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 EUR and 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 EUR gross 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.
Read our guide on the cost of living for a family in the Netherlands.
Usually, expats spend around 1,500 EUR on rent, around 500 EUR on groceries, 200 EUR on eating out, and the rest is spent on leisure and savings.
Housing in the Netherlands: Rent Prices
Are you moving to the Netherlands? Here are the top reasons why you might change your decision.
Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Move To the Netherlands
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.
Also read: The Netherlands vs Germany: Quality of life
What Is A Good Salary in Amsterdam? [2023]
Average salary in the Netherlands in 2022
Source: Statista
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.
Jobs in High Demand in the Netherlands in 2023
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.
| # | City | Average salary |
| 1 | Loosdrecht | €4.374 |
| 2 | Well (GE) | €3.955 |
| 3 | Zeeland | €3.700 |
| 4 | Den Haag | €3.411 |
| 5 | Utrecht | €3.288 |
| 6 | Amsterdam | €3.265 |
| 7 | Rotterdam | €3.120 |
| 8 | Den Bosch | €3.086 |
| 9 | Breda | €3.049 |
| 10 | Eindhoven | €3.034 |
What Is a Good Salary in Rotterdam, Netherlands?
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.
Read more about salaries in Europe.
Salaries for most common in the Netherlands jobs:
| Profession | Avg. salary |
| Teaching Assistant | €2,525 |
| Nurse | €3,070 |
| Physiotherapist | €4,655 |
| Truck driver | €2,260 |
| HR manager | €2,820 |
| Recruiter | €2,540 |
| General doctor | €4,500 |
| ICU Nurse | €3,400 |
| Salesman | €2,065 |
| Administrative assistant | €2,355 |
| Childcare Assistant | €2,595 |
| Account manager | €3,125 |
| Carpenter | €2,720 |
| Logistics Employee | €2,140 |
| Lawyer | €4,630 |
| Warehouse worker | €2,060 |
Source: werkzoeken.nl
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 approximately 4,306 EUR as net salary amount
- A single person’s estimated monthly costs are 2,428 EUR
Read our guide on the cost of living for a family in the Netherlands.
Best Country for Living: The Netherlands vs Germany
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.
Housing in the Netherlands: Rent Prices
Dutch housing is one of the reasons why you shouldn’t move to the Netherlands.
Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Move To the Netherlands
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.
How To Move To the Netherlands Without a Job?
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.
Learn how much Dutch health insurance cost.
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.
Read next: Jobs in the demand in the Netherlands in 2023.
Jobs in High Demand in the Netherlands in 2023
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