Eurostat: The EU's average adjusted full-time salary rose to €39,800 in 2024, up 5.2% from 2023.
Luxembourg, Denmark and Ireland recorded the highest average pay; Bulgaria, Greece and Hungary the lowest.
The index blends national accounts and Labour Force Survey data, adjusted to full-time equivalents under ESA 2010 rules.
Eurostat reports that the EU's average annual full-time equivalent salary climbed to €39,800 in 2024, a rise of 5.2% from €37,800 in 2023. The increase reflects broad wage growth across many member states, but the data also underline persistent and substantial cross-country differences.
The highest average annual earnings were recorded in Luxembourg (€82,969), followed by Denmark (€71,565) and Ireland (€61,051). At the other end of the distribution, Bulgaria reported the lowest average (€15,387), with Greece (€17,954) and Hungary (€18,461) also among the lowest.
Major economies such as Germany and France remain above the EU mean, with annual averages of €53,791 and €43,790 respectively. Spain and Italy are close in the mid-ranking positions (12th and 13th), at €33,700 and €33,523. Other mid-table results include Cyprus (16th, €27,611), Portugal (18th, €24,818), and Poland, which rose one place from 2023 to 22nd with €21,246.
The annual index of adjusted full-time wages is produced by combining national accounts with Labour Force Survey (LFS) data. Figures are standardised to a full-time equivalent basis and reported by countries under the European System of Accounts 2010 Transmission Programme (ESA 2010 TP).
This snapshot highlights improving pay across the EU in 2024, while also pointing to persistent differences in wages that reflect varying living costs, labour markets and economic structures across member states.
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