Check Out the Minimum and Average Salary in Norway in 2025

I’m here to talk about salaries in Norway and whether you can live a decent life on them. I will be talking about both minimum, as well as average wages here without any sugarcoating. By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear snapshot of what to expect, plus a few personal tips I’ve picked up along the way. Let’s begin!

The Quick Facts

There are many details to consider for the big picture, but if you don’t want to go through that all, here is what you should know:

• The minimum salary in Norway in 2025, after tax, is around €1,700 / month (20,000 NOK)
• The average salary in Norway in 2025 is around €3,500 / month after tax (41,000 NOK)

It’s easy to see that, when it comes to the minimum guaranteed income, Norway is very attractive. And it indeed has some of the highest salaries in the European Economic Area (as Norway is not part of the EU).

In terms of average salaries, Norway is always towards the top of various charts, similar to salaries in Sweden or those in Denmark.

Sure, the higher salaries to come hand in hand with a higher cost of living, but in the end they even out well and even on minimum wages in Norway, you could still live a decent life.

With all these in mind, let’s get a bit more in depth below and better understand the salary system in the country.

What is the minimum wage in Norway in 2025?

Norway has a very complicated approach to the minimum guaranteed income for employees. They regulate various minimum wages in 9 industries, with everything else being left for worker unions to decide.

For the sake of keeping things simple, we can say that the minimum monthly salary in Norway is around €1,700/month (or 20,000 NOK). This represents the net income, after tax.

However, these vary a lot from industry to industry. As mentioned above, there are 9 industries with state-set minimum hourly wages:

• Building
• Cleaning
• Accommodation, Serving and Catering
• Ship & Shipyard industry
• Agriculture & Horticulture
• Fishing Industry
• Electricity
• Freight transport
• Passenger transport

You can get an updated look at the rates (and also the plethora of extra conditions for each industry) over at Arbeidstilsynet (website in Norwegian, though).

It’s also good to remember that your qualifications, experience, language skills, and even the specific region of Norway where you plan to work can influence your actual paycheck. I’ve seen people in Oslo earning more than those in smaller towns because of higher demand and higher living costs.

But if all you want is that rough figure to plan your budget, 20,000 NOK per month after tax is a good ballpark.

What is the average salary in Norway in 2025?

The take-home average salary in Norway is 41,000 NOK per month (€3,500), which is an impressive increase of €600/month compared to the previous year.

Fortunately, unlike Norway’s approach to minimum wages, the average earnings expected in the country are not overly complicated. While the industry does matter, just like the city you’re located in matters, values are set by demand and the strong economy of the country.

Salaries have grown steadily over the past few years, despite the challenges, especially from the high inflation that affected countries from all over the globe.

All in all, if you’re earning the average salary here, life is comfortable. You’ll have enough for decent housing, normal expenses, and a bit of fun on weekends. And if you can split bills with a partner or friend (especially rental costs), it gets even better.

And if you’re planning to settle in there, you can learn more about Norwegian women or Norwegian men. After all, finding a partner helps you a lot!

Can Families Manage on One Income?

Most expat families moving here won’t be able to rely on two incomes right away. A single income on minimum wage will be tight if you have children, or even just a partner to cover costs for. It might be doable for a couple to a few months, but not more.

Childcare is partially subsidized, which helps, but in major cities, housing costs will eat up a huge portion of your salary.

If you’re on the average salary, you’ll find it easier to cover for the family’s expenses, especially if you’re used to budgeting and living a generally frugal life. Again, it’s best to have two incomes as they provide more stability, even when we’re talking about average wages. But overall, you would live a decent, yet modest life even on a single average-earning income here.

Job Hunting and Work Culture

If you’re moving to Norway, don’t be surprised if many employers ask for Norwegian skills. English might be enough for certain multinational companies, but in many roles, knowledge of the local language boosts your chances of landing a job.

Work culture is typically relaxed yet efficient. There’s a heavy emphasis on work-life balance, and you’ll find that taking parental leave, extended vacations, and having a structured workday are part of normal life.

Conclusion

Even though there is mostly no minimum wage regulated in Norway, salaries are fairly negotiated to offer decent money to minimum wage employees. Plus, the country’s public services, civic involvement, safety, and general quality of life sweeten the deal, all while the Norwegian culture overall is so amazing.

On top of that, the average wage in Norway is among the highest in Europe, so if you want to relocate here, you’ll most likely find it a dream country to be in, despite the cold weather.

If you have any other useful information regarding the labor market, salaries or working systems in Norway in 2025, feel free to share them with us so we can all get a better and more authentic picture of how a career in Norway looks like.

Leave your observations in the comment section below – I’m looking forward towards reading them all!

Additional source: SSb.no