# Average Salary in Norway 2026: What Do People Really Earn?

What are average salary and median salary in Norway in 2026? See fresh SSB figures, how much tax you pay, differences between sectors, and what minimum wage means.

Canonical: https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/gjennomsnittslonn-norge
Language: en
Publisher: SamfunnPrep
Author: Hlib Suslov
Published: 2026-07-09T14:00:16.783+00:00
Modified: 2026-10-16T13:43:57.035755+00:00
AI use policy: https://samfunnprep.no/ai-policy.txt

## Key takeaways

- Median shows typical salary better than average Average salary in Norway was 62,070 kroner in 2025, but the median salary of 55,800 kroner better shows what most people actually earn.
- Tax takes 25–35% of your gross salary Your tax percentage depends on income, municipality, and deductions, and consists of national insurance contributions, surtax, and regular income tax.
- Minimum wage applies in several industries Norway has no general minimum wage, but industries such as construction, cleaning, and transport have extended minimum wage rates that everyone must follow.

Average salary in Norway was approximately 62,000 kroner per month in 2025, according to SSB (Statistics Norway). However, most people earn less than this, since the median salary was around 55,800 kroner.

## What is average salary in Norway in 2026?

**Average salary** is all wages added together, divided by the number of employees. SSB (Statistics Norway) is the public agency that collects and publishes official wage statistics in Norway. According to the latest figures, the average monthly salary for a full-time position was 62,070 kroner in November 2025 – an increase of 4.5 percent from the previous year.

The figure is gross, meaning salary before tax, and shows salary converted to full-time regardless of actual part-time percentage. This is the figure people often think of when they ask "how much do people earn in Norway."

Salary also varies significantly between occupations. A nurse, an engineer, and a shop assistant can have very different salaries, even though they all work full-time. Therefore, it is wise to look at salary for your own occupation, not just the national average, when planning a move.

Here are some quick facts from SSB:
- Average monthly salary (full-time): 62,070 kroner
- Median salary: 55,800 kroner
- Men on average: 65,610 kroner
- Women on average: 57,690 kroner

Salary varies considerably between sectors, see the table below.

| Sector | Average monthly salary |
|---|---|
| Government sector | 66,530 kr |
| Private sector | 63,310 kr |
| Municipal sector | 55,080 kr |

Want to understand what is deducted in tax? We explain [tax simply for immigrants](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/skatt-enkelt-forklart-innvandrere) in a separate article.

## Average or median – what really is "normal salary"?

Average and median are not the same. **Median** is the salary in the middle of the line: half of all employees earn more, and half earn less. The average is the total sum of all salaries divided by the number of people.

The problem with the average is that a few individuals with very high salaries pull the figure up. SSB has shown that as much as 63 percent of all jobs in Norway have salaries below the average. The median salary therefore provides a more realistic picture of what a "normal" employee actually earns.

## How much tax do you pay on your salary?

Most people who work in Norway pay between 25 and 35 percent of their gross salary in tax. How much you pay depends on how much you earn, which municipality you live in, and which deductions you are entitled to.

Tax consists of several parts: **national insurance contribution** to the national insurance, **surtax** on higher income, and regular income tax to municipality and state. The more you earn, the higher your tax percentage becomes. This is called progressive taxation, meaning that those with the highest salaries pay a larger share in tax.

Everyone also has a **personal deduction**, meaning an amount you do not pay tax on. Therefore, low-wage earners often pay closer to 25 percent in tax, while high-wage earners can pay closer to 35 percent.

## Example: from gross salary to net salary

Say you earn 45,000 kroner per month before tax. With a tax percentage of around 30 percent, the calculation looks like this:

- Gross salary: 45,000 kroner
- Tax (approx. 30%): 13,500 kroner
- Net salary: 31,500 kroner

**Net salary** is the amount actually deposited into your account. Your own tax percentage can be lower or higher, depending on income, age, deductions, and family situation. Your tax card shows which percentage your employer deducts.

## Can you live well on average salary in Norway?

At **SamfunnPrep** we often get questions about precisely this, from people considering moving to Norway. Norway has high prices, but also high salaries compared to many other countries. With average salary, most people can cover rent, food, transport, and some savings. Oslo and the other large cities are more expensive than the rest of the country, so salary should always be considered in relation to place of residence and industry.

