Half of employees in Flanders now earn more than €3,585 gross per month, according to the latest salary data released by HR services provider SD Worx.
The figures come from a salary barometer based on payroll information from around 400,000 full-time workers across Belgium. The median salary — the point at which half of workers earn more and half earn less — has climbed to €3,585 in Flanders.
Brussels still leads the pay rankings
Salaries remain significantly higher in Brussels than elsewhere in the country. The capital’s median wage has now reached €4,200 gross per month, almost 30% higher than five years ago and at least €600 more than any other Belgian province.
Economists say this gap is largely explained by the concentration of international corporations, EU institutions and service-sector jobs in Brussels. Belgium’s system of automatic wage indexation, which adjusts salaries in line with inflation, has also pushed earnings upward in recent years.
Regional wage growth picking up
While Brussels still dominates, several Flemish regions are beginning to narrow the gap. Over the past year, the strongest wage increases were recorded in Limburg and West Flanders, where median salaries rose 2.6% and 2.5% respectively.
In Limburg, the median monthly wage has reached €3,600, putting it almost on par with Antwerp (€3,605) and East Flanders (€3,595). Flemish Brabant follows closely behind with a median salary of €3,580.
Despite recent growth, West Flanders still records the lowest median salary in the region, although it has now crossed the €3,500 threshold, reaching €3,515.
Industry shapes salary levels
Salary differences across regions often reflect the type of industries present locally. Areas with large corporate headquarters, technology firms or pharmaceutical companies typically offer higher wages and stronger career prospects. These sectors also tend to employ more highly educated workers.
By contrast, regions where employment is more focused on industrial production or manual labour generally report lower median salaries.
Overall, the latest figures highlight a labour market where wages are steadily rising, but significant regional differences remain across Belgium. Photo by Phil Whitehouse, Wikimedia commons.