Greek Minimum Wage: €920 a Month and What Salaries Look Like
How the minimum wage is set, what lands in your account, why Greek workers get 14 salaries, and how pay compares with Athens rents.
The Greek minimum wage is €920 gross a month for salaried employees and €41.09 a day for daily-wage workers, in force since 1 April 2026 and unchanged as of November 2026. Because Greek workers receive 14 payments a year, the full-time minimum comes to €12,880 gross a year. After social security and tax, a single worker takes home roughly €770 to €800 a month.
The rate was set by Ministerial Decision 8934/2026, published in the Government Gazette on 27 March 2026. It raised the monthly minimum from €880, an increase of about 4.5%.
How much is the Greek minimum wage, gross and net?
| Amount (as of November 2026) | |
|---|---|
| Monthly minimum, gross | €920 |
| Daily minimum, gross (daily-wage workers) | €41.09 |
| Yearly minimum, gross (14 payments) | €12,880 |
| Monthly take-home, single worker (estimate) | About €770–800 |
The net figure is an estimate. Employees pay social security contributions to EFKA of roughly 13% of gross pay, and income tax depends on yearly income, tax credits and children. Your payslip shows the exact deductions; an accountant can check them.
The monthly rate applies to salaried staff (misthotoi), mostly office, shop and service workers. The daily rate applies to workers paid by the day (imeromisthioi), common in manual and technical jobs; it is paid for each working day, so a full month usually adds up to a little more than the monthly minimum. Part-time staff receive at least the minimum in proportion to the hours they work.
When does the minimum wage change next?
Greece reviews the minimum wage once a year. Since 2019 the government has fixed the rate after consulting employers, unions and experts, and the new rate has taken effect on 1 April. The government has said it aims for €950 by 2027. Unions argue the figure is too low: the GSEE labour institute put a decent-living minimum for 2026 at €1,052 gross. The next decision is expected in spring 2027.
Why do Greek workers get 14 salaries a year?
Private sector employees in Greece receive three statutory extras on top of 12 monthly salaries. Together they add about two months of pay.
| Payment | Size for a full-year worker | When it is paid |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas bonus | About one month’s salary | By 21 December |
| Easter bonus | About half a month’s salary | Before Orthodox Easter |
| Holiday allowance | About half a month’s salary | With annual leave, usually in summer |
Workers who joined during the year get a share in proportion to the time worked. When comparing a Greek job offer with one abroad, ask whether the salary quoted is monthly gross, monthly net or yearly gross over 14 payments; offers are quoted all three ways.
What are typical salaries in Athens?
The most-quoted official measure is the ERGANI register of private sector contracts. It put the average full-time gross salary at about €1,516 a month in 2025, up from about €1,478 in 2024. The average for all private employees, including part-time, was about €1,363 gross.
Pay in Athens tends to be above the national average, because head offices, banks, shipping, technology and consulting firms cluster in Attica. Tourism, retail and hospitality jobs pay close to the minimum for many entry roles, with tips and seasonal hours making up part of income. Detailed salary data by sector is published by ELSTAT on statistics.gr; private salary surveys vary widely, so treat them with care.
What are the working hours rules?
- The standard full-time week is 40 hours, usually 8 hours a day over five days.
- Work beyond the agreed hours is paid extra, at rates set by law that rise with the number of hours.
- Sunday and public holiday work carries a premium of 75% on the day’s pay.
- Since 2024, companies in some sectors may ask staff to work a sixth day, paid with a 40% premium.
- Hours are recorded on the ERGANI system, and many employers use a digital work card.
Rules on overtime limits and exemptions are detailed and change often. Check your contract and, if something looks wrong, the labour inspectorate or a lawyer.
How do salaries compare with Athens rents?
Rent takes a large share of a low salary. The Spitogatos property portal put the median asking rent in the Municipality of Athens at about €12.2 per square metre in the third quarter of 2026. On that basis, a 50 sq m flat in the city would ask around €600 a month, about three quarters of a minimum-wage take-home pay. Many workers on low pay share flats or live in western and outer suburbs where rents are lower.
For area-by-area figures, see our guide to rent prices in Athens, and for the full monthly budget, our Athens cost of living breakdown.
Bottom line
Before you accept an offer, ask for it in gross monthly terms over 14 payments and check that the contract registered on ERGANI matches the hours you actually work, because bonuses, overtime and contributions are calculated from that record. For disputes, the labour inspectorate (SEPE) handles complaints.
FAQ
Does the minimum wage apply to foreign workers?
Yes. It applies to all employees working legally in Greece under a Greek employment contract, whatever their nationality.
Is the minimum wage different for young workers?
No. Greece no longer has a lower youth rate; it was abolished in 2019.
Are bonuses taxed?
Yes. The Christmas, Easter and holiday payments count as salary for tax and social security purposes.
