The trend in Alicante’s salaries mirrors the broader patterns seen across Spain, but the province often sits near the bottom of regional wage rankings. In 2019, before the COVID-19 disruption, Alicante ranked as the tenth lowest-paid province. By 2023, four years later, it had fallen further, sliding to fifth from the bottom. With an average of 1,810 euros per month, Alicante sits just ahead of Zamora, Jaén, Cáceres and Badajoz, positions that reflect lower wages. By contrast, the national average stands at 2,105 euros, while the top earners in Álava reach 2,559 euros monthly. Unions argue that the heavy reliance on the hospitality sector drags wages down and call for a shift in the production model. Employers counter that agreed raises do matter, but stress the need to preserve business viability.
The latest figures on average Social Security contribution bases do not show alarming remuneration levels for Alicante workers. The province continues to drift downward, averaging 1,810 euros and ranking fifth from the bottom in recent months. Nearby provinces such as Huelva, Almería, Córdoba, Granada, Cuenca and Cádiz have moved ahead, creating a widening gap within the region.
The national average monthly salary remains at 2,105 euros. Within the Basque Country, Álava leads with 2,559 euros, followed by Gipuzkoa at 2,553 euros and Biscay at 2,510 euros. Madrid and Barcelona remain among the higher earning regions, with 2,351 euros and 2,333 euros respectively. Alicante, meanwhile, stands as the lowest-paid province within the Valencian Community, where average earnings are 2,007 euros in Valencia and 2,017 euros in Castellón.
unions
Analysts point to the large share of the hospitality sector as a key factor behind Alicante’s wage picture. Yolanda Díaz, secretary general of the UGT in l’Alacantí and Les Marines, notes that the region naturally depends on a sector with relatively low pay and high turnover, reinforcing a pattern of transience. She argues that the perception of a waiter shortage is overstated; the real issue is the need for better working conditions and salaries to retain staff.
Diaz argues that improvements in salary are achievable, especially with recent hotel industry deals that delivered meaningful increases over four years and with broader labor reforms aimed at reducing temporary work. She emphasizes that the production model must evolve to support higher-value, better-paid employment. Castellón serves as a reference point where higher wages accompany a ceramics-driven economy, illustrating what a stronger regional industrial base can achieve.
Raül Alcocel, the Central Regions Secretary General of CCOO, echoes concerns about irregularity in the hotel sector. Even when salary agreements are reached, follow-through can be inconsistent, and collective bargaining often fails to cover all sites, undermining working relations and wage progress.
Housing prices in the province are increasing faster than wages
Alcocel acknowledges that the hospitality industry offers jobs with higher quality than some other local roles, but he warns that Alicante faces low productivity, a reality reflected in wages. He calls for a more active role from public administrations to support sectors and companies that invest efficiently. The sentiment is that not every job will be worth pursuing if productivity remains stagnant.
businessmen
Valencia Community Business Confederation (CEV) President Salvador Navarro notes that existing wage agreements include significant increases and that ongoing negotiations are aligned with that approach. However, he cautions that higher wages must not threaten the viability of companies. A large share of the regional economy is made up of small and medium-sized enterprises, and rising labor costs cannot simply be absorbed into margins without impact.
Navarro adds that wage growth must be accompanied by stable social contributions and sensible taxation, plus better alignment of education with business needs. A report from Adecco, drawing on Eurostat and the Quarterly Labor Cost Survey, shows that the average salary in the Valencian Community trails the EU average by 637 euros per month. Luxembourg, by contrast, leads the list with substantially higher salaries. The study also notes a handful of countries with higher pay than Valencia, highlighting the gap with Germany in 2022. The comparison helps illustrate the challenges faced by workers in Valencia when measured against broader European benchmarks.
Nevertheless, Adecco’s analysis also acknowledges that Valencia fares relatively well among lower-paid EU member states. When compared to Bulgaria, for example, Valencian workers earn significantly more, a difference that would require many months of work in Bulgaria to approach a Valencian annual income. The report further notes that wage levels in Valencia remain notably higher than in neighboring Portugal, with the regional earnings advantage translating into several months of work to match a Portuguese annual salary.