What salary should you expect when applying for or accepting a job in the Netherlands? Bad news for expats from the US and UK – salaries in the Netherlands are, on average, lower than in your country.
A monthly net wage between 2,800 EURand 3,500 EUR is considered a good wage in the Netherlands. This corresponds to an annual gross salary of above 45,000 EUR. Everyone getting between 3,750 EUR and 5,000 EURgross per month is a good earner.
The Netherlands, and particularly Amsterdam, is a popular destination for expats and students. It’s a very culturally diverse place with many large international companies to work for. Read this article to learn what to expect regarding salaries and costs when moving to the Netherlands in 2023. Check salaries in Amsterdam here.
What jobs are in high-demand in the Netherlands in 2023? Read here.
What is considered a good salary in the Netherlands?
In the Netherlands, a monthly net income between 2,800 EUR and 3,500 EUR is considered to be a good salary. With that income, you can afford a two-bedroom apartment not far away from the city center, eat out, and travel around on weekends.
Are you thinking of taking a job in the Netherlands? Salary is an essential aspect of any job and things related to it can affect your decision.
Salaries in the Netherlands range from 1,480 EUR to 23,400 EUR . 50% of employees earn less than 5,590 EUR gross per month.
Click on the button to load the content from russianvagabond.com.
Load content
Example of a decent salary Netherlands has to offer
Base gross salary: 56,500 EUR, including 8% holiday pay. That’s 4,359 EUR gross per month plus 8% holiday allowance: 4,185 EUR before its taxed
Gross and net salary
Taxes on salary in the Netherlands are quite high. So you need to be aware of how much of your salary will be deducted and given away to the Dutch government each month from your contract. Here are the exact numbers for gross annual and net monthly wages (2022) across different careers
€20,000 – €1,535
€25,000 – €1,810
€30,000 – €2,050
€35,000 – €2,285
€40,000 – €2,500
€45,000 – €2,700
€50,000 – €2,920
€55,000 – €3,135
€60,000 – €3,345
€65,000 – €3,560
€70,000 – €3,765
€75,000 – €3,950
€80,000 – €4,135
€85,000 – €4,320
€90,000 – €4,505
€95,000 – €4,690
€100,000 – €4,900
€125,000 – €5,955
€150,000 – €7,005
€200,000 – €9,110
Bonuses, holiday pay and remuneration packages
In addition to your standard monthly average salary, you could receive a holiday allowance in May, which is equivalent to 8% of annual earnings.The money will reflect in your bank account upon approval.
Some Dutch employers offer money and other benefits such as performance-based bonuses, overtime hours.
The average gross Dutch salary is 3,166 EUR per month or 2,500 EUR net. Overall, salaries paid range from 2,520 EUR to 3,405 EUR per month.
The median gross salary in 2022 was also 38,000 EUR, meaning a monthly net pay of around 2,500 EUR. Yet, the median expat salary is 48,000 EUR in Amsterdam.
The average Dutch salary varies significantly among different age groups. Here are some detailed numbers (2022):
Age group
Average income per month (net)
Average income per year (net)
Up to 24 years
€1,175
€14,100
25 to 34 years
€2,517
€30,200
35 to 44 years
€2,783
€33,400
45 to 54 years
€3,100
€37,200
55 to 64 years
€3,133
€37,600
65 to 74 years
€2,642
€31,700
75 years and older
€2,200
€26,400
You can see more on average salaries on the website nl.talent.com.
Also read which jobs are in high-demand right now and how easy or difficult (or easy) it is to find a job as a foreigner in the Netherlands.
Click on the button to load the content from russianvagabond.com.
Load content
If you want to move to the Netherlands without a job, check out our guide on how to do it.
Location and average annual salary
The average Dutch minimum wage depends on the location. Interestingly, Amsterdam doesn’t provide the highest net salary yet has the highest cost of living.
Click on the button to load the content from russianvagabond.com.
Load content
Wages in the Netherlands
Foreign software developers and scientific research experts make between 45,000 EUR and maximum 65,000 EUR gross per year.
Minimum wage in the Netherlands in 2023
The national minimum wage for 2023 is set at 1,934.45 EUR per month for adults over the age of 21.
Minimum salary for the residence and work permit
In 2023, the minimum monthly gross wage for a highly skilled migrant aged 30 or older is set to 5,008.00 EUR. For candidates under age 30, the month’s salary eligible is 3,672.00 EUR.
