Average Salary in Italy in 2024

The latest available figure on the average salary in Italy from 2022 is €42,356 a year. Note that this figure represents the average gross salary, and its monthly equivalent is €3,529 (Source Eurostat).

As average salaries differ based on someone’s location, the industry they are active in, age, or education level, this article will dive deep into all the above.

Please note:

• All data in this article are based on official statistics and reports, such as the National Institute of Statistics of Italy (Instituto Nazionale di Statistica – ISTAT) or the EU’s official statistical office (Eurostat). All data is linked below.
• All salaries in this article are gross salary figures ( average gross salaries). That is the wage in Italy before tax deductions.

Key salary statistics in Italy

• Average annual salary: €42,356
• Average monthly salary: €3,529
• Median salary: €3,720 per month
• Average disposable income: USD 29 431 (€26,373) a year, lower than the OECD average (OECD)
• Minimum hourly wage: Currently, there is no national statutory minimum wage. However, there has been a debate in the House of Parliament since 2023 to introduce a minimum wage of €9/hour.
• Gender wage gap: 7,3%

Average salary in Italy

According to Eurostat, the latest available figure on the average salary in Italy from 2022 is €42,356 a year. Note that this figure represents the average gross salary, and its monthly equivalent is an average wage of €3,529.

A Euro News analysis reflects that in 2023, Italy’s net income was around €24,207, which situates Italy below the benchmark for European countries, which is €28,217. Italy falls just below the European benchmark, as seen below.

Other European countries above the benchmark with high average salaries are Germany, the Nordic countries, Luxembourg, Austria, and France.

Source: Euro News, Eurostat (Single person without children)

Another Eurostat graphic positioning Italy’s net earnings somewhere below the middle of the chart:

Source: Eurostat (Single without children, UK 2019)

Median salary 

According to the National Institute of Statistics in Italy, the median salary is approximately €3,720 per month.

This figure represents the middle value of all salaries in the country, meaning that half of the population earns less than this amount while the other half earns more. Salaries in Italy typically range from a low of €920 per month to a high of €16,300 per month, with the median serving as an indicator of the central tendency of the salary distribution.

Minimum wage

If the average salary in Italy is transparent, that is not the same as the minimum wage. Italy does not have a national minimum wage, and it’s one of the five European countries that do not have a national minimum wage, along with Denmark, Austria, Finland, and Sweden. However, all the remaining 25 countries have a statutory minimum wage.

Minimum wages in Italy are currently determined by collective bargaining agreements. However, this creates disparities between workers as well as vulnerability for certain workers, as their earning depend on the agreement’s capacity to influence salaries.

On July 3rd, 2023, a new legislative proposal was introduced that would regulate the minimum wage. This initiative seeks to introduce a minimum wage of 9 euros per hour, with an annual revision. It is still under debate, as it is both supported and opposed.

Northern and Southern regions’ average salaries

Italy experiences significant regional disparities between the Northern regions, Central Italy, and Southern regions. The more affluent North has the highest average salary in Italy, while the average wages in the less developed South are smaller.

Northern Italy, particularly regions like Lombardy, Veneto, and Emilia-Romagna, is known for its strong industrial base, higher employment rates, and a more robust economy. In contrast, Southern Italy, often referred to as the “Mezzogiorno,” faces higher unemployment, lower average incomes, and slower economic growth. The South struggles with an underdeveloped infrastructure, lower investments, and a higher reliance on agriculture.

Data from 2020 from the National Institute of Statistics clearly shows differences in the average Italian salary in different regions.

For instance, Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna in the North report net average wages of over €43,000, while Southern regions like Calabria and Sicily show significantly lower figures, around €29,812 and €32,680 respectively.

The net national average was in 2020 €39 467.

Average salary by city

Average salaries across Italian cities see significant differences closely linked to regional economic disparities, too. Rome, Milan, and Naples report the highest earnings, reflecting their roles as major economic and financial hubs.

For instance, Rome tops the chart with the highest average salary of €4,320, followed by Milan at €4,240, aligning with their positions as central urban powerhouses in Northern and Central Italy.

