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The Kingdom of Belgium, or Belgium for short, is a country located in northwestern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Netherlands, to the east by Germany, to the southeast by Luxembourg and by France to the south and west. Belgium is a small but extremely important country in Western Europe. Its geographical location makes it a central player in the European Union and is distinguished by its rich history, culture and economy. In this blog we will look at the information about wages in Belgium, minimum and average income, the cost of living and the taxes that affect them.
Belgium is a developed European country with a high standard of living and decent wages. Salaries are considered to be among the highest in Europe. Luxembourg has the highest minimum wage, followed by Germany and a third by Belgium. It’s a great country for work, business and study.
In terms of the level of minimum wages, Belgium is ahead of most EU countries. Unemployment in the country does not exceed 5-7%. For foreigners who work in Belgian enterprises, a probationary period is provided. It can last from two weeks to a month. The working week is 38 hours. The maximum allowed is 9 hours per day and 45 hours per week. Exceptions are possible up to 11 hours a day and 50 hours a week, but with strict compliance with the law and mutual consent of the employee and the employer. Every two and a half hours, a break is taken.
Minimum wage
Belgian labour law provides for the establishment of minimum wages both nationally and in individual sectors of industry. In the second case, the salary depends on the specific province, the position of the employee, the number of working hours per week and sometimes the length of service.
Before taxes, the national monthly minimum wage in Belgium in 2023 is 1,954.99 euros per month or 23,459.9 euros per year. Compared to last year, the rate increased by 296.76 euros. Specialists aged 19-20 years and over with a work experience of at least 6-12 months can rely on a higher minimum income. In addition, tariffs vary slightly by region. During traineeships in Belgian companies, employees over the age of 21 must receive benefits of at least EUR 751 per month.
The Belgian Government reviews the level of the minimum wage twice a year. Over the past 10 years, the minimum wage in Belgium has increased by 453.17 euros – from 1,501.82 euros in 2013 to 1,954.99 euros in 2023.
The average salary
The average salary in Belgium is not regulated by the state. But this does not prevent average incomes from gradually increasing. According to local statistical offices, over the past few years, the income of Belgian citizens has increased by about 2-3% and in 2023 will amount to about 3,020 euros per month for qualified professionals and about 1,850 euros for unskilled workers.
The average salary in Belgium before tax is 3,401 euros per month. After all mandatory deductions, local workers have about 2,000-2,200 euros. At the same time, up to 75% of local specialists receive a thirteenth salary, 40% use a company car, and about 65% are medically insured.
Salary by Professions
Most of them in Belgium earn qualified specialists – lawyers and financiers. Their salary can reach up to 10,000 euros per month. In second place are the employees in the management field who work in insurance companies, with a salary of 7,000 to 8,000 euros. Professionals working in any field of IT technology can receive from 3040 to 7320 euros per month. Teachers in higher education institutions charge 5-6 thousand euros. The next niche is occupied by engineers, scientists, teachers: they have almost 4,000 euros every month.
Anyone working in the restaurant, hotel or tourism business earns €2,676 per month. That’s how many every month they get janitors, cleaners, hairdressers, cooks and waiters.
But the main thing is that the income of certified and qualified specialists is constantly changing. For example, an ordinary secretary can ask for a maximum salary of 2.8-3 thousand euros, but if he wants to receive more, he can learn Dutch or French: this is a guarantee that the salary of such a specialist will increase by 2-3 times. This does not apply to workers such as cleaners, bartenders, newspaper delivery workers, drivers, etc.
Average salary in the capital of Belgium and by region
The city of Brussels is the administrative center of Belgium, so the salary here is quite high. The main factors that determine the amount of salaries in this city are the level of education of the employee, the availability of professional experience and the type of position. Mainly in the city of Brussels, the average salary is on average 14% higher than in the country, about 3,908 euros.
In some business sectors, such as financial services, technology, consultancy, legal and accounting services, salaries are usually much higher than in neighboring cities and other Belgian cities. Since Brussels is an international political city and the headquarters of many global corporations, here you can find many companies that pay great salaries by profession, from managers to architects.
In the city of Leuven, they won 3,610 euros, in the city of Nivelles – 3,565 euros, and in the city of Antwerp – 3,543 euros. The most severe cases are in the city of Dinan, where the average salary is only 2,592 euros.
Taxes on Salaries
Tax rates in Belgium are among the highest in Europe. The effective tax rate in Belgium is over 50% for all highly paid workers, while in the rest of Europe it averages 45%.
The filing of tax returns and the payment of payroll taxes in Belgium by non-residents, i.e. persons resident in the territory of Belgium for less than 183 days per year, is made annually by 30 September and by residents by 30 June. In the country there is a progressive rate of income tax from 25 to 50%.
Income tax in Belgium in 2023:
Annual income up to 13 870 euro – 25%
Annual income from 13,870 euros to 24,480 euros – 40%
Annual income from 24,480 euros to 42,370 euros – 45%
Annual income over 42 370 euro – 50%
In some cases, foreign workers in Belgium are entitled to benefit from special reliefs that reduce the total amount of income taxation.
Cost of Living
Life in Belgium is comfortable, but therefore expensive. The cost of living includes rent housing, food, health care and education. Housing costs are high, especially in large cities, such as Brussels and Antwerp. Food and entertainment can also be expensive, but the quality of services offered is high.