Gross hourly earnings vary considerably across occupations. Based on detailed earnings data for 2018, managers were the best-paid occupation in all EU Member States. At EU level, with mean gross hourly earnings of €28.6, managers were ahead of professionals (€21.4), followed by technicians (€17.8).
Source dataset: EARN_SES18_47
At the opposite end of the scale, elementary occupations (such as cleaners and helpers, labourers, food preparation assistants, street and related sales and service workers) were the worst paid occupation in all EU Member States, with the exception of Denmark, where service and sales workers earned less. At EU level, elementary occupations (€9.7/hour) were followed by service and sales workers (€11.2), plant and machine operators and assemblers (€11.5).
This article analyses selected results of the four-yearly Structure of earnings survey (SES), which provides comparable in-depth information on the level of earnings and the individual characteristics of employees.
Largest differences in earnings in Cyprus, smallest in Denmark
All in all, mean gross hourly earnings of the best paid occupation in the EU were around three times higher than those of the least well paid occupation. More precisely, the gross hourly earnings of a manager in the EU (€28.6) were almost three times as high as of an elementary worker (€9.7).
Across the EU Member States, this ratio was highest in Cyprus, where managers (€31.7/hour) were paid on average five times as much as elementary workers (€6.3/hour). In contrast, the ratio was lowest in Denmark, where managers (€50.9) were paid around twice as much as service and sales workers (€22.2).
Source dataset: EARN_SES18_47
How much do your earn compared to others?
Have you ever wondered how much your counterparts with similar personal and job characteristics are earning in other countries across EU? You can find out in our simple interactive salary calculator.
For more information:
- Eurostat website section dedicated to earnings statistics
- Eurostat database of earnings statistics
- Eurostat Statistics Explained articles on earnings statistics, the salary calculator and gender pay gap
- Eurostat methodological publication Wages determinants in the European Union — Updated results from Structure of Earnings Survey (SES 2018) data - 2021 edition
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