Gross-net calculator: how much of your salary is left after taxes?

How much do you take home from your gross salary?

Use our calculator and work out your net salary yourself...

• Your gross salary is the salary stated in your employment contract before contributions and taxes have been deducted.
• Your net salary is the amount that is ultimately paid into your bank account.

The difference between these two amounts is often considerable in Belgium. This is due to the unique structure of our wage system, which includes compulsory social security and tax contributions. As an employee, you often focus on your gross salary, but employers have an additional cost: employer contributions to the State. Together, these make up your total wage cost, which is therefore higher than your gross salary.

Which deductions determine your net salary?

To get from your gross salary to your net salary, statutory contributions are deducted. These deductions consist of two main components:

1. Social security contributions: This is a compulsory contribution of 13.07% that is deducted from your gross salary. This contribution finances our social safety net, such as unemployment benefits, pensions and sickness benefits.
2. Pay-as-you-earn tax: This is an advance on the income tax you have to pay each year. This amount is not the same for everyone: the amount depends on your personal situation and is calculated on the basis of a progressive tax system, which means that the more you earn, the higher the tax rate.

In addition to these two main deductions, there may also be other specific deductions, for example for a supplementary pension plan or meal vouchers.

Jobat Salary Calculator: Compare your salary and fringe benefits with others!

What factors influence the amount of your net salary?

Although two people with the same gross salary in the same position should, at first glance, earn the same amount, their net salaries can vary greatly. This depends on several personal factors:

• Family situation: do you have children or other dependents? If so, you pay less income tax, which means your net salary is higher.
• Marital status: are you married, legally cohabiting or single? This can affect your tax calculation.
• Type of employee: blue-collar and white-collar workers have different methods of calculating holiday pay and end-of-year bonuses, which can affect the net result.
• Extralegal benefits: Do you receive a company car, meal vouchers, group insurance or a net expense allowance? These benefits increase your total remuneration and each have a specific tax treatment.

Why is your gross salary the starting point for salary negotiations?

Precisely because your net salary varies greatly depending on personal circumstances, gross salary is usually taken as the reference point in negotiations. This provides clarity and consistency, including between colleagues.

(ge/cg/kv) - Calculator: in cooperation with Attentia