People working in Brussels are paid significantly more than those working in Belgium's other regions. Wages here have risen by around 3% since last year.
The gross median wage – the monthly amount on the payslip, excluding the year-end bonus and holiday pay – paid to Brussels employees at the end of January 2025 was €3,970, according to data from SD Worx, the largest salary calculator in Belgium. This means half of the people who work full-time in the private sector earn more, and half earn less.
"The effective increase in gross wages is higher than last year: wages rose by 2.9% in Brussels," said Virginie Verschooris, Reward Consultant at SD Worx.
Meanwhile, gross monthly salaries have increased by 3.7% over the past year for those working in Flanders. The gross median amount paid by Flemish employers is €3,508. In this region, the median wage has risen the most in Antwerp (by 4.5% to €3,559, the highest in Flanders), while the smallest rise was in East Flanders (3.0%).
In Wallonia, gross salaries rose by 2.7% to €3,270 for a full-time job in the private sector, the lowest of all Belgian regions. In terms of median salary, the province of Walloon Brabant came out top, with a gross monthly salary of €3,652 (+2.3%). Wages are the lowest in Namur (€3,140, +2%).
Wages for blue-collar workers rose more (+3.1%) than for white-collar workers (+2.5%), although this also varies by region. White-collar workers still earn the most in Brussels and Flemish Brabant.
Manual labourers earn the most in Limburg (€3,156). "In addition to region, sector, company size, and position also play a role. The new legislation on mandatory wage transparency has increased interest in competitive pay. Benchmark studies can help with this," said Verschooris.
