Average Salaries in Portugal by Profession

If you are considering working in Portugal, a national “average salary” only tells part of the story. Earnings vary substantially by occupation: managers and technology specialists can earn more than twice as much as workers in services, sales or elementary occupations.

The latest detailed official occupational dataset available through PORDATA uses 2024 earnings data. It covers full-time employees with complete remuneration in mainland Portugal and is based on Portugal's Quadros de Pessoal. The overall average monthly gross earnings in this dataset were €1,582.70. (PORDATA)

There is already a newer economy-wide figure: INE reported average total gross monthly remuneration of €1,835 in the second quarter of 2026. However, this newer indicator is not a profession-by-profession table and should not simply replace the occupational figures below. (INE)

Average monthly earnings by profession

The table below uses the latest official profession breakdown available. These are gross monthly earnings, not take-home pay. (PORDATA)

These are broad official occupational categories. A software engineer, doctor, accountant or construction worker can therefore earn considerably more or less depending on seniority, specialisation, employer and location.

Which professions earn the most in Portugal?

Management is clearly at the top of the official broad occupational groups, averaging about €3,296 gross per month in the 2024 data.

Technology also stands out. ICT specialists averaged approximately €2,779, substantially above the national figure for employees covered by the dataset. Science and engineering specialists, finance and business specialists, and health professionals were also above €2,200 per month.

At the other end, elementary occupations averaged around €1,059, while service, sales and security jobs averaged roughly €1,163.

That does not mean an individual worker should expect exactly these amounts. An average mixes junior and senior employees, different companies and different specialisations.

What exactly do these figures include?

This distinction matters.

PORDATA's monthly earnings measure is broader than basic salary. It includes base remuneration plus regular bonuses and allowances and remuneration for additional or overtime work. The figures refer to full-time employees receiving complete remuneration and, for this dataset, to mainland Portugal. (PORDATA metadata)

So a figure such as €2,778.90 for ICT specialists should not be interpreted as the standard base salary offered to every technology worker.

It is an observed average across the workers included in the dataset.

Gross salary vs net salary in Portugal

Job offers in Portugal are normally discussed in gross salary.

Your net salary is the amount reaching your bank account after deductions. For most employees under the general Social Security system, the employee contribution is 11% of gross remuneration. Income tax withholding can then vary according to income and personal circumstances. (gov.pt)

This is why two people with the same gross salary do not necessarily receive exactly the same net amount.

For salary comparisons, gross compensation is therefore usually the cleaner benchmark.

Why Portuguese salaries are often discussed over 14 payments

Portugal's salary system can initially confuse workers arriving from countries where annual pay is normally divided into 12 equal payments.

Employees are generally entitled to a Christmas allowance equivalent to one month's remuneration and a holiday allowance under the Labour Code. (Diário da República)

This is why you will often hear people describe a salary as, for example, “€1,500 × 14”.

However, do not simply multiply the PORDATA monthly earnings figures in the table by 14 to calculate an annual base salary. The statistical measure includes more than base remuneration, including regular additions and overtime. (PORDATA metadata)

When comparing actual job offers, ask for the annual gross compensation and how it is paid.

The minimum wage gives useful context — but not a professional benchmark

Portugal's statutory national minimum monthly wage increased to €920 in 2026. (DGERT)

That helps put lower-paid occupational averages into perspective, but minimum wage and professional salary averages answer different questions.

A qualified candidate should compare an offer with their occupation, experience level and market rather than judging it only against the legal minimum.

Why your actual salary may be very different

Profession is only one variable.

• years of experience
• seniority
• technical specialisation
• management responsibility
• employer size
• industry
• city or region
• public versus private sector
• bonuses, commissions and allowances

That variation is particularly important in occupations such as technology, engineering, finance, sales and management, where the gap between junior and senior positions can be substantial.

How to use these averages when evaluating a job offer

Treat the figures as benchmarks, not price tags.

If your offer is close to the occupational average, look next at your experience and responsibilities. A junior worker may reasonably fall below the average because the figure includes more experienced employees. A senior specialist with scarce skills may reasonably expect considerably more.

Also compare the complete package: annual gross salary, meal allowance, bonuses, private health insurance, remote-work arrangements and other benefits can materially change the value of an offer.

The most useful question is therefore not simply “What is the average salary in Portugal?”

What do people doing comparable work, at a comparable level, typically earn?

That is the comparison that makes occupational salary data useful.

Official sources and further reading

• PORDATA — Earnings by profession
• PORDATA — Metadata
• Instituto Nacional de Estatística
• DGERT — Minimum wage
• gov.pt — Social Security contributions
• Diário da República — Labour Code

Sources verified: 16 August 2026.