Understanding typical income levels is essential for individuals, businesses and international companies assessing living standards, labour costs and competitiveness in Norway. According to Statistics Norway (SSB), there are several ways to describe what is considered a “usual” or typical salary in the Norwegian labour market.

One way to assess this is by looking at average and median monthly earnings. Using SSB’s illustrative example, dividing total wage sums by the number of workers gives an average monthly salary of around NOK 43 000, while the median salary — the midpoint where half earn more and half earn less — is closer to NOK 39 000.

Other analyses based on broader income statistics and wage reports show that a large share of full-time employees earn between NOK 40 000 and NOK 45 000 per month before tax, making this range a meaningful benchmark for what many workers actually take home in Norway.

The average annual salary for full-time employment also offers perspective: average yearly earnings in Norway can be over NOK 700 000, reflecting the high wage levels relative to many other countries.

These figures vary by sector, industry and region, with higher earnings often found in areas such as finance, energy and technology, and lower earnings in some service-oriented occupations. Factors such as experience, education and job functions also influence where individuals fall within the overall distribution of wages.

This overview provides a snapshot of typical earnings in the Norwegian labour market and can help inform comparisons of labour costs, living standards and compensation expectations for employers, employees and international organisations engaging with Norway.