Salary criteria for employees in the Netherlands
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 salary criteria apply.
The amounts below are the minimum wages for 2025 as gross salaries per month, excluding 8% holiday allowance.
The general minimum wage amounts are revised twice a year, on 1 January and 1 July.
The following amount applies from 1 January 2025 to employees aged twenty-one or older.
- Minimum wage per hour excluding holiday allowance: € 14.06
To highly skilled migrants a higher salary criterion 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 salary threshold for highly skilled migrants is revised annually on 1 January.
- Highly skilled migrants from age 30
Minimum amount per month excluding holiday allowance: €5,688 (was €5,331) - Highly skilled migrants younger than age 30
Minimum amount per month excluding holiday allowance: €4,171 (was €3,909)
For Blue Card holders the salary threshold is higher than for regular employees.
The salary threshold for Blue Card holders is revised annually on 1 January.
- Blue Card holders
Minimum amount per month excluding holiday allowance: €5,688 (was €5,331) - Blue Card holders who obtained a higher education diploma no more than 3 years immediately prior to application
Minimum amount per month excluding holiday allowance: €4,551 (was €4,265)
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 threshold applies, regardless of their age. This threshold continues to apply, even when switching to another employer or when turning 30 years of age.
The salary threshold for recent graduates is revised annually on 1 January.
- Recent graduates
Minimum amount per month excluding holiday allowance: €2,989 (was €2,801)
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 salary threshold of highly skilled migrants applies.
The salary threshold for key personnel is revised annually on 1 January.
- Key personnel
Minimum amount per month excluding holiday allowance: €5,688 (was €5,331)
