[Spain] Civil servants’ pay is now 20% higher than private sector

In Spain, new data has revealed that the average monthly salary for civil servants reached €2,800 over the past year and hit historic highs, The Corner reports.

The data, from the Social Security Contribution Base Statistics, showed that 1.2 million public workers affiliated with the General Regime receive €2,800 a month. The latest update from September 2025 puts the figure at €2,853.5.

When comparing civil servants’ pay with the rest of the workforce, the average public sector payroll is reportedly 20.3 per cent higher. 

The wage gap between public employees and the overall economy actually exceeds €500; it is currently €579. This is at a time when the average contribution base for other workers has also increased in recent years. Their average monthly salaries have not dropped below €2,200 since November 2024. 

When you add the better wages to job security (it is materially impossible to fire a civil servant), it makes sense that 90 per cent of Spain's younger population aspire to become public employees.

Civil servants are reportedly the fifth-largest group of salaried employees by number of contributors. Representing 6.9 per cent of the total contributors, they are only outnumbered by:

• Retail workers: 2.7 million workers with a salary that is €861 lower

• Manufacturing industry: 2.04 million workers with an average payroll of €2,608 per month (€245 less).

• Healthcare activity workers

• Hospitality employees: With a contribution base of €1,475, €1,378 less than that of Public Administration and Defence professionals

Source: The Corner

In Spain, new data has revealed that the average monthly salary for civil servants reached €2,800 over the past year and hit historic highs, The Corner reports.

The data, from the Social Security Contribution Base Statistics, showed that 1.2 million public workers affiliated with the General Regime receive €2,800 a month. The latest update from September 2025 puts the figure at €2,853.5.

When comparing civil servants’ pay with the rest of the workforce, the average public sector payroll is reportedly 20.3 per cent higher. 

The wage gap between public employees and the overall economy actually exceeds €500; it is currently €579. This is at a time when the average contribution base for other workers has also increased in recent years. Their average monthly salaries have not dropped below €2,200 since November 2024. 

When you add the better wages to job security (it is materially impossible to fire a civil servant), it makes sense that 90 per cent of Spain's younger population aspire to become public employees.

Civil servants are reportedly the fifth-largest group of salaried employees by number of contributors. Representing 6.9 per cent of the total contributors, they are only outnumbered by:

• Retail workers: 2.7 million workers with a salary that is €861 lower

• Manufacturing industry: 2.04 million workers with an average payroll of €2,608 per month (€245 less).

• Healthcare activity workers

• Hospitality employees: With a contribution base of €1,475, €1,378 less than that of Public Administration and Defence professionals

Source: The Corner