Non-EU workers moving to the Netherlands need to fulfill the netto salaris minimum salary requirement when applying for a residence permit.
What are the highest-paying jobs in the Netherlands?
Some of the highest-paying jobs in the Netherlands are in politics, high-level management, law & taxation, and science especially with a master’s degree. The value may change based on position and what the employer considers important things for the company.
Profession
Median annual salary/EUR
Member of the board of directors medium organization
363,900
General manager medium org.
274,900
Pilot Boeing 747
218,500
Commercial director
182,400
Director of the major hospital
173,000
President of the supreme court
159,800
Purchasing director
158,000
Sales director
154,400
Mayor of the large city
152,800
Minister
152,800
Director of research and development
147,200
Secretary of state
146,900
Director of business development
121,800
Marketing manager
113,400
Tax specialist
100,400
Sales Manager
94,100
Lawyer
86,600
Legal advisor
85,800
System Architect
84,500
Regional manager
84,000
Account manager
72,600
Project Manager
67,000
Researcher
67,000
Professor at university
65,750
Programmer/Software engineer
56,000
Cost of living in the Netherlands
How much do you need to make to have a comfortable life in Dutch in any of the four largest Dutch cities?
The country is quite similar to other European countries regarding the cost of living. Amsterdam is the country’s most expensive city to live in.
Here is some data on average living expenses in the Netherlands:
A family of four will need approximately4,306 EUR as net salary amount
A single person’s estimated monthly costs are 2,428 EUR
Click on the button to load the content from russianvagabond.com.
Load content
Housing
House prices in the Netherlands have surged in the last few years, and as a result, finding affordable accommodation in the main Dutch cities can be a challenge.
The rent for a studio or one-bedroom apartment in Amsterdam can range from 1,000–1,900 EUR a month, depending on which neighborhood you live in.
In other popular Dutch cities, including Rotterdam, Utrecht, Amstelveen, and Haarlem, you can pay slightly less than in the capital.
Click on the button to load the content from russianvagabond.com.
Load content
Food
Food in the Netherlands is on the European average but more expensive than in Germany. Groceries are available at more affordable prices at the discounts like Albert Heijn, but regular and high-level supermarkets are more expensive.
Click on the button to load the content from russianvagabond.com.
Load content
Is 60k a good salary in the Netherlands?
A salary of 60,000 EUR on a Dutch payslip is considered to be good. It’s 70 percent above the national average wage. 60,000 EUR will leave you 40,993 EUR annually or 3,416 EUR net monthly income after-tax as a single person.
60,000 EUR is the salary of someone with at least an undergrad university degree and many years of experience in their industry.
Earning 60,000 EUR gross as a single will give you a great lifestyle in the Netherlands,
If you don’t rent a place in the city center, your living costs can be reduced significantly.
Taxes in the Netherlands
Calculate your Dutch health insurance premium by using the online provider. You can also sign for a coverage starting from 114,9 EUR per month.
Personal Income Tax Rate in the Netherlands in 2023:
Annual salary (EUR)
Tax Rate
0 – 73,031
36.93%
73,031 +
49,50%
Total tax and social security contributions and other deductions for employees in the Netherlands are high. If you don’t benefit from a 30% ruling, 38% of your monthly income could be deducted as tax.
Employees pay 27,65% calculated on their gross salaries for social security contributions. Yet, this amount is split between employee and employer.
As the number of individuals relocating over long distances continues to increase, it is essential to have a trustworthy international moving company by your side. With the expert help of...
9 of the Best German Beers for 2023The German beer culture is deeply rooted, with the country producing some of the best brands and beer styles in the world. The keen and closely monitored...
To qualify for a visa as a highly skilled migrant, there are minimum gross salary requirements (2023) of €5,008 per month (€60,096 per year) for over 30s and €3,672 per month (€44,064 per year) for under 30s.
Pretty good. Especially if you are a regular employee in the private sector which means that you get 14 salaries per year. 3000 gross is around 2100€ net, money in your pocket. That may vary, but not by a lot.
Average yearly income Netherlands 2022, by income group
The highest ten percent of earners in the Netherlands earned on average 142.6 thousand euros per year, around 125.1 thousand euros higher than the lowest 50 percent.
But what is considered to be a good salary in the Netherlands? While the answer to this question is quite subjective, a gross salary of €70,000 ($81,000) per year would put you in the top 5% of income earners in the Netherlands. Which equals to a net monthly salary of €3,832 ($4,440) per month.
