Highly skilled migrant salaries after tax
To work in the Netherlands as a highly skilled migrant (kennismigrant) in 2026, your gross salary must be at least €5,942 a month if you are 30 or older, or €4,357 if you are under 30. Here is what each threshold leaves after tax.
Salary thresholds and take-home pay, 2026
| Threshold | Gross a month | Take-home a month | With the 30% ruling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highly skilled migrant, 30 or older Also the EU Blue Card amount | €5,942 | €4,141 | €5,041 |
| Highly skilled migrant, under 30 Keeps applying after you turn 30 with the same employer | €4,357 | €3,356 | €3,949 |
| Highly skilled migrant, reduced criterion Orientation year, or within 3 years of graduating | €3,122 | €2,685 | €2,717 |
| EU Blue Card, reduced criterion Within 3 years of graduating | €4,754 | €3,553 | €3,933 |
Gross amounts exclude the 8% holiday allowance, as the IND requires; take-home pay is the regular monthly pay, with the holiday allowance paid on top once a year. The 30% ruling column uses the under-30 salary norm (it needs a master's degree) for the under-30 and reduced thresholds. No pension contribution. Calculate with your details.
Which threshold applies to you
- 30 or older: €5,942 a month. The EU Blue Card uses the same amount.
- Under 30: €4,357 a month. If you extend your permit with the same employer, the under-30 amount keeps applying after you turn 30.
- Reduced criterion: €3,122 a month if you are in or have just finished an orientation year, or apply within 3 years of graduating, a PhD defence or the end of a research permit.
- EU Blue Card, reduced: €4,754 a month within 3 years of graduating.
The amounts change every year on 1 January, and the amount on the day of the application counts. The 2027 amounts are usually published in December. The 30% ruling has its own, separate salary norm of €48,013 a year of taxable salary (€36,497 under 30 with a master's degree): 30% ruling calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum salary for a highly skilled migrant in the Netherlands in 2026?
€5,942 gross a month if you are 30 or older, €4,357 if you are under 30, and €3,122 under the reduced criterion for recent graduates. The amounts exclude the 8% holiday allowance.
How much is €5,942 a month after tax?
With the 8% holiday allowance on top, €5,942 a month leaves €4,141 a month after tax in 2026, plus €2,825 of holiday allowance after tax. With the 30% ruling it is €5,041 a month.
Does the holiday allowance count towards the salary requirement?
No. The IND does not count the holiday allowance. A 13th month only counts if your contract says so and it is paid monthly in 12 equal parts.
Sources: IND: required amounts and income requirements, IND: highly skilled migrant residence permit. This page is about pay; check the permit rules with the IND.