Nearly 50% of salaried workers in Spain earn under €1,200 net a month

Around 12 million salaried workers in Spain earn less than €1,200 net a month, according to figures held by the Ministry of Labour. The figure includes both part-time workers and those earning the SMI (Spain's statutory minimum wage).

## How many earn the minimum wage and how many get under €1,000

Almost **3 million** workers earn the SMI. They are joined by another **3 or 4 million** who don't even reach €1,000 a month. That group includes part-time work, half-time contracts and fixed discontinuous contracts (seasonal workers with permanent contracts).

According to the 2023 report by La Brecha / CGT, **32%** of the working population, more than **8 million** people, earned less than €1,000 a month. Looking only at salaried workers with contracts, the INE (Spain's statistics institute) places the first decile below **€710** gross and the second decile between €710 and **€1,002**. The lowest-earning 20% make less than €1,000.

## The tax agency's figures and the weight of part-time work

The tax agency (Hacienda) reports that **12.5 million** salaried workers earn below €12,000 a year. Many work part-time, so their net pay comes to less than €1,000 a month. That is the key to understanding why the gross and net figures don't match.

**30%** of workers, some **5.5 million**, earn less than €1,400 net. And **40%** of the total wage bill in Spain goes to people earning less than €1,200 a month. These figures should be read with caution: every contractual situation is different, and it's worth checking your payslip with a professional if in doubt.