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WORKING IN NORWAY

Which industries in Norway have a minimum wage?

Many assume that Norway has a high mandatory national minimum wage. However, that isn't the case, and a minimum wage is only in place for specific industries.

Published: 21 February 2023 14:48 CET
Updated: 16 April 2023 09:15 CEST
Pictured is a construction worker.
Here's what you need to know about Norway's minimum wage. Pictured is a construction worker. Photo by Greyson Joralemon on Unsplash

The promise of high wages attracts many to Norway. The average monthly salary in Norway is 48,750 kroner before tax, according to Statistics Norway. 

However, many are surprised to learn that Norway has no official general minimum wage. Instead, wages tend to be agreed upon through negotiations between trade unions and individual employers or employer organisations. 

Non-union members are required to negotiate their own wages. This is one of the factors behind why union membership in Norway is so high. 

READ MORE: What foreign residents in Norway should know about workers’ unions

The collective bargaining agreements agreed between unions and employer organisations also regulate working hours, overtime, holidays, pensions and rules regarding temporary layoffs.

Although there isn’t a minimum wage covering all occupations in Norway, there is still a minimum wage for specific industries. The minimum wage is implemented in several sectors, particularly those with many international and temporary workers. 

The aim of this is to prevent exploitation and social dumping in industries where it is harder for workers to organise and join unions. 

The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority (Arbeidstilsynet) is responsible for ensuring that working conditions and minimum wage are met. The minimum wage for these sectors applies to those workers over 18. However, depending on various factors, such as skill level, overtime and working hours, the employer may be legally obligated to pay a higher wage.

Construction, maritime construction, agriculture and horticulture, cleaning, fish processing, electrical, freight transportation, tour buses, hotel, restaurants and catering are the sectors in Norway with a general minimum wage. 

From the end of 2022, the minimum wage for several sectors increased. You can look at the minimum wage for a number of industries below. 

Construction: 

  • For skilled workers: 230.00 kroner per hour
  • For unskilled workers without any experience in construction work: 207,40 kroner per hour
  • For unskilled workers with at least one year’s experience in construction work: 216,00 kroner per hour
  • For workers under 18 years of age: 139,00 kroner per hour 

Maritime construction: 

  • For skilled workers:  197,01 kroner per hour
  • For semi-skilled workers: 188,04 kroner per hour 
  • For unskilled workers: 179.17 kroner per hour

Agriculture and horticulture: 

  • Workers under 18 years of age: 114,40 kroner per hour
  • Over 18 years of age – employed for up to 12 weeks: 134,40 kroner per hour
  • Over 18 years of age – employed 12 to 24 weeks (3-6 months): 139,90 kroner per hour
  • Permanently unskilled workers: 154,30 kroner per hour (skilled workers earn an extra 14 kroner per hour

Cleaning: 

Workers who perform cleaning work shall have a minimum hourly rate of 204,54 kroner per hour, with those who work nights earning at least 27 kroner per hour more. 

Fish processing: 

  • For skilled workers: 213,78 kroner per hour 
  • For production workers: 199,78 kroner per hour

Electricians:

  • For skilled workers carrying out skilled work: 234,14 kroner per hour 
  • Other workers: 205,46 kroner per hour

Freight transport by road: 

  • All employees carrying out freight transport by road (with vehicles with a total weight of over 3.5 tonnes): 196,50 kroner 

Hotels, restaurants and catering: 

  • Workers aged over 20 and workers aged over 18 with four months of work experience: 179,94 kroner per hour. These minimum wages exclude tips and don’t apply to managers and middle managers, such as head chefs or head waiters. 

The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority ensures compliance with the rules and can impose injunctions and issue fines if they are broken. In case of severe violations, the employer may be reported to the police. You can find a basic overview of your rights as a worker here. 

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For members

WORKING IN NORWAY

EXPLAINED: How to boost your career chances in Norway

High wages and an excellent work-life balance attract many to Norway for a job. Once you've settled into your new role, you'll want to keep your career moving forwards.

Published: 9 June 2023 10:43 CEST
EXPLAINED: How to boost your career chances in Norway

Upgrade your language skills

Plenty of jobs and careers can be done in Norway without strong Norwegian language skills.

However, to advance your career, including with firms where the working language is English, you will want to invest in learning the language.

Generally, the B1 and B2 levels of the Common European Framework of Reference should be enough to help you navigate working life in Norway. However, taking things to the next level and moving up to the C level could boost your job prospects. A C-level certificate helps demonstrate your Norwegian language proficiency and that you have invested in Norwegian.

The better your language skills, the more options you will have open to you. Not just this, conversing with Norwegian colleagues in their native language will also help you gel with your team more, which will prove beneficial if you wish to progress your career within one company.

Get to grips with Norwegian working culture

Like most other countries, Norway has a hierarchical structure in workplaces. However, great emphasis is placed on the belief that all employees can express their opinion on the best way to tackle the task at hand. Transparency and honesty are valued.

Workers in Norway are also expected to be able to take the initiative and work independently when required. This means many should be confident in making their voice heard constructively and getting to work rather than waiting for direct instructions or orders.

Due to the more laidback and informal office culture, workers are expected to, to varying degrees, socialise outside of work, either in the form of after-work drinks or team-building activities.

While every office or department has its own politics, coworkers should be seen much more as collaborators than competitors.

Building a rapport with your colleagues will ultimately play into your hands if you wish to progress your career. Furthermore, while the dress code is more informal than in other places, punctuality is seen as a form of respect – so you mustn’t take a relaxed attitude to turning up for meetings on time.

Make sure your CV is suitable for Norwegian recruiters

Ensuring your CV is adapted for Norwegian recruiters will also help you make that leg-up.

Consider a design with not too much information squeezed in. Key qualifications are a management summary of your skills, experience, qualifications and soft (or interpersonal) skills. Some information, such as hobbies and interests, helps the recruiter relate to the person behind the CV.

One thing to consider is that unless applying for a job in a competitive environment, you should make achievements and accomplishments less about yourself and more about the team you were a part of.

Additionally, when it comes to a CV, you should only submit one in Norwegian if you are confident and comfortable enough writing one in Norwegian. If you have someone translate your English CV into Norwegian but aren’t comfortable with the language, employers may feel you are trying to deceive them.

READ ALSO: The dos and don’ts of writing a killer CV to impress Norwegian recruiters

Networking

Having a robust professional network can bolster your career opportunities. LinkedIn is a very big deal in Norway, so it’s worth ensuring your profile is fully up to date and you create or share the odd post to highlight to recruiters doing some background that you are invested in your career and networking.

There are also typically a decent amount of industry or networking events held in person. Staying on your colleague’s good side will also pay off when it comes to networking. Personal recommendations from recruiters can go a long way. Therefore an ex-work friend putting in a word with your prospective employer because you left them with a good impression can help you get a boost in your career.

Getting your qualifications officially recognised in Norway

There are around 160 or so regulated professions in Norway, which means you will need some qualifications, training or education to qualify for the role.
If you have obtained qualifications abroad, you must have these officially verified and recognised by the relevant Norwegian authority to perform certain roles.

There are multiple agencies responsible for checking and verifying whether qualifications and training obtained outside of Norway are of the required standard.

For example, healthcare workers must assess their written and verbal Norwegian language proficiency and may be sent on additional courses to learn about the country’s health system. Applicants must cover the cost of additional language training.

Getting your qualifications verified confirms to Norwegian employers that your training equates to the corresponding Norwegian qualification. 

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