School or university leavers starting their first full-time job on the Belgian labour market earn an average of €2,510 a month before tax, according to figures from Human Resources company Acerta. That is approximately 14 per cent or €208 more than only three years ago. Labour market entrants with a university degree still earn the most, but the difference is narrowing.
A school leaver with a university degree earns an average of €2,982 gross at the start of their career; a young person with a higher education diploma will make €2,820 on average a month; with a higher secondary education diploma €2,568 and with a lower secondary education diploma €2,227.
It is noticeable that this wage gap has narrowed significantly in recent years. Over the past six years, the starting salary for university graduates has risen the least, by 10.86 per cent. For young people with a higher secondary education diploma, the starting salary has increased by almost 30 per cent over the same period. For those with only a lower secondary education diploma, the average wage increase is even greater (36.12 per cent).
Talent and fringe benefits
‘We see that companies are looking more at talent and potential for growth,’ explains Florence Cordonnier of Acerta. ‘We also notice that university students don't always start at their level but have to wait a while for that dream job to materialise!’
In addition, gross salary does not tell the whole story: there are also fringe benefits, which are more common in some sectors than others. ‘University students are more likely to receive these,’ says Cordonnier. Finally, a high starting salary does not necessarily predict future salary growth.
Does this make a university degree less attractive? Not according to Cordonnier. ‘You also have to look at future opportunities. The career progression someone can make in a restaurant, for example, is less significant than that in store for someone who starts as a junior in a company and can work their way up to director’.