Rent may vary from 500 euros for a single room to over 2.500 euros per month for an apartment in the centre of Amsterdam. The rent consists of two parts, the basic rent and the service charges.
Luxembourg had the highest average annual wage in Europe in 2021, at approximately 75 thousand U.S. dollars, compared with Slovakia, which had an average annual salary of just over 24.7 thousand U.S dollars a year, the lowest among the countries provided in this statistic.
The 30% reimbursem*nt ruling (also known as the 30% facility) is a tax advantage for highly skilled migrants moving to the Netherlands for a specific employment role. When the necessary conditions are met, the employer can grant a tax-free allowance equivalent to 30% of the gross salary subject to Dutch payroll tax.
The Netherlands' median household income (PPP) hit $50,502 in 2021, an increase of 1.5% over the previous year. Between 2010 to 2021, the Netherlands' median household income increased by 27.7%. The real household consumption expenditure grew by 0.8% in 2021, compared to a contraction of 6.6% in the previous year.
Yes, it a decent salary to have in Netherlands for a family of 2. Your expenses will include: A 2 bhk apartment around €1600. €1100 on monthly grocery, internet, water, electricity and 2–3 lunches/dinners in good restaurants.
Summary of cost of living in Amsterdam, Netherlands: A family of four estimated monthly costs are 3,474.9$ (3,223.5€) without rent. A single person estimated monthly costs are 997.0$ (924.9€) without rent. Amsterdam is 30.9% less expensive than New York (without rent).
To reach the top 1 percent of earners, you would need a monthly take-home salary of 7.190 euros. This is equivalent to an annual net income of almost 86.000 euros, after taxes, or an annual gross salary of around 150.000 euros.
CBS counts 74.000 households in the top one per cent, which have together 273 billion euros in assets. That is 23,4 per cent of the national total, accounting for an average of 3,7 million euros per household.
The OECD average tax wedge in 2022 was 34.6% (2021, 34.6%). In 2022, the Netherlands had the 22nd highest tax wedge among the 38 OECD member countries, occupying the same position in 2021. The employee net average tax rate is a measure of the net tax on labour income paid directly by the employee.
If you're talking about 75K yearly income with around 30% foreigner tax it should be enough, but you won't be living like royalty or anything… Just to get an idea: the average yearly salary in the Netherlands is around 36K (with around 20% tax)… So you're making pretty good money, according to Dutch standards.
An annual salary of 80,000 Euro for an expat living in the Netherlands, specifically in North Brabant, can provide a comfortable standard of living for a family of three.
Both capital gains and regular income (dividends) are taxed. Tax is levied at a fixed rate of 26.25%. This percentage will rise to 26.9% in 2021. Non-residents are taxable on capital gains and regular income from a substantial interest in a company resident in the Netherlands.
The average cost of living in the Netherlands ($1780) is 20% less expensive than in the United States ($2213). the Netherlands ranked 19th vs 5th for the United States in the list of the most expensive countries in the world.
Prices for a one-room apartment in the city center range from 900 to 1,750 euros per month. In Delft or Utrecht - from 650 to 900 euros. Also, when planning a moving estimate, you should take into account preliminary expenses - a deposit, rent for one or two months, and current expenses.
The most expensive place in the Netherlands to live is the small town of Blaricum, 30 kilometres south east of Amsterdam, according to Groningen University researchers. Blaricum residents pay an average of €1,198 a year in council taxes – that is property, waste collection, drainage, tourist and other charges.
In general, wages in the United States tend to be higher than those in Europe, particularly for skilled and high-paying jobs. Part of the reason for this is that the cost of living in the U.S. is usually higher than in Europe. This means that workers need to make more money to keep their standard of living the same.
The worldwide highest income is earned in Monaco. The smallest budget per capita exists in Afghanistan. In our comparison over 69 countries, the USA comes 7th with an average income of 70,930 USD. The average income is calculated by gross national income and population.
1. Do expats pay taxes? Yes, you file a U.S. tax return if you're a U.S. citizen and make over the general income threshold — regardless if you live abroad or Stateside.
