The top 5 highest-paying professions in Belgium
Jul 19, 2023 5:32:35 PM
Living and working in Belgium offers a plethora of benefits, including a high quality of life, central location in the heart of Europe, excellent medical and educational systems, and a robust, resilient economy. However, the cost of living can be expensive here compared to other countries in Europe. If you’re looking to relocate to Belgium, you will want to figure out the average living expenses and salaries in more detail. Here we look at the top five paying careers in Belgium to help get you started. **Medical specialists** The medical sector in Belgium is extremely robust, with high standards of care provided across the country. Medical specialists, such as surgeons, anaesthesiologists, and cardiologists, are among the highest paying medical professionals in the field. While average salaries are hard to give as each will depend upon the specialisation, location, and experience, salaries range between EUR150,000 to EUR300,000 per year for these types of roles. **Pharmaceutical CEOs** Those working in senior management or leadership roles within the pharmaceutical sector can be extremely well paid. Some of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies have their headquarters in Belgium, including GSK Vaccines, UCB, and Janssen Pharmaceutica (which is part of the Johnson & Johnson group). The sector employs over 35,000 people across the country, and so managerial roles here can be very demanding. Overseeing the development, sales, and distribution of products, salaries for CEOs that work in the pharmaceutical field average around EUR200,000 per year, with some even hitting close to half a million euros a year. **Corporate lawyers** Corporate lawyers are paid well around the world, so it’s no surprise that Belgium follows suit. As Belgium has a strong selection of multinational companies holding their headquarters there, especially in Brussels, the need for experienced corporate lawyers is high. On average corporate lawyers in Belgium can expect around EUR100,000 to EUR120,000 per year, but the majority also benefit from performance-based bonuses which can dramatically increase their income. **Banking and finance executives** Professionals working in the banking and finance world are well paid across the world, with investment bankers, financial analysts, and wealth managers often earning the highest salaries. Their roles can be extremely demanding and complex, dealing with millions of euros in transactions and assets daily. Most professionals within this sector in Belgium are rewarded with high bonuses on a quarterly or annual basis, and so average salaries are difficult to produce. However, such a versatile and strong sector in Belgium, you can be certain that those working as banking and finance executives here are very well remunerated. **IT senior managers** Senior managers and leaders within the technology sector in Belgium are well sought-after and well paid. From cyber security and data analysts to app development and tech innovation, the IT sector in Belgium is booming and is expected to grow over 26% (by a total of USD2.3 billion) by 2028. Salaries in the sector are robust and senior managers can expect to receive a 6-figure annual salary as well as enticing bonuses and corporate benefits. _If you’re looking to make the move to Belgium to work and would like to find out some more information about your specific industry, get in touch with one of our team members today.