The Belgian labour force remains one of the best paid in the EU with the average salary almost 50% higher than the average across the bloc.
According to latest Eurostat figures, the average salary for employees in Belgium stood at €57,989 in 2023 – the fourth highest in the EU.
Belgium's neighbour Luxembourg has the highest average salary (€81,064), followed by Denmark (€67,604) and Ireland (€58,679).
Credit: Eurostat
Belgium retained its 2022 position although the average salary has since risen 7.9% (compared to €53,418 in 2022). The relatively high wages can be partly attributed to the fact that Belgium is one of only two eurozone countries where both public and private salaries are automatically increased in tandem with inflation (the other being Luxembourg).
However, while average salaries are relatively high, Belgian workers also face one of the greatest tax burdens in the world. The automatic wage indexation does not always keep pace with the rate of inflation and the rising cost of living.
Overall, the average annual salary across the EU in 2023 was €37,863 – a 6.5% increase compared to 2022. The lowest average yearly salaries for full-time staff were in Bulgaria (€13,503), Hungary (€16,895) and Greece (€17,013).
The EU figures are based on a combination of national accounts and Labour Force Survey (LFS) data and are adjusted by expressing part-time salaries as full-time equivalents.
