Pay and working conditions in European countries

Thinking about working in another European country? For each of 32 countries – all 27 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom – you will find the key labour market figures, where the jobs are, how to apply, pay and working conditions, student jobs and what to do in your first weeks. General advice on job search, your CV and your rights: How to find a job abroad – 10 practical guides »

Found: 1

Iceland

No statutory minimum wage. Minimum pay is negotiated for each sector by the social partners and can differ between sectors – but salaries and terms of employment may never be lower than in the collective agreements.
Working time: daytime work is usually 40 hours a week (173.33 hours a month); work beyond that is paid extra. On average you may not work more than 48 hours a week over a 4-month period. You get at least 11 hours of continuous rest a day, and a break of at least 15 minutes on days longer than 6 hours.
Overtime is paid per hour at 1.0385% of your monthly daytime wage. Shift work gets at least 33% extra from 17:00 to 24:00 on weekdays and 45% from 24:00 to 08:00.
Holidays: at least 2 working days for each month worked – 24 working days a year – with at least 14 days in the summer period (2 May–15 September). A holiday allowance of at least 10.17% of total wages is set aside whenever salary is paid.
Sick leave: at least 2 days for each month worked.
Contract: if your job lasts more than a month and you normally work more than 8 hours a week, you must get a written contract or confirmation within 2 months of starting. It refers to the collective agreement and states your pay, working hours, pension fund and notice period.

Common questions about job applications and interviews

Key figures: Eurostat (population on 1 January 2026; unemployment and employment rates 2025; minimum wages July 2026); for the United Kingdom – Office for National Statistics; for Liechtenstein – national statistics. Country information: EURES – Living and working conditions, public employment services and the official government websites listed under each country. Rules, thresholds and amounts can change – check the official sources before you move. Updated: October 2026.

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