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How much can you earn from a summer job in Norway?

Summer jobs attract foreign workers to Norway due to the high wages and chance to experience something new.

Published: 9 July 2024 15:48 CEST
Waiter
Whether you're looking to earn extra money or gain experience, there are some key things you need to know about Norway's summer jobs if you're looking at applying. Photo by Louis Hansel on Unsplash

Thanks to its high salaries, robust social safety net, and excellent work-life balance, Norway is widely regarded as a highly desirable country for international workers.

This appeal extends to Norway’s summer job market.

READ MORE: What are Norway’s highest-paying jobs and occupations?

Generally speaking, when it comes to summer job opportunities, international workers often prioritise high wages in industries where the lack of Norwegian language skills won’t be a problem, while young Norwegians typically seek valuable work experience.

As a result, these positions are highly sought after.

Whether you’re looking to earn extra money or gain experience, there are some key things you need to know about Norway’s summer jobs if you’re looking at applying.

Why the difference between seasonal and summer jobs in Norway matters

Many people think summer and seasonal jobs are the same, but there are several differences.

Seasonal jobs in Norway are tied to specific times of the year, like working at a ski resort in the winter or picking fruit in the summer.

Due to their nature, these jobs are limited to specific periods and generally attract more applications and competition from international workers.

On the other hand, summer jobs are typically offered to cover for regular staff on holiday or to handle peak business periods in various industries.

Companies in Norway provide summer contracts in fields such as agriculture, logistics, retail, banking, tourism, restaurants, hotels, and call centres to manage the increased workload.

As a result, while seasonal jobs often see more competition from international workers, summer jobs usually face more local competition, particularly from students and young people, as they are seen as somewhat of a working life tradition in Norway and Scandinavia, and Norwegian employers value them highly when reviewing CVs.

When to start applying for summer jobs

If you’re looking for a summer job in Norway, it’s best to start your search while it’s still winter.

Large Norwegian companies plan summer job schedules early, so recruitment often begins in February and March.

This early start is necessary because many jobs are becoming more complex and require training, usually at the end of May or the beginning of June.

As a recruitment expert pointed out in a recent comment for The Local, being available for the entire summer and attending the required training are both vital to increasing your chances of landing a summer job.

In numbers: Summer job salaries 

The expected salary range can vary depending on factors like sector, location, and employer. However, Statistics Norway’s (SSB) July update on monthly salaries in the country provides some interesting insights into summer job compensation.

The average wage in Norway for a worker in a temporary role, such as a summer job, was 43,310 kroner per month. This amounts to 3,700 euros. This wage was for workers aged 25 and over. This is around 267 kroner per hour or 23 euros per hour. 

Younger workers earned less, though. Those aged between 20 and 24 made 33,360 kroner per month in temporary positions. Meanwhile, workers aged between 15 and 19 made less at 25,830 kroner. 

Comparatively, the average monthly salary in Norway is 53,960 kroner. As temporary positions tend to be in lower-paying industries, the average is lower and isn’t influenced by the highest earners in the same way the average wage is. 

Young people in the (summer) workplace

In 2023, seven out of ten young people in Norway took on summer jobs. That’s about 475,000 young people aged 15 to 24, corresponding to 72 percent of this age group, according to the most recent SSB figures.

From 2021 to 2023, the number of young people in the country aged 15 to 19 working in the summer increased by 16 percent.

This trend is partly due to the favourable job market post-pandemic, with low unemployment and high demand for labour.

READ MORE: Five things you should know about job salaries in Norway

According to Rakel Gading, an adviser at Statistics Norway, this environment has made it easier for young people to enter the Norwegian labour market.

Most young workers in the country find employment in retail, followed by accommodation, catering, and health and social services.

The most common summer job roles include sales positions (such as shop staff and fast food or café workers), nursing and care roles (like nursing staff and health professionals), and personal service jobs (mainly waiters).

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WORKING IN NORWAY

Working in Norway: What’s considered a good salary in Oslo?