Cities like Palermo and Turin, while still relatively high-paying, have more moderate wage levels at around €4,020 and €4,090, respectively, likely due to the distinct economic dynamics of southern and northern regions.

Smaller cities like Parma and Trieste are on the other side of the spectrum at around €3,680 and €3,740, and part of the Southern region, where wages generally taper off. These figures echo the broader economic imbalances seen in Italy, where the north enjoys a higher concentration of wealth while the south continues to lag behind.

 Average salary by job sectors

According to The Structure of Labor Costs in Italy, in 2020, average wages varied significantly across job sectors.

The highest-paying sectors were Financial and Insurance activities, with hourly labor costs of €51.6, followed by Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation at €45.7, and Mining and Quarrying at €44.5. In contrast, the Accommodation and Food Service sector recorded the lowest wages at €19.7 per hour, with Administrative and Support Services slightly higher at €18.8 per hour.

These differences reflect the broader economic structure, where specialized and technical sectors tend to offer higher salaries than service-oriented fields.

Average salary by occupation

When examining average salaries across various occupations in the Italian job market, there are differences based on the level of specialization, seniority, and industry.

There is considerable wage growth for jobs like Dentists, with an average salary of €8,730, followed closely by top executive positions like Chief Executive Officer and Attorney, earning around €8,480 and €7,500, respectively. On the other end of the spectrum, some of the lowest-paying jobs are in service industries, with roles like Waiter/Waitress earning €1,240 and Teller earning €1,390.

Below is a comparison of average salaries for selected job titles across different sectors, offering insight into how much workers in these fields earn annually, Salaryexplorer.com:

Gender pay gap

According to the Global Gender Gap Index 2024 Edition, the gender pay gap in Italy was reduced to 7.3% in 2023.

Data from the last years shows a big improvement in gender pay disparities in Italy, as in 2016, Italy had a gender pay gap of 12.7%, followed by 11.5% in 2022.

Hallmarks of the labor market in Italy

Distinct features, including regional disparities, wage gaps by occupation, and high costs in certain sectors, characterize the Italian labor market. Key highlights include:

• Social charges and employment protection: Italy has relatively high labor costs due to social security contributions, around 27.7% of the total labor costs, with significant employer contributions. These costs contribute to Italy’s relatively high non-wage costs, making it expensive for businesses to hire or outsource.
• There is a high degree of employment protection and labor market rigidity, with strong unions and labor laws making it difficult to hire and fire employees, which contributes to a lower job turnover.
• Unemployment and youth employment: Italy has struggled with high youth unemployment, with rates over 30% in recent years, particularly in the South. The overall unemployment rate remains above the EU average, highlighting challenges in integrating younger workers into the workforce.
• Significant regional disparities, with much higher unemployment in southern Italy compared to the more industrialized north.
• There is a large informal economy and an incidence of undeclared work, estimated to be around 15-20% of GDP. This is more pronounced in certain agriculture, construction, and domestic services sectors.

Comparison with other countries

When comparing salaries across the European countries mentioned, Italy (average annual: €42,356) falls in the middle of the range. Italy’s wages are higher than those in France (average annual: €39,800), Poland (average annual: ~€26,760), Portugal (average annual: €26,948), and Romania (average annual: ~€22,468).

However, Italy’s salaries are lower than those in Germany (average annual: €50,250), the UK (average annual: ~€42,210), and Switzerland, which has significantly higher wages (average annual: CHF 81,456) compared to all other countries listed.

It’s worth noting that these comparisons don’t consider differences in cost of living, taxation, or purchasing power between countries.

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Sources:

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/earn_nt_net__custom_8614186/default/table?lang=en

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Wages_and_labour_costs#Gross_wages.2Fearnings

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Household_composition_statistics

https://www.euronews.com/business/2024/07/08/european-average-salary-rankings-where-does-your-country-stand

https://www.camera.it/leg19/126?leg=19&idDocumento=1275

http://dati.istat.it/Index.aspx?lang=en&SubSessionId=06203edd-5e24-4fcb-a05e-62ed699222dc

https://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/italy

https://www.istat.it/it/files//2023/02/SR_LCS2020_EN.pdf

https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GGGR_2024.pdf