Average salary in Denmark

Introduction

In recent years, the Kingdom of Denmark has become an increasingly popular destination for many foreigners emigrating for work, and one of the reasons is undoubtedly the average salary in Denmark, which is one of the highest in Europe. Although life in Scandinavia is quite expensive, Danish wages balance all expenses and allow it to be convenient. In addition, people who have a specific trade in hand are highly desirable in the Danish labor market and can count on both above-average pay and working conditions, as well as the same rights and privileges as Danes.

What is the average salary in Denmark? How do Danish salaries rank in European rankings? What professions are the best paid in Denmark? How does the average Danish salary compare to the cost of living in Denmark? What professions are likely to earn high salaries in Denmark?

You will find answers to these and other questions in the guide below. Enjoy your reading!

Average salary in Denmark

The Kingdom of Denmark is famous for applying liberal economic policies to all member states of the European Economic Area and the European Union, which provides many opportunities for incoming economic migrants. The average salary in Denmark oscillates, depending on the profession, between DKK 20,000 and 40,000 (Danish kroner) per month. The salary is certainly influenced by the type of profession, the degree of knowledge of the Danish language, as well as the age and competence of the employee, with the lowest national salary not going below DKK 11,000 per month.

In addition, the cost of living in Denmark, compared to the Danish salary, is not high, and the state has a strongly developed pro-social policy, giving Danish workers many privileges and concessions, including accommodation, food or commuting to work, in addition, the cost of many services, such as telephone and Internet subscriptions, are relatively small.

What's more, there is no top-down minimum wage in Denmark, with the exception of hourly rates for production workers or drivers engaged in combined transport and cabotage, while all working conditions - including vacations, wages or hours worked - are determined by an agreement between the widely developed Trade Union Federation and the Danish Employers' Conference.

The average Danish salary vs. salary levels using selected professions as an example?

Belonging to the Scandinavian countries, Denmark is one of the ten richest European countries, while the Danish capital Copenhagen itself was recognized in 2016 as the most comfortable, in financial terms, place to live in Europe. Besides, the Kingdom of Denmark is famous for its good social policies, high salaries and for applying equal rights to all citizens.

The Danish salary is influenced by many factors, such as the employee's qualifications, profession, age or language skills. Moreover, Denmark, with a few exceptions, does not have a top-down minimum wage per hour. In addition, thanks to family-friendly policies, the weekly working time is no more than 37 hours (daily average of 6 - 6.5 hours).

The average salary in Denmark is about DKK 20-40,000 per month, or between PLN 12,000 and 25,000, while the minimum Danish salary, which is usually received by workers without knowledge of a foreign language (Danish, German or English) and relevant qualifications, is about DKK 13,000 (Danish kroner) per month (about DKK 110 gross per hour), or about PLN 10,000 (about PLN 67 gross per hour). In the capital Copenhagen alone, the lowest salary is about DKK 15,000 per month, and the average is about DKK 20,000.

How much can you earn on average, working in Denmark?

1. From 75 DKK per hour - farm worker
2. From 80 DKK per hour - greenhouse worker
3. Approx. 110 DKK per hour - farm worker
4. 110-130 DKK per hour - cleaning; in Copenhagen, about 15,000 DKK per month
5. From 127 DKK per hour(top-down minimum wage, effective March 1, 2022) - production worker
6. DKK 130-140 per hour- greenhouse worker
7. Approx. 150 DKK per hour- glazier
8. 150-160 DKK per hour - construction worker
9. 150-170 DKK per hour - warehouse worker
10. Approx. 160 DKK per hour - locksmith
11. 160-170 DKK per hour - car mechanic and CNC operator
12. 163 DKK per hour(minimum wage set top-down) - driver performing combined and cabotage transport
13. 170-220 DKK per hour - welder
14. 170-190 DKK per hour - assembler
15. 175-180 DKK per hour - roofer
16. 180-190 DKK per hour - electrician and plumber
17. Approx. DKK 14,000 per month - cashier
18. Approx. DKK 14,700 per month - manager
19. 26,000-27,500 DKK per month - secretary
20. Approx. 18,500 DKK per month - medical staff
21. DKK 25,000-40,000 per month - IT specialist
22. From 38,000 DKK even up to 70,000 DKK per month - doctors and lawyers

In addition, Danish residents can count on social benefits of:

• Up to DKK 650 per day - unemployment benefit
• From 966 to 4,653 DKK (depending on the age of the child) per quarter - family allowance
• Up to DKK 3,113 per week - maternity benefit

Also popular in Denmark are state-funded internships (e.g., at research centers, farms, museums, energy corporations, institutes related to art, architecture, science, archaeology, oil companies), for people between the ages of 18 and 35 who have obtained a diploma at least a year and a half before starting their internship and can boast knowledge of one of the foreign languages (Danish, English, German, Swedish or Norwegian).

