According to new figures from the Belgian statistics office Statbel the average employee in the private sector earns 3,886 euros gross per month. The highest wages are set aside for directors of large companies: they earn as much as three times more than the average. Waiters and bartenders have to make do with the lowest wages.
Average gross monthly salary in the private sector is 3,886 euros. The figure that refers to the year 2021 was calculated on the basis of a wage survey of more than 125,000 workers at companies with at least 10 employees. Sectors including government administrations, education, healthcare, agriculture and fisheries are not included in Statbel's calculation.
The average hides big differences. For instance, one-tenth of workers earn less than 2,303 euros gross per month, while the 10 per cent highest earners get more than 5,922 euros. White collar workers tend to earn more than blue collar workers. People with qualifications from higher education earn more than those with lower or no qualifications.
40 years is the turning point
Age also plays a role. In this regard, 40 is a turning point, says Statbel. "On the whole private sector employees under 40 earn less than the national average, while from the age of 40 people are usually entitled to above-average wages. The pay-check of workers aged 60 and over is 31 per cent above the national average."
A gender gap also remains, Statbel notes, with full-time employed women earning on average 0.6 per cent less than men. "The biggest pay gap is found among workers aged 60 or older, where full-time employed women on average earn 19 per cent less than their male colleagues," Statbel says.
Biggest and poorest earners
On average directors of large companies earn 10,788 euros gross per month, or almost three times more than the average. Other managers, engineers and lawyers are also in the top ten percent of highest average gross monthly salaries.
The lowest wages are for waiters and bartenders: 2,475 euros gross or more than a third less than the national average. On average hairdressers and beauticians, home-helps, cleaners and cashiers earned under 2,600 euros per month in 2021.
As far as sectors go, the petrochemical industry pays best, with an average of 6,036 euros gross per month. Gross wages are also above 5,000 euros per month on average in consultancy, finance, ICT and pharmaceuticals. In the hospitality and retail sectors, wages are lowest.