Cost to Hire an Employee in Belgium (2026)

• Gross salary, usually paid monthly.
• Employer costs of about 44.9% at a €66,000 salary: €29,627 a year, of which the largest is ONSS employer contributions.
• An EOR fee, if you hire without your own entity. The providers in our Belgium guide publish starting prices of US$199–699 per employee per month.

Mandatory employer costs at a €66,000 salary (mid-level professional). Employee contributions and income tax come out of gross pay and aren't included.

Contribution ceilings mean employer costs can be a smaller share of higher salaries. Figures exclude the EOR fee.

• Employer social security (ONSS): About 25% of pay for most private-sector employees, plus 1.60% from 10 workers
• 13th month: One month's salary (joint committee 200)
• Double holiday pay: 92% of a month's salary a year
• Minimum wage: €2,233.61 a month (from 1 July 2026, age 18+)
• Working week: 38 hours
• Paid annual leave: 4 weeks (20 days for a five-day week)

• Annual salaries here are 12 × the monthly salary. The 13th month and double holiday pay are added on top, so total pay received by the employee is about 13.9 months.
• Contributions are for structural-reduction category 1, which covers most private-sector employees. Lower-paid workers may qualify for structural reductions that lower the cost.
• Workplace accident insurance with a private insurer is compulsory and priced by activity; it isn't included. Many employers also give meal vouchers, a group insurance pension and a company car, which aren't required by law.
• Salaries are indexed automatically under each joint committee's rules: joint committee 200 scales rose by 2.21% in January 2026.
• Employee social security (13.07%) and withholding tax are deducted from pay and are not employer costs.

Without your own entity in Belgium, an Employer of Record can employ your hire for a monthly fee. The alternative is setting up your own Belgian company (SRL/BV or SA/NV). See the comparison in our Belgium guide and EOR vs local entity.