Average salary in Denmark vs. cost of living

Denmark does not have a top-down regulation under which labor law falls, and thus such factors as salary, retirement age, vacation, termination conditions, length of the working day, overtime or working hours are determined individually in the contract that the employer enters into with the Federation of Trade Unions.

The average Danish salary, on the other hand, is the product of just these arrangements, and compared to the cost of living, allows citizens to live on the high side.

Below are examples of prices for selected products and services:

1. From 5 thousand DKK per month - for renting a one-bedroom outside Copenhagen (prices are higher in the Danish capital).
2. From 7 to 11 thousand DKK - for renting a two-room apartment outside the capital (a deposit of at least three months' rent should be added to the cost of accommodation).
3. About 12 to 16 thousand DKK - rent for a three-room apartment.
4. From 4 to 5 thousand DKK - rent for student apartments.
5. About 43 DKK per month - telephone subscription.
6. About 200 DKK per month - internet.
7. About 50 DKK - the cost of starting a cab, about 15 DKK per km at the regular fare.
8. From 300 to 600 DKK per day - bicycle rental.
9. Approximately DKK 1,300 per month - public transportation ticket.
10. About 36 DKK - a ticket for all metro routes in Copenhagen.
11. About 12-14 DKK - a liter of gasoline.
12. About 10 DKK - a kilo of tomatoes; about 3 DKK for one banana.
13. About 8-12 DKK - a carton of milk; 3-10 DKK - a half-liter bottle of water.
14. About 10-20 DKK - a kilogram of potatoes; about 16-18 DKK - a loaf of bread; 20-30 DKK - 12 eggs; 7-8 DKK - frozen rolls; about 39 DKK - 20 eggs; about 60 DKK - a kilogram chicken breast; 10-12 DKK - a couple of slices of ham.
15. About 50 DKK - a slice of pizza in a restaurant (90-100 DKK for a whole large pizza); about 15 DKK - a fast food burger, about 7 DKK - a cup of drink from a vending machine.
16. About 125 DKK - a dish at an inexpensive restaurant; about 300 DKK - for a whole dinner at a more expensive restaurant.
17. About 150-350 DKK - a monthly pass to the gym.
18. About 90-140 DKK - a ticket to the cinema.
19. About 100-250 DKK - tennis court rental.

Such grocery and non-grocery stores as Aldi, Rema 1000, Lidl and Fakta are common in Denmark.

From the above statements, it is clear that the average salary in Denmark, even without knowledge of a foreign language, allows you to live on a high footing, which is why many foreigners are increasingly willing to emigrate to this Scandinavian country for work purposes.

Summary

In summary, Denmark is an open country, guided by the principle of free market and free competition – treating domestic and foreign citizens equally. Foreigners who decide to take a job in the Kingdom of Denmark can expect to earn quite high wages – especially if they have the right qualifications and know one of the foreign languages spoken by the Danes (such as English or German). However, even with the lowest national salary, a Danish worker can lead a comfortable life and take care of a financial cushion. In addition, all Danish workers are entitled to take advantage of concessions and privileges offered to EU and EEA members by the Danish government.

FAQ

1. How much is the average salary in Denmark?
   The average salary in Denmark oscillates between 20 and 40 thousand DKK gross per month.
2. How much is the minimum wage per hour in Denmark?
   In Denmark, there is no top-down minimum wage per hour (except for the rate for production workers - from March 1, 2022 is a minimum of DKK 127 per hour) and for drivers engaged in combined transport and cabotage - a minimum of DKK 163 per hour. In Denmark, the lowest national wage is usually DKK 110 gross per hour (without knowledge of a foreign language).
3. What does the salary for working in Denmark depend on?
   Salary in Denmark is determined by a number of factors, such as foreign language skills, age and incompetence. Highly specialized professionals, such as teachers, dentists, programmers, lawyers, doctors, nurses, veterinarians, engineers or auditors, can of course count on much higher wages than other workers.

   In contrast, those fresh out of college will earn no more than DKK 14,800 (those with academic success to their credit can count on earnings of DKK 18,500).

