Minimum wage check
Enter an offered gross monthly salary and see whether it clears the statutory minimum wage, and by how much.
Only countries with a statutory minimum wage in Eurostat's data are listed.
Below the minimum wage, 36.0% short
Offer €1,500 vs statutory minimum €2,343 (Germany, gross monthly, full time).
For context, the minimum wage equals 50% of the average gross wage here.
Source: Eurostat statutory minimum wages, as of 2026-S2. Figures refer to full-time work; estimates, not legal advice.
What the minimum-wage comparison means
This check compares a gross monthly offer with Eurostat's published statutory monthly minimum wage for the selected country. The margin is descriptive: it shows how far the offer sits above or below the comparable reference amount.
Calculation and interpretation
The difference is offer minus minimum wage. The percentage margin is that difference divided by the minimum wage. An offer of €1,500 against a €1,200 reference is €300, or 25%, above the published minimum. The comparison is made in euros because Eurostat converts non-euro national values for cross-country publication.
The companion minimum-to-average ratio gives labour-market context, but it does not change the legal check. A high margin over the statutory floor can still be low for a particular occupation, seniority level or city. Use the salary benchmark and country profile for that broader comparison.
Coverage
Only countries with a national statutory minimum and a usable Eurostat observation appear. Countries where pay floors are mainly determined by collective agreements cannot be represented by one national amount and are intentionally omitted.
Important limitations
- This is a monthly full-time comparison and does not convert hourly, weekly or part-time contracts.
- Age rates, trainee rates, sector agreements, supplements and enforcement rules are outside the dataset.
- For a legal decision, check the current national rule and the contract's applicable collective agreement.
Primary source: Eurostat minimum wages (earn_mw_cur).
Frequently asked questions
Which minimum wage is used?
Eurostat's statutory gross monthly minimum wage, converted to euros for non-euro countries. It refers to a full-time position; pro-rate it for part-time work.
Why is my country not listed?
Several European countries (for example the Nordics, Austria, Italy and Switzerland) have no statutory minimum wage; floors are set by collective agreements instead, which Eurostat does not publish as a single figure.
Is an offer just above the minimum bad?
Not necessarily, but context helps: compare it with the country's average wage and with typical pay for the occupation before deciding.