When it comes to pay, not all workers in Luxembourg are on equal footing. In a report published at the end of March, the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies of Luxembourg (STATEC) found that Belgian cross-border workers are the highest paid in the country, ahead of their German counterparts. Workers commuting from France, by contrast, earn significantly less.
In 2023, the average annual salary of a Belgian cross-border worker reached €70,676. This places them ahead of German workers, who still earn a strong average of €69,726 per year. French cross-border workers, however, earn considerably less, with an average annual salary of €58,276 – almost €12,000 less per year.
According to STATEC, these differences can largely be explained by the sectors in which cross-border workers are employed. French commuters are proportionally more concentrated in sectors such as retail and hospitality, which are generally associated with lower wage levels. As a result, they are more directly affected by the minimum wage increase planned for January 2027.
Overall, cross-border workers remain the lowest paid group in Luxembourg. In a previous report from July 2024, STATEC estimated that their average annual salary stood at €65,487 in 2022. This compares to an average of €78,747 for foreign residents living in Luxembourg, and over €92,000 for Luxembourg nationals.
Here too, sectoral differences play a key role. Luxembourg nationals are strongly represented in the public sector, such as education and administration, while higher salaries are often found in specialised, scientific, and financial sectors.
