The Labour Ministry maintains its commitment to keep increasing the minimum wage in coming years, aiming to reach 60% of average net salary as recommended by the European Social Charter. This measure forms part of the government’s strategy to strengthen protection for lower-income workers and reduce wage inequality. Since Pedro Sánchez arrived at Moncloa in 2018, the minimum wage has experienced a 61% accumulated rise. In 2025, the figure sits at 1,184 euros gross per month over 14 payments, a notable improvement from the 735 euros monthly paid in 2018.
However, the average salary employees receive varies considerably by region. According to INE data from 2022, Madrid (2,885.14 euros per month), Catalunya (2,574.64 euros per month) and the Basque Country (2,503.77 euros per month) are the regions registering the highest average salaries. According to a survey by the Labour and Production Model Observatory, Catalunya’s average salary in 2023 stood at 30,515.34 euros, representing a 5.1% increase from 2022.
These salaries also vary by zone where you work. Living in a big city like Barcelona means a much higher cost of living due to sky-high rents, transport prices and elevated daily expenses. Therefore, salaries are higher. To check this, TikTok profile Talent Match asked workers on the street how much money they earn. This time they compared salaries in Tarragona and Barcelona, two cities that although they’re both provincial capitals have big differences in population numbers and cost of living.
In Tarragona, an engineer states on social media that in his sector people earn between 30,000 and 40,000 euros annually, though a recent graduate barely exceeds 20,000. He also interviews a window cleaner, who claims to earn between 1,100 and 1,120 euros per month, and a publicist placing his salary between 1,300 and 1,800 euros. After this, the video moves to Barcelona, where a software salesman explains he earns between 33,000 and 34,000 euros per year, barely more than the Tarragona engineer. Likewise, he speaks with an estate agent who earns up to 5,000 euros per property sold and a civil servant whose salary ranges between 1,500 and 1,800 euros monthly.
According to official data, a notable difference exists between both municipalities. According to the Labour Observatory survey, Tarragona city’s average salary is 30,399.31 euros, the municipality closest to Catalunya’s global average. In Barcelona, however, the salary is higher. As the city council indicates, that same year the salary reached 35,402 on average. Additionally, the three municipalities with the highest average salary are located in the Catalan capital.
Join our thriving WhatsApp community with over 20+ interest groups
