Pay and payslips: understand your earnings
Check the period, components, deductions and payment using a fictional example.
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What to keep in mind
- Gross pay, contribution base and net pay are different.
- Compare pay for the same period and hours.
- Do not subtract employer contributions again.
General guidance for employees in Spain. The collective agreement, employment relationship and circumstances can change the answer. Seek employment advice for a specific dispute or deadline.
Read a payslip from top to bottom
Before comparing amounts, check the month, days covered and working time. Starting mid-month, sickness absence or an extra payment may change the items. Not every amount shown is money paid to you or deducted from you.
1 · Earnings
Base pay, supplements and any apportioned extra payments. Distinguish wages from reimbursements or expenses.
2 · Deductions
Employee contributions, income tax and other justified items. Ask about their basis and reason; do not copy example percentages.
3 · Net amount and payment
Earnings minus deductions. Compare with the bank payment. Contribution bases and employer contributions are additional information.
Gross pay, deductions and net pay
A payslip identifies the period and separates earnings from deductions. Gross pay is not necessarily what you receive: employee contributions and applicable income-tax withholding reduce net pay. Employer contributions shown for information are not your deductions.
Minimum pay, hours and extra payments
Compare pay with the current minimum wage and collective agreement, allowing for hours and annual totals. Full-time hours may be below 40 under an agreement. The statute provides two extra payments; an agreement may allow distribution across twelve monthly payments.
2026 minimum wage: compare gross annual amounts
Royal Decree 126/2026 sets €1,221 monthly and an annual minimum of €17,094 for the full legal working time of each activity. The monthly reference in 14 payments equals €1,424.50 in 12 if extra payments are lawfully apportioned. These are not net amounts. Shorter hours use the applicable proportion; check the full-time reference, agreement and countable items. Specific rules apply to contracts of up to 120 days and hourly household employment: do not apply the monthly figure to every case.
Fictional reading example
Teaching example, not a legally calculated payslip: salary earnings €1,600; fictional employee contribution €100 and fictional tax withholding €120; deductions €220; net €1,380. Actual rates depend on bases, contract and circumstances. This example does not establish minimum-pay compliance or correct withholding.
If payment or a component differs
Gather contract, agreement, payslips, hours and payment evidence. Request a written explanation and advice on claims and deadlines. Do not wait indefinitely for a payment promise.
Explore a worked example
One offer states €1,400 in 14 payments and another €1,600 in 12. All payments are equal in this fictional example.
How to interpret it
The first totals €19,600 gross a year and the second €19,200. Higher monthly pay does not always mean higher annual pay.
A useful next step
Also compare hours, supplements, the agreement and what each offer includes; the example is not a minimum-wage figure.
My preparation checklist
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