely concentrated in a small group of wealthy Western countries, while most of the continent earns considerably less.
Key Takeaways
- Luxembourg pays the highest average salary in Europe at €82,969 — more than five times what workers earn in Bulgaria, where the average is just €15,387.
- Nine countries out of a total of 26 European Union members have wages higher than the average wages of €39,808, indicating that the majority of Europe earns below average.
- Both Italy and Spain have strong economies in Europe; however, their wages fall below the European average, while Ireland and Belgium are among the top five.
Average Salaries in Europe By Countries
The following table displays the average full-time adjusted salary per employee in Europe, based on the latest available data from Eurostat.
| Rank | Country | Average Salary (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇱🇺 Luxembourg | € 82,969 |
| 2 | 🇩🇰 Denmark | € 71,565 |
| 3 | 🇮🇪 Ireland | € 61,051 |
| 4 | 🇧🇪 Belgium | € 59,632 |
| 5 | 🇦🇹 Austria | € 58,600 |
| 6 | 🇩🇪 Germany | € 53,791 |
| 7 | 🇫🇮 Finland | € 49,428 |
| 8 | 🇸🇪 Sweden | € 46,525 |
| 9 | 🇫🇷 France | € 43,790 |
| — | 🇪🇺 European Union (Average) | € 39,808 |
| 10 | 🇸🇮 Slovenia | € 35,133 |
| 11 | 🇪🇸 Spain | € 33,700 |
| 12 | 🇮🇹 Italy | € 33,523 |
| 13 | 🇲🇹 Malta | € 33,499 |
| 14 | 🇱🇹 Lithuania | € 29,104 |
| 15 | 🇨🇾 Cyprus | € 27,611 |
| 16 | 🇪🇪 Estonia | € 26,546 |
| 17 | 🇵🇹 Portugal | € 24,818 |
| 18 | 🇨🇿 Czechia | € 23,998 |
| 19 | 🇭🇷 Croatia | € 23,446 |
| 20 | 🇱🇻 Latvia | € 22,262 |
| 21 | 🇵🇱 Poland | € 21,246 |
| 22 | 🇷🇴 Romania | € 21,108 |
| 23 | 🇸🇰 Slovakia | € 20,287 |
| 24 | 🇭🇺 Hungary | € 18,461 |
| 25 | 🇬🇷 Greece | € 17,954 |
| 26 | 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | € 15,387 |
Countries With the Highest Average Salaries in Europe
Countries such as Luxembourg, Denmark, Ireland, Belgium, Austria, and Germany are among those with the highest average salaries in Europe.
Luxembourg — €82,969
Luxembourg pays the highest average salary in Europe at €82,969 per year. That is nearly double the EU average. The country has one of the biggest banking and financial services sectors in the world relative to its size. It is also one of the wealthiest countries in the world by GDP per capita, at $156,720 in 2026.
However, due to its size, central location in Europe, and political stability, Luxembourg is quite attractive to various multinational corporations, as well as highly-paid workers. The downside is that everything costs a lot there.
Denmark — €71,565
Denmark has the second-highest average salary in Europe at €71,565. A big reason for this is the power of trade unions in Denmark. Collective wage contracts ensure a relatively generous bottom pay line in all industries; together with a per capita GDP of $89,670, this guarantees rather high salaries in comparison with other European countries.
Denmark has one of the best social welfare systems, offering its citizens good unemployment benefits, excellent free health care, and decent pensions from the state. It results in increased workers’ safety and decreases their need to accept low-paying jobs.
Ireland — €61,051
Ireland ranks third in Europe for average salaries at €61,051. The country has become a major base for large global technology and financial companies. Google, Meta, and Apple all have their European headquarters there. This concentration of high-paying employers has lifted the national salary average significantly.
Ireland also has the third-highest GDP per capita in the world at $159,130. However, the cost of living is very high, especially in Dublin, which takes a big bite out of that salary advantage for many workers.
Belgium — €59,632
Belgium comes in fourth at €59,632. Brussels is home to many EU institutions and NATO headquarters, thus attracting a large number of highly-paid international employees. Moreover, Belgium has a well-educated labor force and developed sectors of chemicals, pharmacy, and logistics.
