Minimum wage for students in Belgium (2026): what should you earn?

Short answer: Belgium has no separate "student minimum wage". As a student you are entitled to at least the minimum wage of the sector you work in, set by the employer's joint committee (JC, "commission paritaire" in French, "paritair comité" in Dutch). If that sector has no wage scale, the national Guaranteed Average Minimum Monthly Income (GAMMI, RMMMG in French, GGMMI in Dutch) applies. Students aged 20 or younger can legally receive a reduced percentage of that minimum, depending on their age and the sector.

In this guide (updated for 2026) you will learn how the minimum wage works for student jobs in Belgium, how age changes your hourly rate, what you keep net, and how to check in five minutes whether your pay is correct.

🛎️ Explore how many hours you can work as a student in 2026

Key facts: student minimum wage in Belgium at a glance

• No special student rate: the normal minimum wage rules apply to student contracts too.
• Sector first: your joint committee (JC) sets the minimum wage scale for your job function.
• National safety net: if no sector scale applies, the GAMMI / RMMMG is the minimum (CBA No. 43 and CBA No. 50 of the National Labour Council).
• Age can matter: students under 21 may receive a percentage of the adult minimum (youth wage scale).
• 650 hours per year: since 1 January 2025, students can work 650 hours per calendar year with reduced social contributions.
• Low deductions: within those 650 hours you only pay a 2.71% solidarity contribution (your employer pays 5.42%).
• Same pay everywhere: the rules are identical in Brussels, Flanders and Wallonia.

Is there a minimum wage for students in Belgium?

Yes, but not a separate one. In Belgium, minimum wages are not set by one general law. They are set by collective labour agreements (CBAs) negotiated in each sector's joint committee. A student employment contract is a normal employment contract, so those same sector minimums apply to you.

Concretely, your employer must pay you at least:

1. the minimum wage scale for your job function in your sector (JC), calculated pro rata for the hours you work (part time, evenings, weekends), or
2. if your sector has no applicable scale, the GAMMI / RMMMG, the national guaranteed minimum for a full-time job (38 hours per week), converted to your hours.

An employer is always free to pay more than the minimum. Paying less is not allowed.

👉 Bottom line: a student job cannot be paid less just because you are a student. The only legal exception is the age-based youth scale explained below.

How is the minimum wage for a student job calculated?

Step 1: the joint committee (JC) of your employer

Every employer in Belgium belongs to a joint committee, identified by a number. Each JC negotiates its own minimum wage scales, often higher than the national minimum. That is why two student jobs with the same hours can pay differently.

Common joint committees for student jobs:

• JC 302: hospitality (horeca: restaurants, bars, hotels)
• JC 201: independent retail
• JC 202: food retail (supermarkets)
• JC 311: large retail stores
• JC 119: food trade
• JC 118: food industry
• JC 200: auxiliary joint committee for employees (many office and admin jobs)
• JC 322: temporary work (interim). Through an agency, you are paid at least what the client company pays its own staff in the same function.

Step 2: your exact job function

Within a JC, the minimum depends on your function category: cashier, shelf stacker, waiter, kitchen help, warehouse worker, administrative assistant and so on. A higher category means a higher minimum hourly wage.

Step 3: your age (youth wage scale)

Some sectors apply a youth wage scale for workers under 21. See the next section for the percentages.

Step 4: indexation

Minimum wages in Belgium are linked to the cost of living and are regularly indexed. Sector agreements can also add real increases. Always check the most recent scale, not last year's.

Does your age change your student wage? (youth wage scales)

Yes, it can. Belgian rules allow students under 21 to be paid a percentage of the adult minimum wage. When your sector does not set its own youth scale, the national rule of CBA No. 50 applies to students with a student contract:

• 21 years or older: 100% of the adult minimum
• 20 years: 94%
• 19 years: 88%
• 18 years: 82%
• 17 years: 76%
• 16 years or younger: 70%

✅ In practice:

• for the same hours, a 21-year-old student can earn more than a 17-year-old doing the same job;
• many joint committees set their own youth scales (higher or lower), and those take priority over the national percentages;
• some sectors pay every student the full adult rate regardless of age.

⚠️ Percentages and amounts can change through indexation and new sector agreements. Always check the current scale in the official database.

Gross vs net: how much of your student wage do you keep?

Your gross wage is what the employer owes you. Your net wage is what lands in your bank account after deductions.

