Poles earn an average of NOK 45,000. How much is left after tax?
The first figure comes from our calculations based on data from the Norwegian statistics office SSB for the period from October 2025 to September 2026. The second is a tax estimate, not a statistic of how much actually reaches Poles' bank accounts.
Where the NOK 45,000 figure comes from
We averaged data from 12 months so that a single bonus or the feriepenger payment season would not determine the result. The amount includes overtime, bonuses and holiday pay. The statistics also include people working part-time, so they should not be read as a full-time salary. September's data are still preliminary.
| Worker group | Gross pay |
|---|---|
| People of Polish origin | NOK 45,312 |
| All workers in Norway | NOK 51,631 |
| Residents whom SSB does not classify as immigrants | NOK 53,358 |
The last group also includes children of immigrants born in Norway. It is therefore not a simple division by passport. Likewise, “Poles” here means Polish origin in the SSB classification.
Compared with this group, Polish pay amounts to about 85 per cent, versus 78 per cent in 2016. The percentage gap has narrowed, although the difference in money is still about NOK 8,000 per month.
Compare your own salary with pay in your occupation
Differences within occupational groups can be seen in two examples from 2025 data. Pay has been converted to full-time equivalents, excluding overtime.
| Occupational group | New EU member states | All workers in the occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Craft workers, including construction workers | NOK 48,800 | NOK 51,390 |
| Cleaning and auxiliary work | NOK 42,890 | NOK 43,700 |
New EU member states are a broader group that includes Poland, Lithuania and Romania, among others. The comparison shows why it is worth checking the occupation and working hours when assessing your own pay. However, it does not compare people in identical positions with the same experience. Source: SSB 12525.
Around NOK 35,000 after tax
Let us assume an annual income of NOK 543,744, or 12 times NOK 45,312. The calculation under the general rules assumes full standard deductions and the Norwegian social security contribution. It does not include other income, additional deductions or special regional rules.
| Tax system | Monthly average |
|---|---|
| General rules | approx. NOK 34,900 |
| PAYE at a 25 per cent rate | NOK 33,984 |
The amounts are the result of an annual tax assessment divided by 12, not identical monthly transfers. Eligibility for the rules and deductions shown depends on individual circumstances; PAYE requires meeting the conditions of that system. Before choosing a tax option, you should compare your own income, period of work and deductions. PAYE rules: Skatteetaten.
Pay rises look different in Polish zloty
In 2016, the average pay of workers of Polish origin in Norway was equivalent to about PLN 13,400 gross, and in 2025 to about PLN 15,800. The conversion is based on average NBP exchange rates. In Norwegian kroner, earnings increased by about 53 per cent during this period, but in zloty by only 18 per cent because the krone weakened.
At the same time, prices in Poland increased by about 54 per cent according to Eurostat's HICP index. Therefore, in 2025 the converted gross amount could buy in Poland about 23.5 per cent less than in 2016. This calculation concerns the value of the amount before tax, not the actual savings of each family. Price source: Eurostat.
In 2026, the krone recovered some of its losses. At the NBP exchange rate of 23 October — PLN 0.4194 — NOK 45,312 equals around PLN 19,000 gross. This is a conversion based on the exchange rate from one day; a bank or exchange operator may apply a different rate and fees.
How much remains after bills
The amount after tax does not yet show how much can be saved. Housing, electricity, food, transport and instalments must be deducted from your own pay if you are repaying liabilities. Only the remainder can be compared with the savings possible in Poland.
If you have several cards or loans, it may help to gather balances, interest rates and monthly payments in one place. A report from the debt register can make part of this work easier, but it does not include all liabilities, such as a mortgage. Such expenses must be added to the budget separately.
