Belgians earn an average of €3,886 per month

The average gross monthly wage in 2021 was more than 50 euros higher than the previous year. The average gross salary was €3,507 per month. This is the amount by which half the employees earn more and the other half earn less.

Of course there are big differences. For example, 10% of employees earned less than €2,303 per month, while the top 10% of earners earned more than €5,922. White-collar workers typically earn more than blue-collar workers, and those with higher education earn more than people with less or no diploma.

Age also plays a role. Statpel says 40 years is a turning point. “Those under the age of 40 generally earn less than the national average, while from this age onwards they are generally entitled to above-average pay. For example, a pay slip for employees aged 60 and over 31 percent higher than the national average.

There’s also still a difference between men and women, Statpel points out: Women working full-time earned, on average, 0.6 percent less than men in 2021. “The biggest pay differential is found among employees who are… 60 years or older, with women working full-time earning 19 percent less on average than their male colleagues.”

Highest and lowest wages

Directors of large companies earned an average of €10,788 per month in 2021, or almost three times the average. Managers, engineers, and lawyers are also among the top ten with the highest average gross monthly wages. At the sector level, the petrochemical industry is the best payer (gross average of €6,036 per month).

The lowest wages were for waiters and bartenders: €2,475, or more than a third below the national average. Hairdressers, beauticians, domestic helpers, cleaners, cashiers and ticket sellers also earned on average less than €2,600 per month in 2021.

Total monthly wages were calculated based on a wage survey that included more than 125,000 employees.