Minimum wage (SMI) and average salary in Spain 2026

With the cost of living as it is, your finances can have a big impact on your quality of life. Luckily, workers in Spain earn a reasonable living. The country has the seventh-highest minimum salary in Europe, which the government adjusts annually. For many expats, managing finances also involves sending money internationally or handling multiple currencies efficiently.

So, what is the minimum wage, and which sector offers the highest average salary? Are you paid enough, or is it time to contact your union representative?

Continue reading for more on the topic, including the following:

What is the minimum wage in Spain in 2026?

Legally, all workers in Spain are entitled to the minimum wage (Salario Mínimo Interprofesional – SMI), regardless of their age, gender, or employment contract.

The country first introduced the minimum wage under General Francisco Franco’s regime in 1963. Nowadays, the Council of Ministers (Consejo de Ministros) reviews the salary level each year based on various factors, including national productivity and employment rates.

In 2026, the minimum wage in Spain for a full-time job is as follows:

Paid out	Minimum wage
Yearly	€16,576
12-monthly	€1,381
14-monthly	€1,184
Hourly	€8.87

Comparatively, Spain sits comfortably in the mid-range of minimum wages in the European Union (EU), similar to Slovenia. Luxembourg pays workers nearly double, and employees in Ireland, the Netherlands, and Germany earn almost a third more. Meanwhile, workers in Albania, Montenegro, and Serbia are paid up to two-thirds less than Spanish employees.

What counts toward the minimum wage?

In Spain, the statutory minimum wage applies only to monetary payments (in Spanish). In-kind benefits cannot reduce a salary below the minimum. Similarly, overtime payments, profit shares, and end-of-the-year bonuses do not count toward the minimum salary.

CCT: Exclusions to the minimum wage

It is very common for Spanish industries to have a collective bargaining agreement (convenio colectivo de trabajo – CCT) in place. These agreements are negotiated between employers and labor unions, and cover employment issues like wages and workers’ rights. In 2018, around 80.10% of all employment in Spain was subject to a CCT.

When your work falls under a collective agreement, you could benefit from a higher minimum salary. That’s because a person’s gross income cannot be below the minimum wage; if you’re paid less, your contract will be nullified.

You can check your employment contract to see if a collective labor agreement applies.

Apprentices, interns, and trainees

Students who receive on-the-job training must receive some form of payment for their work. This compensation should match the statutory minimum wage of regular employees in Spain (but in proportion). As such, the amount can vary depending on the training program, the industry, and the applicable CCT.

Under Spanish labor laws, student work hours may not exceed 65% during the first year and 85% during their second year. If there isn’t a collective labor agreement in place, their salaries may not be lower than 60% in the first year and 75% in the second year.

Salaries must always be proportional to the hours that the student works.

What is the average salary in Spain?

Despite the minimum wage, workers generally earn a higher monthly salary. According to official government data, the average salary in Spain was roughly €28,050 in 2023.

Of course, salaries differ greatly depending on the job, but also experience, location, and education level. Sometimes wages also include benefits, like housing and transport.

Average salary by sector in Spain

As is usual, gross wages also vary greatly by sector. This is because certain industries require more skills, experience, and education and therefore offer better pay. According to Talent (2026), the median salary across some of the main job sectors in Spain are:

Job sector	Average annual salary
Banking and finance	€33,363
Childcare and education	€35,567
Construction and maintenance	€36,160
Engineering	€36,307
Healthcare and social services	€41,270
Hospitality and travel	€29,007
Information technology	€30,455
Journalism and translation services	€47,652
Retail and customer service	€24,285
Transportation and manufacturing	€22,525

Many minimum-wage workers work in the Spanish service sector. According to official government data, people working in accommodation and food services earned roughly €14,809 per year (2021).

Average salary by city in Spain

As with most countries, location matters to your expected income as well. Usually, the more populated the area, the higher the average salary. In Spain, wages are higher in the north and center and more modest in the south.

According to government data from 2024, the highest average salary across the regions can be found in:

Autonomous community	Average gross income
Basque Country	€33,720
Madrid	€33,140
Navarra	€31,070
Catalonia	€30,500
Asturias	€29,500
Aragon	€29,000
La Rioja	€28,900
Cantabria	€28,800
Balearic Islands	€28,700
Castile y Leon	€28,700

According to Spain’s official regional accounts for 2024, the regions with the lowest average employee earnings were Extremadura (€25,526) and the Región de Murcia (€24,450), reflecting lower income levels compared with the national average.

What are the highest-paying jobs in Spain?

Unfortunately, there’s no real fast way to earn lots of money. Some of Spain’s most lucrative job opportunities require specialized qualifications, skills, and experience.

