What is the median hourly pay in Denmark?

It varies a lot between occupation groups. Managers is highest at DKK 580.20 per hour in 2025, and Elementary occupations is lowest at DKK 272.46 per hour. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2025.

Which occupation group has seen the largest pay rise?

Craft and related trades workers has the largest relative change from 2020 to 2025, at +21.6 %. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2020. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2025.

Is the median the same as a monthly salary?

No. The amount is the median per hour worked for the occupation group, not a monthly salary and not a salary band. The median for Managers is DKK 580.20 per hour in 2025. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2025.

Can I use the median to negotiate my pay?

Yes, as a benchmark. The median shows the middle of the group, not what you can negotiate. Read salary negotiation, and use the figure as a starting point for your own situation.

Where do the figures come from?

From Danmarks Statistik's StatBank, the tables behind the Danish labour market in numbers. Each amount in this guide carries its own citation with table and period.

Salary by occupation in Denmark: what does a job function pay?

Updated October 13, 2026

This guide looks at median pay per hour worked for employees in Denmark, split into occupation groups from Danmarks Statistik's StatBank. The newest release in the dataset is 2025, and each amount carries its own citation, because the figure belongs to a particular version of the statistics.

Pay runs from 2020 to 2025, and the change between the two periods is stated for each group. The figures are medians per hour worked, not a monthly salary and not a salary band.

To use the figure in your own situation, read the section on how to use it and the guide salary negotiation. The background for the whole labour market is in the Danish labour market in numbers.

Median pay per hour by occupation group

The earnings statistics report median pay per hour worked. The figures below are the newest release, 2025, sorted from the highest to the lowest median. The amounts are in Danish kroner per hour worked and are a median, not a salary band and not a monthly salary.

Managers: DKK 580.20 per hour. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2025.
Professionals: DKK 426.90 per hour. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2025.
Technicians and associate professionals: DKK 385.26 per hour. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2025.
Craft and related trades workers: DKK 334.19 per hour. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2025.
Armed forces occupations: DKK 332.61 per hour. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2025.
Clerical support workers: DKK 325.92 per hour. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2025.
Plant and machine operators, and assemblers: DKK 310.02 per hour. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2025.
Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers: DKK 290.06 per hour. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2025.
Service and sales workers: DKK 277.90 per hour. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2025.
Elementary occupations: DKK 272.46 per hour. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2025.

How pay has changed

We compare the oldest release, 2020, with the newest, 2025, and state the change in per cent. The order follows the relative change from largest to smallest.

Craft and related trades workers: +21.6 % from 2020 to 2025. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2020. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2025.
Professionals: +20.0 % from 2020 to 2025. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2020. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2025.
Managers: +19.6 % from 2020 to 2025. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2020. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2025.
Plant and machine operators, and assemblers: +19.3 % from 2020 to 2025. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2020. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2025.
Elementary occupations: +19.1 % from 2020 to 2025. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2020. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2025.
Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers: +18.7 % from 2020 to 2025. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2020. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2025.
Clerical support workers: +18.5 % from 2020 to 2025. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2020. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2025.
Technicians and associate professionals: +18.2 % from 2020 to 2025. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2020. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2025.
Service and sales workers: +16.0 % from 2020 to 2025. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2020. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2025.
Armed forces occupations: +15.2 % from 2020 to 2025. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2020. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2025.

How to use the figure for your own pay

A median is a midpoint in a distribution. It shows what the middle employee in the group earns per hour worked. It is a benchmark, not a verdict on your own pay.

Find the occupation group that is closest to your work. The groups are DISCO-08 groups, not job titles, so you must translate between your title and the group yourself.
Compare your own hourly pay with the median for the group, and remember that the amounts are per hour worked, not per month.
Use the benchmark together with salary negotiation when you prepare a conversation about pay.

When you know your benchmark, CVm8 can help you tailor your CV and application to the job you are applying for.

What the numbers do not say

Occupation groups are DISCO-08 groups, not job titles. A single job title can sit far from the group median, so your own pay cannot be read directly from the ranking.
Median pay per hour is a median, not a salary band and not a monthly salary.
The median covers employees in the earnings statistics, not the self-employed or people outside the statistics.
The figures are per hour worked, so uneven working hours and absence do not affect the amount in the same way as a monthly salary.

Frequently asked questions

What is the median hourly pay in Denmark?: It varies a lot between occupation groups. Managers is highest at DKK 580.20 per hour in 2025, and Elementary occupations is lowest at DKK 272.46 per hour. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2025.
Which occupation group has seen the largest pay rise?: Craft and related trades workers has the largest relative change from 2020 to 2025, at +21.6 %. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2020. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2025.
Is the median the same as a monthly salary?: No. The amount is the median per hour worked for the occupation group, not a monthly salary and not a salary band. The median for Managers is DKK 580.20 per hour in 2025. Source: Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, 2025.
Can I use the median to negotiate my pay?: Yes, as a benchmark. The median shows the middle of the group, not what you can negotiate. Read [salary negotiation](guide:salary-negotiation), and use the figure as a starting point for your own situation.
Where do the figures come from?: From Danmarks Statistik's StatBank, the tables behind [the Danish labour market in numbers](guide:danish-job-market). Each amount in this guide carries its own citation with table and period.