When talking about your salary in Europe, do you refer to the gross amount or the net figure? It’s an important distinction as take-home pay can vary significantly from one country to another.
The main reasons for these differences are variations in taxation and social security contributions. In some countries, family allowances also have a considerable impact.
So, where do workers take home the most pay across Europe? And how much of your gross salary do you keep after taxes and deductions?
The answer largely depends on whether you have dependent children and if your partner earns an income. In several countries, this can make you eligible for family allowances or even tax refunds. With this in mind, Euronews has examined three typical scenarios for 2024.
These scenarios are based on individuals earning 100% of the average national wage. For those earning more or less than the average, the take-home ratio will differ accordingly.
Net earnings represent the amount a person or household keeps after subtracting taxes and employee social security contributions from gross pay, and adding any family benefits for dependent children.
1. Single earner without children
In 2024, according to Eurostat, a single person without children in the EU takes home, on average, 68.6% of their gross salary. This means that if the average salary in your country is €1,000, you keep €686, while €314 goes to taxes and social security contributions.
Among 31 countries—including all EU member states plus Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Turkey—the take-home pay ratio (annual net earnings as a percentage of gross earnings) ranged from just 60.3% in Belgium to 84.4% in Cyprus.
Take-home ratio is less than two-thirds in 7 countries
Seven countries offered less than two-thirds of gross pay as take-home income. Besides Belgium, they included: Lithuania (61.8%), Germany (62.6%), Romania (63.1%), Denmark (64.3%), Slovenia (64.4%) and Hungary (66.5%).
Best countries for take-home pay
In ten countries, workers can take home at least three-quarters (75%) of their gross earnings, making them the best places in Europe for higher net pay.
The ratio exceeds 80% in Cyprus and Switzerland. Other countries on the list include Estonia (79.5%), Czechia (79%), Bulgaria (77.6%), Spain (77.5%), Sweden (76.9%), Slovakia and Poland (both 75.9%), and Portugal (75%).
By comparison, the take-home rate is 71.9% in France and 69.6% in Italy.
2. One-earner couple with two children
For one-earner couples with two children, take-home pay ratios shift significantly in some countries, while in others they stay close to the level for single individuals without children.
Across the EU, the average take-home rate is 82.6%, ranging from 70.4% in Romania to 107.1% in Slovakia, followed by 102.5% in Poland. In these two countries, net earnings actually exceed gross earnings. This is not only due to family allowances but also the implementation of a “negative income tax,” which provides extra financial support and reflects strong family-friendly policies.
The ratio is also above 90% in Switzerland, Czechia, Luxembourg, and Portugal. At the lower end, aside from Romania, it falls below 75% in Turkey, Denmark, and Finland.
The largest increases compared to single individuals without children were seen in Slovakia (+31.2 percentage points), Poland (+26.6 pp), Luxembourg (+22.4 pp), and Belgium (+19.8 pp).
The rate remained unchanged in Turkey, while the smallest increases were recorded in Greece (+2.4 pp), Cyprus (+4.3 pp), Finland (+4.6 pp), Norway (+4.8 pp), and Sweden (+5.9 pp).
3. Two-earner couple with two children
On average, a two-earner couple with two children in the EU takes home 73.6% of their gross earnings, with the rate ranging from 65.8% in Belgium to 88.9% in Slovakia.
Compared to single individuals without children, the take-home rate remains unchanged in Turkey and Greece. The highest increase was recorded in Slovakia, at 13 percentage points.
In only eight countries, the rise exceeded 5 percentage points, suggesting that family allowances for households with children often do not lead to a significant boost in take-home pay.
Actual salary figures
Would you be more interested in actual salary figures rather than just ratios?
In 2024, in the EU, a single person without children earning 100% of the average salary takes home €29,573 out of a gross €43,105.
Switzerland is an outlier in both gross and net salaries, with figures exceeding €100,000 and €85,000 respectively.
In this scenario, annual net earnings exceeded €50,000 in Iceland and Luxembourg, while Bulgaria (€11,074) and Turkey (€11,440) recorded the lowest net salaries.
In five additional countries, net earnings surpassed the €40,000 mark, including the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Ireland, and Austria.
Annual net earnings for a one-earner couple with two children ranged from €11,440 in Turkey to €98,835 in Switzerland, while the EU average was €35,656.
In the two-earner couple with two children scenario, net earnings or salaries ranged from €22,880 in Turkey to €178,553 in Switzerland, with the EU average at €63,523.
All these actual figures also indicate the level of income inequality across Europe. For a detailed comparison of annual net earnings—including purchasing power standards—across Europe, check out our full article, entitled: “Top earners in Europe”
How did real wages change in 2024?
Curious about how real wages changed in 2024 compared to 2023? Our article “Where Did Real Wages Rise and Fall the Most in Europe in 2024?” takes a closer look at the shifts—adjusted for inflation.