Salaries in Norway: The Facts & Figures

The cost of living is high in Norway, but do the wages compensate? Here’s what you need to know about the state of salaries in Norway.

Without doubt, one of the most common questions we get in the Life in Norway inbox is about money. Everyone wants to know what is “normal” for a job, and whether that is enough to live on.

It is an understandable question. Norway has a reputation for high salaries, but also for high prices. Groceries, eating out, accommodation, transport and everyday services can all feel expensive, especially to newcomers.

Of course, it is extremely difficult to generalise when it comes to wages. Salaries vary by industry, occupation, experience, education level, location, working hours, collective agreements and many other factors.

Even so, there are several official sources we can use to build a useful picture of salary levels in Norway. The numbers below should not be treated as a guarantee of what you will earn, but they do give a realistic overview of the Norwegian labour market.

Where Salary Information in Norway Comes From

The most useful source for salary data in Norway is Statistics Norway, usually known by its Norwegian abbreviation SSB.

SSB is Norway’s official statistics agency and publishes detailed information on earnings, employment, population, the economy and many other areas of Norwegian society.

SSB’s earnings statistics are based on a-ordningen, the coordinated reporting system used by employers to report income and employment information to the Norwegian Tax Administration, NAV and Statistics Norway. The statistics cover both resident and non-resident employees in Norway.

It is important to understand exactly what these numbers mean. SSB’s salary figures are based on jobs, or employment relationships, rather than individual people. One person may have more than one job, and the statistics are built from reported employment relationships.

Many industries in Norway are also shaped by collective agreements negotiated between trade unions and employer organisations.

In some industries, these agreements help determine salary bands or working conditions. In others, they may set minimum rates of pay that have been made legally binding across the sector.

Norway’s public tax lists are another source of information, but they should be used with caution. The tax lists show taxable income and wealth, not salary alone. A person’s taxable income may include income from multiple jobs, investments, benefits or other sources. It may also differ from their agreed annual salary.

Average Salary in Norway

According to the latest SSB figures, the average monthly earnings in Norway in 2025 were NOK 62,070 before tax. That is up from NOK 59,370 in 2024, an increase of 4.5%.

On an annual basis, multiplying the monthly figure by 12 gives NOK 744,840. However, it is best to use the monthly figure when comparing SSB salary data, as that is how the headline statistics are presented.

The average salary differs significantly between men and women. In 2025, average monthly earnings were NOK 65,610 for men and NOK 57,690 for women. This means women’s average monthly earnings were 87.9% of men’s.

It does not mean that every woman earns 87.9% of a man doing the same job. The overall gap is influenced by occupation, industry, seniority, working hours, public versus private sector employment, and the distribution of men and women among the highest-paid jobs.

Even so, it remains an important indicator of inequality in the labour market.

Average Salary vs Median Salary

When people ask about a “normal” salary in Norway, the average is not always the most helpful number.

The average salary is pulled upwards by high earners. A relatively small number of people with very high salaries can lift the average above what many people actually earn.

That is why the median salary is useful. The median is the middle point: half of employees earn more, and half earn less.

In 2025, the median monthly salary in Norway was NOK 55,800, compared with the average of NOK 62,070. For many readers, the median gives a better sense of what is typical.

So, if you are comparing a job offer with Norwegian salary data, look at both. The average tells you something about the overall wage level. The median gives a better indication of the centre of the labour market.

What Is Included in the Salary Figures?

SSB’s monthly earnings figure includes basic monthly salary, variable additional allowances and bonuses. These are gross figures, meaning they are quoted before tax.

Variable additional allowances can include payments for unsocial working hours, shift work, call-outs, dirty work, offshore work and similar compensation. Bonuses are also included in the monthly earnings figure.

Overtime pay is not included in SSB’s monthly earnings figure. This matters, because overtime can be significant in some industries and almost irrelevant in others.

Tax is also not deducted from these figures. How much income tax you pay in Norway depends on several factors, including your total income, deductions, municipality, pension contributions and personal situation.

