Countries without a legal minimum wage are marked with an asterisk (*), and a monthly estimate is given based on sources embedded as a link, along with an explanation. These countries customarily negotiate collective agreements by sector on an annual basis, which unions must approve.
All figures are in gross, arranged in ascending order according to group and scaled to 12 months to calculate a monthly wage. For example Eurostat and FedEE took into account that workers in Austria, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, Greece and Italy receive 14-16 payments per year and made calculations accordingly.

Please note that this is not an analysis, however there are other sources post should you be interested.


Minimum monthly salaries of EU member states

Country Eurostat FedEENote
D“Big15 ″ € €

1. Denmark * 1,850

27.89/h-Monthly estimate based on basic sick benefits paid by the state; a rate of 27.89/hr is gross before significant social taxes are deducted, causing Denmark to fall in rank to levels recorded in Belgium and Netherlands.

2.Luxembourg 1,570 - 1,570
The only country to record consistent figures.

3. Ireland 1,403 - 1,499

4. Sweden * 1,382
Estimate based on minimum income required for a work permit, according to the Swedish Migration Board.

5. UK 1,361 - 1,381

6. Netherlands 1,301 - 1,317

7. Germany * 1,277-Monthly estimate reflects average between unofficial figures from east Germany at 1076 and west Germany at 1476; a proposed rate of 1250is on the table.


8. Belgium 1,258 - 1,283

9. France 1,254 - 1,280

10. Finland *--The Ministry of Labor in Finland reports the country ranks 10th, but quotes no figures.

EU Average of Big15 - €1,160


11. Austria - 1,000
The trade union agreed on this figure starting January 1, 2008, and all workers will be raised to this rate by January 1, 2009.

12. Italy * 866
Figure reflects unofficial rate of 5 euros/hour for Italian workers.

13. Spain 666 - 600

14. Greece 668* 626 657

Data for Greece appears higher than Spain, however Eurostat reports that 668 is inaccurate; and 657 appears to be an average between blue/white collar workers. Spain always ranks slightly above Greece, and GR always ranks higher than Portugal (i.e. Economist, Kathimerini).


15. Portugal 470 - 426

Newer members

16. Malta 585 - 617

17. Slovenia 522 - 538

18. Cyprus 409 - 741

19. Czech Rep 288 - 303

20. Hungary 258 - 271

21. Poland 246 - 311

22. Estonia 230 - 278

23. Slovakia 217 - 241

24. Lithuania 174 - 303

25. Latvia 172 - 227

26. Romania 114 - 140

27. Bulgaria 92 - 112

http://livingingreece.gr/2008/04/04/minimum-monthly-salaries-of-eu-countries/