Updated 5 August 2026. The latest definitive INE salary data puts Spain’s average gross annual salary at €29,540.26. The median was lower, at €24,497.17, which is often the more useful benchmark for judging a typical job offer. These figures cover earnings in 2024 and were published by Spain’s National Statistics Institute in May 2026.
For 2026 itself, Spain’s statutory minimum wage is €1,221 gross per month in 14 payments, equivalent to €17,094 per year for a full-time worker. An individual offer should be compared with the latest official data for its region, occupation and sector—not with one national average alone.
Average salary in Spain in 2026: the key figures
| Benchmark | Gross amount | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Average annual salary | €29,540.26 | The arithmetic mean; higher salaries pull it upward |
| Median annual salary | €24,497.17 | Half of workers earned less and half earned more |
| Most frequent salary | €16,520.18 | The single most common annual amount in the INE distribution |
| 2026 minimum wage | €17,094 per year | €1,221 in 14 payments for full-time work |
The average, median and most frequent salary are from INE’s definitive 2024 Annual Wage Structure Survey, released on 28 May 2026. The minimum wage is the legal 2026 figure established by Royal Decree 126/2026 and applies from 1 January 2026.
Average salary by region in Spain
Pay varies substantially across Spain. The Basque Country, Madrid and Navarra had the highest regional averages in the latest INE release. Extremadura, the Canary Islands and Castilla-La Mancha had the lowest.
| Region | Average gross salary |
|---|---|
| Basque Country | €35,170.28 |
| Madrid | €34,410.01 |
| Navarra | €32,605.28 |
| Balearic Islands | €31,852.13 |
| Catalonia | €31,730.05 |
| Spain overall | €29,540.26 |
| Valencian Community | €29,356.69 |
| Asturias | €28,562.31 |
| Aragon | €28,061.94 |
| La Rioja | €27,855.40 |
| Castile and León | €27,097.17 |
| Galicia | €26,547.27 |
| Murcia | €26,349.36 |
| Andalusia | €26,089.70 |
| Castilla-La Mancha | €26,062.05 |
| Cantabria | €25,924.13 |
| Canary Islands | €25,120.38 |
| Extremadura | €24,979.44 |
These are regional averages across many occupations, contract types and working patterns. They are useful context, not a salary scale for every job. A software engineer in Malaga, a hotel worker in Mallorca and a nurse in Madrid should not expect the same relationship to their regional average.
Cost also matters. A higher Madrid or Barcelona salary may not produce more disposable income once rent is included. Use our 2026 cost-of-living guide alongside the salary table when comparing relocation offers.
Which industries pay the most in Spain?
Sector can explain more of an offer than geography. INE reported the following 2024 average annual salaries:
| Industry | Average gross salary |
|---|---|
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | €57,931.81 |
| Financial and insurance activities | €51,862.90 |
| Information and communications | €42,741.94 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | €35,165.11 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | €20,383.16 |
| Hospitality | €17,653.42 |
Occupation matters within each sector. Directors and managers averaged €63,865.45, while unskilled service workers outside transport averaged €16,062.57. Those broad groups still contain large differences by responsibility, hours, seniority and employer.
Average versus median salary: which should you use?
The median is usually a better starting point for understanding a typical worker’s position. Spain’s €29,540 average is about €5,043 higher than the €24,497 median because a smaller number of high salaries raise the arithmetic mean.
INE found that 29.5% of employees earned between €16,000 and €23,000. That distribution is why an offer below the national average is not automatically poor—and why an offer near the average may still be uncompetitive for a specialised role in a high-paying sector.
Women’s and men’s average salaries
INE reported average annual earnings of €26,904.90 for women and €32,057.55 for men. The female average was 83.9% of the male average.
This is an unadjusted comparison. It reflects differences including occupation, working time, contract type and seniority; it should not be read as the pay gap for two people doing identical work. For an offer comparison, use the narrowest available benchmark for the actual role and level.
Understanding 12 versus 14 salary payments
Spanish contracts often distribute the same gross annual salary in either 12 or 14 payments. Two extra payments—commonly in summer and before Christmas—do not necessarily mean extra annual pay.
- €2,000 × 14 payments = €28,000 gross per year.
- €2,333.33 × 12 payments is also approximately €28,000 gross per year.
Always compare the annual gross figure. Ask whether extra payments are separate or prorated into 12 monthly pays, and distinguish fixed salary from bonuses, commission, benefits and equity.
How to judge a job offer in Spain
- Confirm annual gross compensation. Do not compare monthly numbers until you know whether there are 12 or 14 payments.
- Identify the applicable collective agreement. A convenio colectivo can set minimum salary tables above the national minimum wage.
- Match the benchmark. Compare the role with its region, industry, occupation, seniority and working hours—not only with Spain’s overall average.
- Separate guaranteed and variable pay. Check the conditions attached to bonuses and commission.
- Estimate net pay individually. IRPF withholding depends on salary and personal circumstances, while Social Security deductions also apply. A generic gross-to-net percentage can be misleading.
- Compare housing costs and working arrangements. Rent, commuting and required office days can change the real value of an offer.
If you will work as self-employed rather than as an employee, salary tables are not the right benchmark. Use the contract value after business costs, unpaid leave, taxes and Social Security contributions; our 2026 autónomo guide explains the separate contribution system.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average monthly salary in Spain?
The latest definitive annual average of €29,540.26 equals about €2,461.69 when divided into 12 months or €2,110.02 when divided into 14 payments. Both calculations represent the same annual gross amount; they are not net take-home pay.
What is the median salary in Spain?
The latest definitive median is €24,497.17 gross per year. Half of workers in the INE data earned below that figure and half earned above it.
What is Spain’s minimum wage in 2026?
The 2026 SMI is €1,221 gross per month in 14 payments, or €17,094 annually for full-time work. Part-time minimum pay is proportional to working hours, and applicable collective agreements may require a higher amount.
What is considered a good salary in Spain?
There is no reliable national cutoff. A good offer depends on the occupation, experience, region, hours, household needs and housing costs. Use the median as broad context, then compare the offer with the relevant collective agreement and role-specific market data.
Official sources and methodology
- INE: Annual Wage Structure Survey 2024, definitive results published May 2026
- INEbase: wage structure survey tables and methodology
- BOE: Royal Decree 126/2026 establishing the 2026 minimum wage
The annual averages in this guide refer to gross earnings per worker in the latest definitive INE annual survey. They are historical measurements published in 2026, not forecasts of what every employee earns during 2026.
Comments