Average Salary by Sector

There are differences between the private sector, local government and central government.

In 2025, average monthly earnings in the private sector and public enterprises were NOK 63,310. In local government, the figure was NOK 55,080. In central government, it was NOK 66,530.

These figures should not be read as a simple public versus private comparison. The mix of jobs differs greatly between sectors.

Sector	Average Monthly Earnings, 2025
All sectors	NOK 62,070
Private sector and public enterprises	NOK 63,310
Local government	NOK 55,080
Central government	NOK 66,530

Local government, for example, includes many education, health, care and municipal service roles, while central government includes a different mix of professional, administrative and specialist positions.

Average Salary by Industry

The differences become clearer when we look at industries.

In 2025, the highest average monthly earnings were found in mining and quarrying, financial and insurance activities, electricity and energy supply, information and communication, and professional, scientific and technical activities.

At the other end of the scale, accommodation and food service activities had the lowest average monthly earnings among the main industry groups.

Industry	Average Monthly Earnings, 2025
All industries	NOK 62,070
Agriculture, forestry and fishing	NOK 55,520
Mining and quarrying	NOK 94,310
Manufacturing	NOK 62,650
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply	NOK 84,980
Water supply, sewerage and waste management	NOK 57,940
Construction	NOK 58,840
Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles	NOK 55,680
Transportation and storage	NOK 59,980
Accommodation and food service activities	NOK 42,810
Information and communication	NOK 80,770
Financial and insurance activities	NOK 88,570
Real estate activities	NOK 75,060
Professional, scientific and technical activities	NOK 76,810
Administrative and support service activities	NOK 53,980
Public administration and defence	NOK 66,440
Education	NOK 58,240
Human health and social work activities	NOK 56,340
Arts, entertainment and recreation	NOK 52,870
Other service activities	NOK 55,960

These are monthly figures before tax. They also cover a wide range of jobs within each industry. For example, the information and communication category includes everything from highly paid technology specialists and managers to support roles.

Average Salary by Occupation

Industry is only part of the picture. Occupation can be just as important, and sometimes more useful.

A manager in a lower-paid industry may earn more than a junior employee in a higher-paid one. Likewise, a skilled technical role in the public sector may pay more than a service role in the private sector.

SSB’s occupation data gives another way to understand the Norwegian salary landscape.

Occupation Group	Average Monthly Earnings, 2025
All occupations	NOK 62,070
Managers	NOK 90,510
Managing directors and chief executives	NOK 108,510
Professionals	NOK 69,650
Technicians and associate professionals	NOK 69,220
Clerical support workers	NOK 52,110
Service and sales workers	NOK 44,790
Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers	NOK 48,000
Craft and related trades workers	NOK 51,390
Plant and machine operators, and assemblers	NOK 52,080
Cleaners, helpers and elementary occupations	NOK 43,700

This is one reason why asking “what is the average salary in Norway?” only gets you so far. A more useful question is often: what is normal for this occupation, in this industry, in this part of Norway, with this level of experience?

Salaries of Immigrants in Norway

SSB figures show that immigrants in Norway earn less on average than the rest of the population.

In 2025, average monthly earnings were NOK 55,180 for immigrants, compared with NOK 64,150 for other residents. The average for non-residents was NOK 52,970.

Group	Average Monthly Earnings, 2025
All employees	NOK 62,070
Immigrants	NOK 55,180
Other residents	NOK 64,150
Non-residents	NOK 52,970

This does not mean every immigrant earns less than every Norwegian-born worker. Many immigrants in Norway are in highly paid professional roles, while many Norwegian-born workers are in lower-paid occupations.

However, the overall gap is significant. It reflects many factors, including occupation, industry, Norwegian language skills, length of residence, recognition of foreign qualifications, employment networks and the route into the Norwegian labour market.

Overqualification is also a known issue. Many immigrants in Norway work in jobs that do not fully use their education or professional experience. This is one reason why a person’s first job in Norway may not reflect their long-term earning potential.

