Any working person in the Netherlands is entitled to a legal minimum wage. To highly skilled migrants, Blue Card holders, recent graduates, and key personnel of intra-company transfers (ICT), specific minimum wage criteria apply.
The amounts below are the minimum wages for 2023 as gross salaries per month, excluding 8% holiday allowance.
General employees
The general minimum wage amounts are revised twice a year, on 1 January and 1 July.
The following amount applies from 1 January 2023 to employees aged twenty-one or older.
- Minimum wage per month excluding holiday allowance: € 1.934,40
Highly skilled migrants
To highly skilled migrants a higher minimum wage applies. Scientific researchers and doctors in training are exempted from this criterion; they may be employed as a highly skilled migrant while earning the general minimum wage.
The minimum wage for highly skilled migrants is revised annually on 1 January.
- Highly skilled migrants from age 30
Minimum wage per month excluding holiday allowance: €5,008 - Highly skilled migrants younger than age 30
Minimum wage per month excluding holiday allowance: €3,672
Blue Card holders
For Blue Card holders the minimum wage is higher than for highly skilled migrants or regular employees.
The minimum wage for Blue Card holders is revised annually on 1 January.
- Blue Card holders
Minimum wage per month excluding holiday allowance: €.5,867
Recent graduates
Migrants who graduated in the Netherlands or from a top university abroad are entitled to a search year in the 3 years following their graduation. If they are employed as a highly skilled within this search year, a lower minimum wage applies, regardless of their age. This minimum wage continues to apply, even when switching to another employer or when turning 30 years of age.
The minimum wage for recent graduates is revised annually on 1 January.
- Recent graduates
Minimum wage per month excluding holiday allowance: €2,631
Key personnel
Key personnel include managers and specialists employed with an international company. Income earned abroad falls within the scope of the ICT Directive of the EU. In this case, the IND and the UWV assess whether the salaries are competitive, meaning that they should be in line with the usual income earned in the industry concerned, considering age and position. The wage criteria of highly skilled migrants are taken as a standard.
When personnel are transferred and on payroll with their temporary Dutch employer, they are entitled to a residence permit as a highly skilled migrant, or a residence permit based on an intra-corporate transfer outside the scope of the ICT Directive of the EU. In this last case, the minimum wage of highly skilled migrants applies.
The minimum wage for key personnel is revised annually on 1 January.
- Key personnel
Minimum wage per month excluding holiday allowance: €5,008