Austria — €58,600
The country occupies fifth place with an average salary of €58,600. The Austrian labor market has a rich history of high standards for workers’ rights and collective wage agreements. Its economy is based on manufacturing and tourism.
Germany — €53,791
Germany is not only the biggest European economy by GDP but also the country with the sixth-highest average salary – €53,791. This is due to the large and diverse workforce. People in Germany often do manufacturing and technical work that pays better than anything else, but still less than jobs in finance or high technology. Trade unions in Germany play an important role in regulating wage levels across various industries.
Finland, Sweden, and France
Finland (€49,428), Sweden (€46,525), and France (€43,790) represent other countries in Europe whose average wage rates exceed the EU average. These countries have efficient labor markets, quality public services, and decent protection for workers’ rights. France is particularly notable — it has the ninth highest average salary in Europe despite having one of the largest and most diverse populations on the continent.
The EU and Euro Area Averages
The Euro area average — covering the 20 countries that use the euro — is €43,512. The broader EU-27 average is slightly lower at €39,808. The difference exists because several non-EU Euro members, mostly in eastern Europe, have lower wages that pull the wider average down.
Both numbers are useful for comparison, but neither represents a typical European worker. The average is pushed up significantly by the top earners. Most people in Europe earn less than these figures suggest.
Countries With the Lowest Average Salaries in Europe
Bulgaria — €15,387
Bulgaria has the lowest average salary in Europe at €15,387. That is less than a fifth of what workers earn in Luxembourg. Bulgaria also has the lowest GDP per capita of any EU country. The reasons go back a long way. Centuries under Ottoman rule slowed the country’s industrial development. Then, during the communist period, Bulgaria became heavily dependent on the Soviet Union. When that system ended, Bulgaria was left with outdated factories and poor infrastructure.
The shift to a free market in the 1990s was difficult and slow. Unemployment rose, institutions were weak, and economic growth lagged behind the rest of Europe. Bulgaria has made real progress since then, but it still has the furthest to go among EU members.
Hungary — €18,461
Hungary’s average salary is €18,461. The country has attracted foreign investment, mainly in car manufacturing, which has created jobs. But this has not yet led to broadly higher wages across the economy. Pay growth has been slow, and many structural problems remain.
Greece — €17,954
Greece averages €17,954 per year. The country went through a severe debt crisis in the 2010s that required large international bailouts and major spending cuts. Wages fell sharply during those years and have recovered only gradually. High unemployment, especially among younger workers, continues to keep the national average low.
Romania, Poland, Slovakia, and Latvia
Romania (€21,108), Poland (€21,246), Slovakia (€20,287), and Latvia (€22,262) all sit in the lower tier of European salaries. That said, all four countries have seen wages rise steadily over the past decade. Poland, in particular, has one of the fastest-growing economies in Europe, and its salary levels have improved notably in recent years.
Large Economies That Fall Below the EU Average
Italy and Spain are two of the biggest economies in Europe. Yet both pay below the EU average — Italy at €33,523 and Spain at €33,700. This surprises many people, since economic size does not automatically mean high wages.
Italy has struggled with low productivity for many years, especially in its southern regions. Spain went through a long economic crisis after 2008 that sent unemployment soaring. Wages were slow to recover. Both countries also have large tourism and hospitality sectors, which tend to pay less than industries like finance or technology, and this pulls their national averages down.
Why Salaries Differ So Much Across Europe
The pay difference between Eastern and Western Europe did not happen overnight. It has been building gradually over time through the effects of history, industry, and economics.
Western and Northern Europe became economically stable decades ago. Their powerful industries include finance, technology, and manufacturing. This early development is reflected in their current wage structure.
Eastern Europe was under socialist regimes for many decades until the early 1990s. When those countries switched to open market economies, they had to start almost from scratch. Outdated industries, weak infrastructure, and limited investment meant wages stayed low. Most of these countries are still catching up today.
The EU average of €39,808 is pulled upward by a handful of very high-paying countries. This makes it a tricky number to use as a benchmark, since more than half of EU members earn below it.
Conclusion
Average salaries in Europe show just how different life can be within the same economic union. Workers in Luxembourg, Denmark, and Ireland earn wages that rank among the best in the world. Workers in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Greece earn a fraction of that, reflecting years of economic hardship and slower development.
