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

Norway

No general minimum wage. Pay is set in collective agreements or agreed with your employer, but legally binding minimum wages apply in nine sectors, including construction, cleaning, electrical work, fish processing, agriculture, road freight, tour bus transport, the automotive industry and hospitality. Examples (from 15 June 2025): cleaning NOK 236.54 an hour (18+), hotels, restaurants and catering NOK 204.79 an hour (starting wage from age 20).
Working time: normally at most 9 hours a day and 40 hours a week, with at least 11 hours of rest between working days. If you work more than 5.5 hours you get a break – at least 30 minutes in total if you work 8 hours or more.
Overtime is paid with a bonus of at least 40%. Limits: 10 hours in 7 days, 25 hours in 4 weeks and 200 hours in 52 weeks.
Holidays: at least 25 working days a year (Saturdays count, so about 4 weeks and a day); you can take 3 weeks in a row between 1 June and 30 September. Holiday pay (feriepenger) is at least 10.2% (12% where a collective agreement gives a fifth week). It is earned in the year before – if you did not work last year, you have no holiday pay saved up, but you still have the right to holiday.
Contract: a written contract is compulsory for every job – permanent, temporary, part-time, casual or on-call. If the job lasts more than a month, you must have it no later than 7 days after you start.

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.

StudentNews Group Websites for students and future students — in Poland since 2007, across Europe since 2014. Over 50 websites and millions of users a year (Google Analytics). Studies in Europe Universities in Europe Bachelor’s Master’s Doctorate MBA Study guide Work abroad Travel For partners Advertising and cooperation Reach (online report) Contact advertising@studentnews.eu © 2003–2026 Grupa StudentNews.pl sp. z o.o., Modlnica, Poland