Average Salary in Barcelona
People living in Barcelona earned an average gross salary income of €36,466 in 2024, or about €3,039 a month over 12 payments, according to Idescat. That is 15% above the Catalan average of €31,746. Women averaged €33,349 and men €39,602.
Idescat, the statistics institute of Catalonia, publishes city-level pay for Barcelona in its territorial salary statistics. The figures come from the social security continuous sample of working lives and show the gross salary income of residents who earn a salary, by place of residence. Idescat labels the series experimental. The latest data are for 2024, published on 17 December 2025.
Gross salary income in Barcelona and Catalonia, 2024
Average gross salary income by sector, Barcelona residents, 2024
How to read Barcelona pay figures
The average gross salary income of Barcelona residents was €36,466 in 2024, up 3.0% from €35,402 in 2023. The figure covers everyone living in the city who earned a salary during the year, including part-time and temporary staff, so it sits below what a full-time employee earns. Full-time employees averaged €39,515, part-time employees €20,315. Women's average was 84.2% of men's. Pay depends a lot on the sector: €48,608 in communications, finance and real estate against €25,055 in transport, storage and hospitality.
Barcelona compared with Catalonia and Spain
Barcelona's average was 15% above the Catalan average of €31,746 in the same statistics. Nearby, Sant Cugat del Vallès averaged €54,549 and L'Hospitalet de Llobregat €26,638. A different survey, INE's annual wage structure survey, also published by Idescat for Catalonia, puts average gross annual pay per employee at €31,730.05 in Catalonia and €29,540.26 in Spain for 2024. It counts employees by workplace, not by home, and publishes no figure for the city.
Setting pay for a Barcelona hire
New rents in Barcelona averaged €1,139 a month in early 2026, as our cost of living in Barcelona page shows. Plan for 30.65% employer social security on top of pay: our Barcelona guide works through the cost, and the guide to hiring in Spain covers the national rules. Need help with the search? We find, screen and shortlist remote professionals across Europe, with 3 candidates within 21 days. See how placement works.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change and collective agreements can set different terms. Confirm with a local accountant or lawyer before you hire.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary in Barcelona?
€36,466 a year in 2024, the average gross salary income of people living in Barcelona, according to Idescat.
What is the average monthly salary in Barcelona?
About €3,039 gross a month, based on the 2024 annual average of €36,466 divided by 12. Many Spanish employers pay in 14 installments, so the monthly payslip can be lower.
How does Barcelona pay compare with Catalonia?
The Barcelona average of €36,466 was 15% above the Catalan average of €31,746 in 2024, in Idescat's territorial salary statistics.
Which sectors pay the most in Barcelona?
Communications, financial and real estate activities averaged €48,608 in 2024, followed by industry at €46,911. Transport, storage and hospitality had the lowest average, €25,055.
How big is the gender pay gap in Barcelona?
In 2024 women living in Barcelona earned an average of €33,349 and men €39,602, so women earned 84.2% of what men earned on average.
Sources
- Idescat via govern.cat, Estadística de salaris territorial 2024. Checked 3 Nov 2026.
- Idescat, Annual wage structure survey 2024, Catalonia. Checked 3 Nov 2026.
- INE, Encuesta Anual de Estructura Salarial 2024. Checked 3 Nov 2026.
