Jobs and wages by regionArticle 2 of 5 · 5 min read
How salaries differ by region and city in Spain
Shows how typical pay in Spain varies by region and city, and how to read average versus median figures. It is for newcomers who need realistic local salary numbers before planning their income.
Key rules
- Median: Plan with the median, which runs roughly 15–20% below the mean.
- Top regions: Madrid and the Basque Country have the highest average pay; Extremadura, Canarias, Andalucía, Murcia and Galicia the lowest.
- Big cities: Madrid and Barcelona typically pay 10–20% more than Valencia, Málaga and Seville.
- Minimum wage: The 2026 minimum wage is €1,221 a month in 14 payments, or €17,094 a year.
Regional figures come from the 2022 survey and city ranges are rough estimates, so check current local pay for your sector before relying on them.
Use the median, not the average
Plan your income with the median. The median is the wage that splits earners in half: half earn more, half earn less. The mean (the average) is pulled up by a minority of very high salaries, so it looks better than what a typical worker takes home.
In Spain's national wage survey the median sits roughly 15–20% below the mean. For 2022, the national mean was about €26,900 gross a year and the median about €22,700. A later edition shows higher figures, with a national mean around €28,000.
Both figures include part-time and temporary workers. If you have a skilled, full-time job lined up, expect to earn more than either number.
Pay by region
All figures below are gross yearly means for employees, from the 2022 survey. Gross means before tax and social security.
- Highest: the Basque Country (about €33,000–36,000) and Madrid (about €30,000 or more).
- Next: Navarra (about €30,000–31,000) and Catalonia (around €30,000).
- Lowest: Extremadura, Canarias, Andalucía, Murcia and Galicia (about €22,000–24,000).
Because the median is lower than the mean, a typical worker in the lowest regions earns noticeably less than these numbers suggest.
Pay by city and job
These are rough gross yearly ranges for employees, for about 2024–2025. Use them as a starting point, not a promise.
- Software developer: €28,000–50,000 in Madrid and Barcelona; €24,000–40,000 in Valencia, Málaga and Seville; €28,000–45,000 in Bilbao.
- Engineer: €28,000–45,000.
- Accountant or finance analyst: €24,000–40,000.
- Marketing specialist: €22,000–35,000.
- Nurse in the public system: €27,000–35,000.
- Customer service with languages: €18,000–28,000.
- Hospitality staff: €17,000–21,000.
Madrid and Barcelona typically pay 10–20% more than Valencia, Málaga and Seville. Bilbao is close to Madrid for industrial and engineering roles. The table below compares sectors by city.
The legal floor
The minimum wage for 2026 is €1,221 a month in 14 payments, which is €17,094 a year. In 2025 it was €1,184 a month, or €16,576 a year. The government adjusts it each year. Part-time jobs get a pro-rated amount.
Jobs at the low end of the hospitality and customer-service ranges sit close to this floor, so check your offer against it.
How to use these numbers
- Find the median for your region, then compare your sector and experience level.
- Check whether an offer is quoted in 12 or 14 payments, since that changes your monthly pay.
- Remember that higher pay in Madrid and Barcelona usually comes with higher living costs.
Main sectors and wage levels by city
Madrid and Barcelona pay the most. Valencia, Málaga and Seville are typically 10-20% lower, and Bilbao sits close to Madrid for industrial and engineering jobs. Find your field in the table, then check the pay column.
| City | Main sectors | Software developer (gross a year) | Wage level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madrid | Business services, ICT, finance, public administration, health, education, commerce | €28,000-50,000 | Highest |
| Barcelona | Business services, tourism, commerce, tech, life sciences, logistics and the port, design and media | €28,000-50,000 | Highest |
| Valencia | Services, port and logistics, commerce, tourism, public sector, growing tech and shared services | €24,000-40,000 | 10-20% below Madrid and Barcelona |
| Málaga | Tourism and hospitality, commerce, construction, a growing tech cluster | €24,000-40,000 | 10-20% below Madrid and Barcelona |
| Seville | Public administration, services, commerce, tourism, aerospace, healthcare | €24,000-40,000 | 10-20% below Madrid and Barcelona |
| Bilbao | Industry-related services, finance, energy, engineering, port logistics, healthcare, commerce | €28,000-45,000 | Close to Madrid for industrial and engineering roles |
Typical pay for other roles
These are typical gross annual salaries for the six cities. Expect the upper end in Madrid and Barcelona and the lower end elsewhere.
| Role | Gross a year |
|---|---|
| Engineer | €28,000-45,000 |
| Accountant or finance analyst | €24,000-40,000 |
| Nurse (public system) | €27,000-35,000 |
| Marketing specialist | €22,000-35,000 |
| Customer service with languages | €18,000-26,000 |
| Hospitality staff | €16,000-22,000 |
These are rough ranges, not offers. Before you decide, compare them with current job listings for your role in your target city.
Frequently asked questions
Which figure should I use to plan my own income, the average or the median?
Use the median for a typical salary. The average is pulled up by a small group of very high earners, and the median is usually 15–20% lower. Both include part-time and temporary workers, so full-time skilled roles often pay more than either.
How much more do Madrid and Barcelona pay than other big cities?
Madrid and Barcelona are typically 10–20% above Valencia, Málaga and Seville. Bilbao sits close to Madrid for industrial and engineering roles. A developer can expect roughly €28,000–50,000 in Madrid or Barcelona, against €24,000–40,000 in Valencia, Málaga or Seville.
What pay can I expect in service jobs such as hospitality or customer support?
Hospitality staff typically earn €16,000–22,000 gross a year. Customer-service roles that need languages pay about €18,000–26,000. Compare these with the minimum wage of €17,094 per year in 14 payments for 2026.
Is the minimum wage the same in every region?
Yes, it is one national figure: €1,221 per month in 14 payments for 2026, up from €1,184 in 2025.
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Always verify important information with the relevant official authority or a qualified adviser before acting. This website uses large language models together with various public data sources, official government documents and other established sources. Due to the amount of data on this website, some information might be wrong. Information may also be incomplete or outdated.