Gross vs Net Salary
Gross salary
The full amount in your contract or job offer, before anything is taken out. This is the number recruiters quote.
Net salary
What actually arrives in your bank account after tax and deductions. This is the number your budget lives on.
| Gross salary | Net salary | |
|---|---|---|
| Also called | Pre-tax pay, base salary | Take-home pay, after-tax pay |
| What is deducted between them | — | Income tax, social security / national insurance, pension contributions, health premiums |
| Typical gap | — | Commonly 20–35% lower than gross, depending on country and income |
| Used for | Job offers, raises, salary comparisons | Budgeting, rent affordability, loan applications |
The bottom line
Always negotiate in gross but budget in net. When comparing job offers across countries or contract types, convert both to net first — a higher gross can easily be a lower take-home.