Highest-paying fields and jobs include executive management, investment banking, software engineering, specialist healthcare (e.g., surgeons), and corporate law. Professionals in these fields can expect to earn in excess of €70,000 a year.

Salary checker in Spain

There are numerous online platforms to see what your profession will likely pay in Spain. Here are a couple of salary checkers to help you:

• Glassdoor
• Paylab

Alternatively, you can use this salary calculator to see if your gross salary complies with Spanish law.

The gender pay gap in Spain

According to EU statistics, Spain had a gender pay hap of 9.2% in 2023. This was below the EU average of 12%. However, despite advances made in reducing earnings disparities, there is still a lack of females in the most senior positions. The 2025 Global Gender Gap Report shows that only 17.6% of Spanish companies have female top managers.

One reason for the gender wage gap is women’s overrepresentation in underpaid social sectors, such as education, healthcare, retail sales, and customer service. Business school Estade has also noted that Spanish women also still battle the gender stereotypes. Women and girls are often underestimated and believed to have ‘different abilities’. As such, they often face stigma and unconscious biases in hiring and promotion practices.

The government has introduced various measures and labor reforms to tackle gender inequality in the workplace. For example, from mid-2026 larger companies will have to publish gender-related pay data, including average wages across different employment categories.

Salaries and wages for expats in Spain

Labor law doesn’t differentiate between Spanish citizens and foreign nationals. Employers must legally pay you the minimum income as set by the government or collective bargaining agreement.

As an expat working in Spain, you’ll likely face additional financial considerations beyond your salary. Many foreign workers need to send money internationally—whether to support family back home, maintain savings in their home country, or manage financial obligations across borders. Understanding your options for international transfers can help you keep more of your hard-earned money.

When sending money from Spain to another country, some providers charge high fees and use exchange rates that include a markup above the mid-market rate—the mid‑market exchange rate (the rate you see on Google or financial news sites). These hidden costs can significantly reduce the amount that reaches your recipient.

Services like Wise offer an alternative approach, using the mid-market exchange rate and charging transparent fees for international transfers from EUR to other currencies. For expats who regularly manage money in multiple currencies, Wise also offers a multi-currency account that allows you to hold and convert between different currencies as needed, with fees shown upfront. This can be particularly useful if you’re earning in euros but have expenses or savings in another currency. There may be a different set of rules for non-taxpaying residents who are employed by an international company in Spain.

If you’re a non‑tax resident employed by an international company in Spain, consult official guidance or a qualified advisor for your specific obligations.

What to do if you’re paid below the minimum wage?

Depending on the situation, there are several courses of action to fix a low salary. For example, if you earn less than the minimum wage in Spain, you can file a complaint with the Labor and Social Security Inspection (LSSI – Inspección de Trabajo y Seguridad Social). They will assess your case, and fine or prosecute your employer if found negligent.

You can also seek advice from your trade union representative. The Spanish Constitution guarantees the right to strike, though only unions can officially call strikes affecting an entire sector.

However, if your wages are lower than those of your colleagues or industry peers, you should contact your HR department or union rep to see if something can be done. You can also take the matter to the Arbitration Office (Instituto de Mediación, Arbitraje y Conciliación) if you find you are paid less due to discrimination.

After that, you can escalate the wage dispute to the Labor Court (Magistratura de Trabajo). If your case is successful, your employer will have to remedy the situation. If the judge rules against you, you can take the case to the High Court of Justice (Tribunal Superior de Justicia) and, eventually, the Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo). Some labor cases can also be presented to the Constitutional Court (Tribunal Constitucional).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Spanish bank account to receive my salary in Spain?

Employers commonly pay salaries via bank transfer, but the law also allows payment in legal tender, by cheque, or through credit institutions; there’s no explicit requirement that the account be in Spain. Employers can’t require you to open an account at a specific bank, and the account must be in your name.

While employers cannot force you to open an account at a specific bank, the account must be in your name and registered with a financial institution operating in Spain. To open a Spanish bank account, you’ll need valid identification (passport, NIE for foreign residents), proof of address, and typically an employment contract.

Can I receive my salary in Spain and send it to another country?

Yes, you can legally send money from your Spanish salary to another country. Many expats do this regularly to support family abroad, maintain savings in their home country, or manage international financial obligations. When transferring money internationally, consider the exchange rates and fees charged by different providers. Services like Wise allow you to send money from Spain internationally using the mid-market exchange rate with transparent fees which can help you maximize the amount your recipient receives.

Useful resources

• EURES Labor market in Spain – information from the EU job mobility portal 
• Spain Ministry of Labor – official government website for the labor authorities in Spain
• SalaryafterTax – online calculator to see what you earn after tax
• Wise – International money transfers and multi-currency account for expats