For 2022, upto 35.472 € of your gross income, it is taxed at 9,42%. Upto 69.399 €, it is taxed at 37,07% and above that at 49,5%. If you earned 50.000€ per year with 30% ruling, you would be taxed like this: 35.472 * (9,42 / 100) ≈ 3.341 €
The economy of the Netherlands is, according to Forbes, the 15th largest in the world as of 2022 in terms of gross domestic product (GDP). Its GDP per capita was estimated at $72,973 in the fiscal year 2023, which makes it one of the highest-earning nations in the world.
The monthly minimum wage paid to workers in the Netherlands who are at least aged 21 years has increased from 1 January 2023 to 1934 euros, up from 1756 euros. The weekly minimum wage paid to workers at least 21 years of age increased to 446.40 euros, up from 405.300 euros.
The cost of living in the Netherlands is believed to be around 800-1000 Euros per month, including food, rent, transportation, books, and other expenses.
This statistic displays the results of a survey of the average monthly savings in the Netherlands in 2019. The survey results suggest that as of 2019, a substantial share of people in the Netherlands saved over 76 euros per month.
Overall, your income must be equal to, or higher than, the Dutch minimum wage. As of January 2022, the Dutch minimum wage is €1,725 per month. However, if your income is below this level, you'll need to provide evidence that you'll have enough cash to live on.
The Cost of Basic Healthcare Coverage in The Netherlands
As of 2021, the average basic premium for health insurance was about 120 euros per month. While premiums may change slightly depending on the insurance you choose, the basic coverage doesn't range far from that average.
How Expensive Is Amsterdam Compared to Other Top Cities? The cost of living in Amsterdam is more than that of 85% of cities in the world. The consumer prices in Amsterdam are 1.50% higher than in Los Angeles. Also, restaurant prices are 40.94% higher in Amsterdam than that in Singapore.
In order to reside in The Netherlands, one must be in possession of a valid residence permit. This must be obtained from the Dutch Immigration authorities, the Immigratie en Naturalisatiedienst otherwise known as the IND.
Moving to the Netherlands is hard for foreigners as they must undergo a specific process of obtaining residency or citizenship. However, American expats who wish to move to the Netherlands can obtain a residence permit with an extra opportunity known as the DAFT visa.
According to the Economic Policy Institute, the average annual wage of the top 1% was $823,763 as of 2020.1 A more recent study by SmartAsset points out that the national average of the top 1% earners is $597,815.2 Have in mind that the figures vary greatly from state to state.
How Much Salary Would I Need To Earn To Be In The Top 0.1%? Roughly USD 3.21 million in a year. As of 2020, this is an all-time high, and 2021 is expected to break yet another record. How Many People Are Billionaires?
The Netherlands offers expats a high quality of life, with a low crime rate and friendly locals. However, as with any foreign country, it also has its own rules, regulations, and processes, which can be difficult for expats to get used to.
Does the Netherlands Have Free Public Healthcare? In short, no, healthcare in the Netherlands is not free. Everyone who lives or works in the country must take out private health insurance.
The median gross expat salary in Amsterdam (2023) as reported by PayScale Inc is €51,000. Likewise, Numbeo lists an average net salary (2023) in Amsterdam of €3,415 per month (equivalent of €57,500 per year).
This statistic displays the top 10 of the richest municipalities in the Netherlands in 2021. Bloemendaal was the richest municipality in the country that year. Around 29.7 percent of households in Bloemendaal had one million euros worth in wealth or more.
Yes, it a decent salary to have in Netherlands for a family of 2. Your expenses will include: A 2 bhk apartment around €1600. €1100 on monthly grocery, internet, water, electricity and 2–3 lunches/dinners in good restaurants.
If you're getting 55K annually in Amsterdam when you're only 23 years old and a recent grad, you can be considered very lucky since the 'normal' Dutch income annually is 30K.
Dutch love of saving has made the Netherlands quite wealthy
According to Allianz's research, Dutch households have, on average, 180.193 euros in wealth (gross), which is significantly more than the global average of 35.970 euros. The average net wealth of Dutch households is just under 129.000 euros.
Both capital gains and regular income (dividends) are taxed. Tax is levied at a fixed rate of 26.25%. This percentage will rise to 26.9% in 2021. Non-residents are taxable on capital gains and regular income from a substantial interest in a company resident in the Netherlands.
A good annual gross salary in Germany is between €64,000 to €81,000. But most Germans who earn a yearly gross salary of €60,000 and above are happy with their salary.
Introduction: My name is The Hon. Margery Christiansen, I am a bright, adorable, precious, inexpensive, gorgeous, comfortable, happy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.