By comparison, rent for a small apartment can cost 12,000–16,000 kroner per month in Oslo, and somewhat less in smaller cities. It is therefore wise to calculate your own finances before moving, and not just look at the salary figure alone.

## Do women and men earn equal salaries in Norway?

No, there is still a wage gap between genders. In 2025, women earned on average 87.9 percent of what men earned, that is, a gap of 12.1 percent. Measured by median, the difference is smaller: women had 93.4 percent of men's salary.

The reasons are complex. Women more often work part-time, are overrepresented in lower-paid occupations, and are less frequently in management positions. Norway actively works to reduce the gap, among other things through the gender equality act.

## What is minimum wage and extended collective agreement?

Norway has no general, statutory minimum wage that applies to all employees. Instead, salaries are typically set through **collective agreements** between trade unions and employers. In some industries, the collective agreement has been made into law for all employees, regardless of whether you are organized or not. This is called **extension**.

Extended minimum wage applies, among other things, in construction, cleaning, transport, agriculture, hospitality, and shipbuilding. As an example, a skilled worker in the building trade must have at least around 264 kroner per hour (2025 rate), while the minimum wage in cleaning is around 227.50 kroner per hour. Read more in our own article about [minimum wage and who it applies to](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/minstelonn-norge).

## Moving to Norway? Here is what you should know about tax on your salary

If you are a new foreign worker in Norway, you can often choose a simplified tax arrangement called **PAYE** (Pay As You Earn), also called withholding tax. Then you pay a fixed tax percentage directly from your salary, without filing a tax return every year. The arrangement is simpler, but not always the cheapest for you. Read more in our guide about [withholding tax and PAYE for foreign workers](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/kildeskatt-paye-utlendinger).

Understanding salary and tax is an important part of building a life in Norway, just as it is to understand the society you are moving to. On **SamfunnPrep** you can practice questions about Norwegian society and prepare yourself for the citizenship test. [Try for free](https://samfunnprep.no/register) and see how much you know already.

## FAQ

### What is average salary in Norway in 2026?

According to SSB, the average monthly salary for a full-time position was 62,070 kroner in November 2025. The figure is gross, meaning before tax.

### Why is median salary lower than average salary?

Because a few individuals with very high salaries pull the average up. The median salary, which was 55,800 kroner, better shows what a typical employee actually earns.

### How much tax do I pay on my salary in Norway?

Most people pay between 25 and 35 percent of their gross salary in tax. The percentage depends on income, municipality, and deductions.

### What is minimum wage, and does it apply to me?

Norway has no general minimum wage, but some industries such as construction, cleaning, and transport have extended minimum wage set in collective agreements.

### Do women and men earn equally in Norway?

No. In 2025, women earned on average 87.9 percent of what men earned. Measured by median, the difference is smaller, at 6.6 percent.

### Can I live well on average salary in Norway?

For most people, average salary covers rent, food, and transport, but the price level is higher in Oslo and the major cities than elsewhere in the country.

## Sources

- [Lønn – SSB](https://www.ssb.no/arbeid-og-lonn/lonn-og-arbeidskraftkostnader/statistikk/lonn)
- [Hva er vanlig lønn i Norge?](https://www.ssb.no/arbeid-og-lonn/lonn-og-arbeidskraftkostnader/artikler/hva-er-vanlig-lonn-i-norge)
- [Hvor stort er egentlig lønnsgapet mellom kvinner og menn?](https://www.ssb.no/arbeid-og-lonn/lonn-og-arbeidskraftkostnader/artikler/hvor-stort-er-egentlig-lonnsgapet-mellom-kvinner-og-menn)
- [Minimum wage](https://www.arbeidstilsynet.no/en/pay-and-engagement-of-employees/pay-and-minimum-rates-of-pay/minimum-wage/)

Citation: Hlib Suslov, "Average Salary in Norway 2026: What Do People Really Earn?", SamfunnPrep, 2026-07-09T14:00:16.783+00:00, https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/gjennomsnittslonn-norge