Spain's wage gap widens as most workers earn below national median

A report by the CCOO trade union shows that 63% of Spanish employees – about 11.6 million people – earn less than the 2024 average gross monthly salary of €2,386 (paid in twelve instalments). The median monthly wage is €2,041, meaning half of all workers earn below that level. The most common annual gross salary is €16,520, far lower than the national average of €29,540. Young workers entering the labour market receive an average €1,372 per month, compared with €2,680 for those who have completed their studies. Temporary contracts and multiple jobs are cited as factors that keep many wages low, and regional disparities persist, with Extremadura, the Canary Islands and Castilla‑La Mancha posting the lowest pay but the fastest recent growth thanks to minimum‑wage increases. The statutory minimum wage now stands at €1,221 per month. While real purchasing power of the average salary rose 2.8% between 2018 and 2024, the lowest‑10% of earners improved by 24% after a previous decline. Despite record employment levels – over 22 million people – wages remain stagnant for the majority. In parallel, People's Party leader Alberto Feijóo described sick‑leave benefits as a “cancer” and suggested cuts to those benefits, echoing earlier controversial labour‑policy debates that the 2020 government decree abolished the right to dismiss employees on justified medical leave.