Check out our student job openings too!

• Within your 650-hour quota: you only pay a solidarity contribution of 2.71% of your gross wage. Your employer pays 5.42%. In most cases no tax is withheld either, but you must still file a tax return.
• Beyond 650 hours: you pay the normal social contributions of an employee (in principle 13.07%), and your employer does too.

You can follow the hours you have left in your quota via the official Student@work platform.

Example: what does a student earn net for 10 hours a week?

Imagine a gross hourly wage of €14 (a fictional example, check your own scale):

• Weekly gross pay: €14 × 10 hours = €140
• Solidarity contribution (2.71%): €3.79
• Estimated weekly net pay: about €136
• Estimated monthly gross pay: €140 × 4.33 weeks = about €606

Keep in mind that earning a lot as a student can affect your tax status, your family allowance (child benefit) and your status as a dependant of your parents. The limits differ per situation and region, so check them before accepting many extra hours.

Student wage: what are you entitled to besides your hourly pay?

• Public holidays: if a public holiday falls during your contract, it must be paid. In some cases you are also paid for a holiday just after your contract ends.
• Holiday pay: not during your 650 reduced-contribution hours, because it is linked to normal social contributions.
• Meal vouchers, commuting allowance, end-of-year bonus: these depend on your sector and employer. If permanent staff in your JC get them, check whether students are covered too.
• Overtime, night and Sunday work: sector rules on premiums also apply to students.

Why the minimum wage matters (not just "on paper")

• For students: underpayment is money you have legally earned. You can claim back pay, even after the job ends.
• For employers: paying below the scale can lead to back pay, fines and problems during a social inspection.
• Employer brand: students share their experiences fast and rarely come back after a bad one.
• Simpler payroll: clear rules avoid payroll mistakes and endless discussions.

💡 More info if you are a working student

Checklist: how to check your student job pay in 5 steps

1. Find your joint committee number on your student contract or payslip.
2. Identify your exact job function (cashier, floor staff, stock, admin, etc.).
3. Look up the current minimum scale for that JC and function in the official minimum wages database of the FPS Employment.
4. Check for a youth scale and apply the percentage for your age if relevant.
5. Compare with your payslip: gross hourly rate × hours worked. If no sector scale exists, make sure you earn at least the GAMMI / RMMMG converted to your hours.

Paid too little? First talk to your employer or payroll office, as it is often a simple mistake. If that does not solve it, contact a trade union or the Social Law Inspection (FPS Employment).

‼️ Looking for a well-paid student job? Browse all student jobs on Student.be

FAQ: student minimum wage in Belgium

What is the minimum wage for a student in Belgium in 2026?

There is no single student minimum wage. Your minimum is the wage scale of your employer's joint committee for your function. If no scale applies, the national GAMMI / RMMMG is the reference. Students under 21 can receive a percentage of it (from 70% at 16 to 94% at 20).

What is the minimum hourly wage for a student job?

It depends on your sector, function and age. To find it, look up your JC in the official minimum wages database and divide the monthly amount for a 38-hour week by roughly 164.67 hours (38 × 4.33) if the scale is monthly.

Can a student be paid less than an adult worker?

Only through an official youth wage scale for workers under 21. From 21 onwards, a student must receive at least the same minimum as any adult worker in the same function.

What is the monthly salary for a student job in Belgium?

There is no fixed amount. Your monthly pay is your gross hourly wage multiplied by the hours you work. For 10 hours a week, multiply your weekly pay by 4.33 to estimate a monthly amount.

How much tax and social security does a student pay?

Within the 650-hour annual quota you only pay a 2.71% solidarity contribution, and usually no withholding tax. Beyond 650 hours, normal employee contributions apply.

Where can I find my joint committee (JC / CP / PC)?

The joint committee number is usually listed on your payslip and often in your student contract. You can also ask your employer or payroll office.

Does the minimum wage differ in Brussels, Flanders and Wallonia?

No. Minimum wages are set at federal and sector level, not by region. A student job in Brussels, Liège or Antwerp follows the same JC scales.

Does working through an interim agency change my wage?

No. Through a temp agency (JC 322) you must receive at least the same wage as employees of the client company in the same function.

Sources: FPS Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue (minimum wages database), National Labour Council (CBA No. 43 and No. 50), Student@work (NSSO). Last updated: September 2026.