Typical Salaries in Denmark
What’s a good salary in Denmark? Explore typical pay by job and region, see trends, and use our quick estimator. We’ve also included expat-specific tips and links to data sources.
Overview
📊 No national minimum
Pay is set by collective agreements or private contracts—there’s no statutory minimum wage.
🔍 Transparent ranges
Ads often include pay bands or union rates, making it easier to benchmark your offer.
⚖️ Net vs gross
Offers quote gross pay. Use a net calculator to see take-home after tax, ATP and pension.
Quick salary estimator
Estimate monthly gross by title, experience & region
This is a lightweight heuristic based on common ranges—use it to sanity-check an offer, then compare with union rates and market data.
Typical monthly gross salaries
💻 IT & Software
DKK 48,000–65,000+ (Developer, Data, IT Consultant)
Jobindex IT jobs
⚙️ Engineering
DKK 48,000–62,000 (Mechanical, Electrical, Civil)
Jobindex Engineering
📚 Education & Research
DKK 32,000–50,000 (Teachers, Researchers)
Education jobs
👩⚕️ Healthcare
DKK 34,000–52,000 (Nurse, Doctor, Specialist)
Healthcare jobs
🏭 Skilled trades
DKK 30,000–41,000 (Electrician, Plumber, Carpenter)
Trades jobs
🏪 Retail & service
DKK 27,000–36,000 (Shop, Hotel, Restaurant, Warehouse)
Retail jobs
Trends & regional differences
📈 Copenhagen premium
Top salaries cluster in Greater Copenhagen—especially IT, finance, pharma and startups.
🏡 Lower cost, lower pay
Aarhus, Odense, Aalborg often pay less than CPH, but rent and daily costs are lower too.
🔄 Annual adjustments
Many union/public roles adjust yearly for inflation and sector agreements.
What expats should know
🧾 Gross vs net
Plan with net calculators; remember pension (often 12–18%) sits on top of base pay in many agreements.
🤝 Negotiation is normal
Discuss base, supplements (evening/weekend), pension and benefits. Ask what agreement applies.
🛂 Pay-limit visas
Some permits require a minimum salary (e.g. Pay Limit Scheme). Check current thresholds before accepting offers.
Useful resources
🌐 Statistics Denmark
💻 Net salary calculator
📰 Jobindex løn
Related on exploringdenmark
💼 Work in Denmark
🧾 Taxes in Denmark
👨👩👧👦 Cost of living
📄 Contracts & rights
Frequently asked questions
🤔 What is a “good” salary?
DKK 45–55k/month gross is common for professionals. Higher in IT/engineering; lower in retail/service. Your needs & region matter.
💶 How much is take-home?
Roughly 60–67% of gross, depending on deductions/municipality. Use a net calculator for accuracy.
📅 How often are salaries paid?
Usually monthly. Hourly/temp roles can be bi-weekly.
🎁 Bonuses / 13th month?
No 13th month by default. Bonuses exist mostly in private sector—confirm in contract.
👩🔬 Gender pay
Denmark has a relatively small gap; unions and reporting rules support fairness.
🏦 Pension
Many jobs include 12–18% pension on top of base pay. Check the split employer/employee.
Want a sanity-check on an offer?
Share the job title, years of experience, region, and the offer details—we’ll compare against typical ranges and flag anything unusual.