Oslo is home to some of Norway’s best-paying jobs and also some of the highest living expenses. The Local has crunched the numbers on what’s considered a good wage in the capital.

Published: 27 August 2024 15:39 CEST
Working in Norway: What’s considered a good salary in Oslo?

Norway’s capital, Oslo, is the traditional landing point for foreigners moving to the country for a new job.

The city is home to many international firms and startups, and the country’s high wages and good work-life balance make it attractive to workers.

Oslo also has the country’s largest immigrant population. In 2024, 34.69 percent of Oslo’s residents were born abroad or in Norway to two immigrant parents.

When it comes to wages, figuring out what’s considered a good salary can be difficult. Foreigners in Norway are typically paid less than locals, with the biggest gaps existing between foreign women and Norwegian men.

How much money do people in Oslo make?

A good wage will depend on a number of factors, such as the sector you work in and how much money you need to support your family and cover your living costs.

However, some clues can be found in the country’s wage statistics. According to the national data agency Statistics Norway, the average annual salary in Norway was 668,400 kroner.

As mentioned earlier, immigrants make less than Norwegians. In 2023, immigrants earned an average of 50,270 kroner per month—or 603,240 a year. Large differences exist between individual immigrant groups, too.

READ MORE: How much money do Norway’s different foreigners make?

Furthermore, the average wage nationally isn’t the same as in Oslo. Workers in Oslo made 63,910 kroner per month on average last year.

The average in Oslo is skewed by the capital being home to many of the country’s highest overall wage earners, such as CEOs of large firms. Even then, the median was 56,380 kroner every month in 2023.

Another factor that will dictate whether you are considered to be making a good wage is your industry. Managing directors made an average of 92,580 kroner per month, compared to the 39,440 monthly take-home pay of cleaners.

You will need to take living costs into account

One factor that will eat massively into your income is the cost of housing in the capital.

The cost of property in Oslo ranges between 71,525 kroner per square metre and 97,949 kroner per square metre, depending on whether it’s a detached property or a flat.

In Norway, the average detached home is 160 square metres. A home of this size would cost 11.4 million kroner in Oslo when using the average price per square metre, while a 70-square-metre flat would cost 6.85 million kroner.

To get a mortgage in Norway, you can only have debts totalling five times your yearly income, and you will need a minimum of 15 percent deposit.

A monthly mortgage payment on a 70-square-metre flat valued at around 6.85 million would be 33,794 kroner, with a minimum deposit of just over one million kroner.

The good news for those wincing at this number is that there are plenty of properties in the capital that can be bought for, say, five million kroner. This would amount to monthly mortgage payments of 24,667 kroner—with a minimum deposit of 750,000 kroner.

READ ALSO: What foreign residents in Norway need to know to get a mortgage

Rent is also expensive. Figures from the rental agency Utleiemegleren show that the average monthly cost of a three-room apartment was 22,289 kroner in July 2024. A detached house had an average monthly rental price of 29,643 kroner, while a one-room studio would be available for around 13,851 kroner.

There are other costs to consider in Oslo, such as the price of a monthly transport ticket, which will be 747 kroner for adults from September 2024, and the average monthly cost of kindergarten, which is 2,881 kroner.

So, what’s a good wage?

For many, making good money simply means earning an above-average income that covers their living expenses and leaves them with enough to invest or spend.

Being paid on par, or better than the locals, will also be a point of satisfaction for many foreign workers.

Furthermore, earning more than the industry average can generally be considered a sign you are on good money – although if you work in a low wage industry this won’t be the case.

The threshold for a good income will be lower if you don’t have any dependents or if you have a partner who also works.

How much space you are after will also affect things. If you’re happy with a room in a flatshare while you establish yourself, then the median or average wage will be more than enough for you to cover your expenses and have some money left over to enjoy.

If you want a place to yourself, you could probably afford a one-bedroom apartment or studio on around the average wage—but you would maybe need to be more careful with other expenses.

Should you have a family and will be the sole breadwinner for a while, then you may need a salary in excess of one million kroner a year to feel somewhat comfortable.

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