Statec, the national statistics bureau, said that financial sector workers earned an gross average salary of €99,250 in 2018, compared to €33,796 for hospitality sector employees.

The national average across all sectors was an annual gross salary of €65,801.

Statec said the figures were based on full-time equivalent positions, for jobs worked during an entire year, and including bonuses, incentives and overtime pay. The results of its salary survey were released on 11 September.

The second highest average was found in the education sector (€98,835), followed by those working in scientific, technical and specialised activities (€88,721), and the public sector (€86,582).

On the other end of the pay scale were jobs in the administrative and support services and property sector (€40,483), construction (€42,750) and the retail sector (€46,766).

Median pay comparison

However, when comparing median pay, which is perhaps more representative of what a typical worker earns, the ranking switched. Education (€96,563) topped the table, followed by the financial sector (€81,005) and the public sector (€78,702).

The national median pay was €49,458. The lowest median annual salary was found in the retail (€36,304), administrative and support (€34,243), and hospitality (€30,313) sectors, according to Statec.

Demographic comparisons

Other differences in average salary were observed between women (€62,675) and men (€67,675), cross-border commuters (€57,489) and residents (€73,251), and foreign nationals (€60,362) and Luxembourgers (€79,112).