Your salary package in Belgium explained: more than gross alone
Company car, meal vouchers, group insurance: the Belgian salary package is full of building blocks. Here's how to compare two offers correctly.
Two vacancies, one with a higher gross salary: then the choice is simple, right? Not in Belgium. Our pay landscape is full of fringe benefits that often make more net difference than a hundred euros gross. Compare packages correctly and you negotiate better and choose smarter.
The fixed core
Your gross monthly salary is the base, complemented by holiday pay and an end-of-year premium in most sectors. With shift work, premiums come on top that raise the net considerably. Always ask what the stated amount covers exactly: gross per month, with or without premiums, and which joint committee you fall under.
The fringe building blocks
A company car with fuel or charging card is often the financially heaviest benefit; if you drive it a lot privately, you save a hefty amount monthly. Beyond that: meal vouchers, eco vouchers, a group insurance for your pension, hospitalisation and sometimes outpatient insurance, a phone subscription and a training budget. Each seems a detail apart, together they form hundreds of euros of net value per month.
How to compare correctly
Put two offers side by side on a yearly basis and convert everything to net value: salary plus premiums plus the private benefit of the car plus insurances and vouchers. When in doubt, ask the employer for a salary simulation; asking that question professionally makes you come across as informed, not difficult. If you apply via AltusConnect, we simply make that comparison together.
Frequently asked questions
Is a higher gross always better than a company car?
No. Of extra gross, only part remains net after taxes and contributions, while a car with fuel card largely replaces your private car and fuel expenses. Which weighs heavier depends on how much you drive and your personal situation; calculate both scenarios in net terms.
What exactly is a group insurance?
A supplementary pension your employer builds up for you monthly, usually a percentage of your gross salary. You don't see it on your account, but over a career it grows into substantial capital. Always ask what percentage the employer contributes; differences between companies are big.
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