The 2022 Spain Salary Snapshot
In 2022, the regular gross salary in Spain averaged 1,822 euros per month. This figure sits below the overall EU average by about 480 euros each month, based on data from Eurostat and analyzed by Adecco’s research team. The annual gap to the EU average translates to roughly 5,760 euros, underscoring a notable competitive difference with many EU peers.
Comparative European Context
Spain’s 2022 figure of 1,822 euros is part of a broader European picture. For comparison, France averaged 2,574 euros per month and Germany 3,148 euros, against an EU-wide average of 2,302 euros. Adecco’s framework defines gross regular salary as the standard monthly payment before deductions, excluding irregular payments such as overtime, bonuses, or compensations. The Spanish National Statistics Institute notes a rise to 1,886.80 euros in the first quarter of 2023, signaling a continued upward trajectory within the regular-pay category.
Spain vs. France and Portugal
Looking at neighboring economies, Spain trails France and Portugal in different ways. Spain’s regular salary is about 29.2 percent lower than France’s, with a monthly gap around 752 euros and an annual gap near 9,026 euros. By contrast, Spain’s wage level exceeds Portugal’s by 57.8 percent, equating to approximately 668 euros per month and about 8,012 euros per year. These contrasts illustrate the varied wage landscapes across Western Europe and reflect convergences and divergences within the EU market.
In a broader EU comparison, Spain’s 2022 regular salary sits mid-pack among the 27 member states. Fifteen countries posted lower average wages, while eleven posted higher wages. This positioning highlights Spain as part of a diverse spectrum of earnings across Europe.
Wage Banding Across the EU
Within Europe, eleven countries registered monthly averages below 1,200 euros. These include Bulgaria at 650 euros, Romania at 796 euros, Hungary at 852 euros, Croatia at 903 euros, Poland at 941 euros, Latvia at 978 euros, Slovakia at 1,046 euros, Greece at 1,049 euros, Lithuania at 1,110 euros, Estonia at 1,123 euros, and Portugal at 1,154 euros. Adecco notes notable disparities within this group, with Portugal nearly doubling Bulgaria’s average wage.
On the other side of the scale, seven countries posted monthly wages between 1,200 and 2,600 euros. Spain sits among these at 1,822 euros, alongside the Czech Republic, Malta, Cyprus, Slovenia, Italy, and France. Notably, France’s average is more than double that of the Czech Republic, underscoring significant intra-group differences.
Finally, nine countries exceed 2,600 euros per month. This higher tier includes Sweden, Finland, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, Germany, Denmark, and Luxembourg. The earnings in this top tier show a comparatively tighter range than in the middle band, indicating a more uniform performance among wealthy EU economies.
Gap Bridging Across Europe
When Spain is contrasted with the EU’s two lowest-wage countries, Bulgaria and Romania, the Spanish average remains about 2.8 times higher than Bulgaria’s 650 euros and roughly 2.3 times higher than Romania’s 796 euros per month. These gaps translate into annual differences of about 14,064 euros against Bulgaria and 12,316 euros against Romania, illustrating the sizable but narrowing wage divide observed over the past decade.
Adecco notes that the dispersion of EU salaries has narrowed since 2010. In that year, Luxembourg topped the scale with an average around 2,900 euros, while Bulgaria sat near 265 euros. By 2021 the gap had widened to more than six; in 2022 it stood at roughly 5.7, indicating a significant compression of variance over time.