4. Without knowledge of the Danish language, do I have a chance to get a well-paid job in Denmark?
   Yes, without knowledge of Danish you have a chance for a well-paid job, especially since, in addition to Danish, Danes also communicate in German and English.
5. Where have all aspects of labor law in Denmark been determined?
   All aspects of labor law in Denmark - such as vacations, wages, hours worked or overtime - have been determined by an agreement between the Federation of Trade Unions and the Danish Employers' Conference, and consequently, these conditions for each employee are determined individually.
6. How many hours is the working day in Denmark?
   In Denmark, the working day is usually between 6 and 6.5 hours (up to 37 hours per week).In the case of overtime, the employer is required to add 50 percent of the wage for the first 3 overtime hours, and 100 percent for each additional hour (in the case of work on Sundays and holidays, the employee will also be paid plus 100 percent).
7. How much can you put away while working in Denmark?
   Despite the fact that Denmark is one of the most expensive countries in Europe, still, with an average salary of 20-40 thousand DKK, we are able to put aside 3 to 5 thousand zlotys every month.
8. When working in Denmark, do I settle in my country of origin?
   When working in Denmark, you must settle with the tax office in your country of origin once a year. You will calculate the amount of income tax to be paid to the foreign tax office by deducting the income tax paid to the Danish tax office from the foreign tax.
9. How to calculate Danish net salary?
   If you want to calculate the net salary in Denmark, then you can use online calculators - salaries of 15-30 thousand DKK gross should be multiplied by rates of 30-35 percent.
10. After how many years of work is a pension due in Denmark?
    In Denmark, up to 2.5% of the pension is due for each year worked, so that when you reach retirement age and have worked 5 years, you are entitled to 12.5% of the benefit. The basic Danish pension is DKK 54,204 per year for those who have lived in Denmark for 40 years. For those who have lived for less time, the benefit is reduced by 1/40 for each year.
11. How do you find a job in Denmark?
    You can find a job in Denmark by calling a special hotline +45 7222 3399. In addition, you can use the European EURES job database or the websites where the Public Employment Service job offers are posted, such as wokindenmark.dk jobnet.dk. You can find offers for seasonal work at www.seasonalwork.dk.

    Remember that if you plan to stay in Denmark for more than 3 months, you are required to apply to SIRI(Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration) to obtain a Registreringsbevis, or residence registration certificate. Without this certificate, you can stay in Denmark for a maximum of six months.

12. Do I need permission to work in Denmark?
    If you plan to travel to Denmark and work there, you must have a passport, ID card or temporary passport. Only citizens of Scandinavian countries are allowed to work and live in Denmark without permission. On the other hand, citizens of Switzerland or EU or EEA countries are entitled to apply to SIRI for a residence registration certificate as soon as they start working (there is a maximum of 6 months for this). After 3 months, it is at SIRI or the regional office of Statsforvaltningen; the local branch of ICS - International Citizen Service - that you must register your residence in Denmark.

    Without registration in Denmark, one is not entitled to medical care ("yellow card"), but according to Danish registration law, a certain number of residents should be registered in each property, so finding an apartment or house is not the same as being able to register legal residence in Denmark.

13. Where can I look for cheap accommodation in Denmark?
    In Denmark, you can look for accommodation for rent from private landlords on many online sites.

    Another way is to sign up for a Danish housing cooperative. There is a wait of six to one and a half years for a cooperative apartment, and the condition for receiving such an apartment is to have a "yellow card." In the case of cooperative housing, you do not incur rental costs, so that by paying only utilities and rent, you are able to save DKK 2 to 3 thousand per month.

14. What taxes do I have to pay when working in Denmark?
    When you choose to live and work in Denmark, you have unlimited tax liability, meaning that you must file a tax return with the Danish tax authorities every year by May 1 (or July 1), preferably through the online government portal www.skat.dk, using the pre-ordered 8-digit code Tast Selv. Limited tax liability (begrænset skattepligt), on the other hand, is if you work in Denmark but live outside the country, or have employment with a Danish company under a fixed-term employment contract.

    In Denmark, income tax, consisting of a flat municipal tax and a progressive tax to the state, is payable to SKAT (the Danish tax authority) by both Danish employers and employees, and the amount depends on the amount of annual income.

    The tax-free rate, set anew each year, is 10.10% on gross wages. In contrast, the income tax percentage rates are:
    - 8% - income below DKK 50,217.
    - 39.2% - income between DKK 50,217 and DKK 558,043.
    - 56.5% - income above DKK 558,043.

    Voluntary church tax averages 0.92 percent.