State workers remain among the lowest paid in the country and the situation is trending downward. Social Security statistics show that Alicante slipped from the sixth lowest paid position a year ago to a lower ranking this year, just ahead of the provinces of Cáceres and Badajoz, both in the Extremadura region. This shift highlights the growing challenge of narrowing the income gap across Spain, especially since wages are the main income source for most families and a key driver of GDP.
Overall, SGK data indicate a notable rise in average bases of pay, largely driven by workers nationwide benefiting from the Minimum Inter-Occupational Wage and a broader economic recovery following the pandemic. In Alicante, the average base increased from 1,647 euros to 1,763 euros per month. This figure is used to determine monthly pension contributions, encompassing gross salary and any supplementary payments. While the increase is meaningful, it does not close the gap with the national average or improve Alicante’s ranking.
As a result, Alicante’s contribution base remains 284 euros below the national average, totaling around 2,047 euros. This gap widened slightly by nine euros from the previous year. The province has moved below Almería, Jaén, and Zamora in the provincial rankings for wage levels, slipping from sixth to a lower position in the national spectrum.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Basque region continues to lead with higher salaries. Guipúzcoa tops the list at an average of 2,471 euros per month, followed by La Rioja with 2,470 euros and Biscay with 2,419 euros. Navarre sits fourth with 2,281 euros, just behind Madrid at 2,275 euros, and Barcelona at 2,260 euros.
Looking at the Valencian Community beyond Alicante, Castellón ranks 20th with a base of 1,959 euros, and Valencia is 22nd at 1,945 euros, both clearly above Alicante within the regional context.
This is what Alicante residents contribute to support their pensions
From the perspective of analysis by the studies director, the data reflect the productive structure of Alicante where sectors like hospitality and personal services tend to be among the lower paid. The SGK figures show wage differences across sectors, with the average base reaching 3,446 euros in the energy sector and 3,270 euros in the financial services sector, while hospitality is notably lower at 1,254 euros per affiliate.
The province is notable for its concentration on low added value manufacturing such as footwear and textiles. Experts note that while a shift towards higher value-added production and greater use of technology could improve earnings, such a transformation is long term and depends on modernizing existing industries to raise value in the products produced.
Gender differences remain significant with women earning notably less than men. The average base for women is about 232 euros lower per month than that for men, a gap that translates into smaller future pension benefits. Differences also emerge by contract type, with civil servants earning the highest salaries nationally at around 2,943 euros on average, which is about 46 percent more than the general worker average of 2,047 euros and up to 66 percent more than temporary workers at 1,772 euros.
Age also plays a role, where the highest salaries are found among those aged 55 to 59, earning about 2,267 euros, while workers under 25 average 1,136 euros. Foreign workers tend to earn less on average, with foreigners averaging 1,637 euros and foreign women around 1,490 euros per month.