Salaries by Education Level

Education level is another factor linked to salary, although it is not the whole story.

According to SSB’s 2025 figures, people with tertiary education generally earn more than people with upper secondary or lower levels of education.

Education Level	Average Monthly Earnings, 2025
All education levels	NOK 62,070
Primary and lower secondary education	NOK 48,550
Upper secondary education	NOK 50,690
Tertiary education, 4 years or less	NOK 59,440

The picture becomes more complex when looking at field of study, years since education was completed, and type of occupation. A short professional education in a high-demand field may lead to strong earnings, while a longer academic education in another field may not.

For immigrants, the picture can be even more complicated. A degree or professional qualification from another country may not be automatically recognised in Norway.

Some professions require authorisation, Norwegian language skills, additional training, or documentation before a person can work at the same level as they did before moving.

Is There a Minimum Wage in Norway?

One of the most common misunderstandings about Norway is that it has a high national minimum wage.

In fact, Norway has no general statutory minimum wage. Pay is normally agreed between employer and employee as part of the written employment contract.

However, that does not mean employers can pay whatever they like. In some sectors, minimum wage rates have been introduced through the general application of collective agreements. These rates are legally binding for the sectors concerned.

According to the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority, sectors with minimum wage rules include construction, cleaning, hotel, restaurant and catering, maritime construction, agriculture and horticulture, fish processing, electricians, freight transport by road, and passenger transport by tour bus.

The rates vary by sector, age, skill level and experience, and they are updated regularly. Anyone working in one of these sectors should check the current rates with Arbeidstilsynet.

For everyone else, salary is still governed by the employment contract, market conditions, collective agreements where applicable, and the broader requirement that working conditions must be acceptable under Norwegian law.

Salary Requirements for Work Permits

Salary is especially important for people who need a residence permit to work in Norway.

For skilled worker residence permits, UDI requires salary and working conditions to be in line with what is normal in Norway. If the role is covered by a collective agreement, the employee must be paid the collective wage rate.

For sectors without a collective agreement, the salary must not be lower than what is considered normal for the occupation and location. From 1 September 2025, UDI set updated salary levels for positions requiring higher education.

If the position requires a master’s degree, the salary must normally be at least NOK 599,200 per year before tax. If the position requires a bachelor’s degree, the salary must normally be at least NOK 522,600 per year before tax.

UDI may accept a lower salary if it can be documented that this is normal for the occupation in the place where the person will work. However, UDI states that substantial evidence is required.

These figures are immigration thresholds, not a general guide to what everyone in Norway earns. Still, they are important for anyone considering a move to Norway for work.

Understanding a Norwegian Salary Offer

If you receive a job offer in Norway, the headline salary is only the starting point. In Norway, salaries are usually discussed as gross salary, meaning before tax.

Second, check whether holiday pay is included in the stated amount. Norway has a specific holiday pay system, known as feriepenger. In many jobs, you do not receive ordinary salary during your main holiday month. Instead, you receive holiday pay earned during the previous year.

Third, ask about pension. Employers in Norway must normally provide an occupational pension scheme. The minimum contribution is modest, but many employers offer better schemes.

Fourth, consider working hours, overtime rules, shift allowances and travel requirements. A salary that looks generous may feel less so if it involves unsocial hours or high living costs in an expensive location.

Finally, remember that Norway is a high-cost country. A salary that looks high when converted into another currency may not stretch as far as expected once Norwegian rent, food, transport and services are taken into account.

Can You Negotiate Salary in Norway?

Yes, salary negotiation is possible in Norway, but it may work differently from what you are used to.

In some workplaces, especially in the public sector or unionised industries, salaries are shaped by collective agreements, salary bands, seniority and annual wage settlements. This can limit individual negotiation, particularly for entry-level or standardised roles.

In other workplaces, especially in parts of the private sector, there may be more room to negotiate. Specialist skills, management responsibility, industry experience and scarcity of candidates can all strengthen your position.