Average annual full-time salary in Spain 2008-2022, by gender

In 2022, the average salary for a male employed full time was 31,785 euros whereas a female employed full time earned approximately 29,931 euros. The salary gap has shrunk since 2012, when full-time male employees earned over 15 percent more than their female colleagues. However, the gender breach is wider for permanent positions.

The gender pay gap
Such inequalities in salary are reflected in the index for gender gap in economic participation and opportunities. In the sub-index equal pay for the same job, Spain scored 0.69 points. The degree of discrimination also varies from one industry to the next. In the sectors of health and social services, and professional, scientific and technical activities, male employees earned over 20 percent more per hour than their female counterparts. Some of the disparities in pay can be attributed to the inability of women to work and receive compensation for overtime shifts, night shifts, holiday shifts, seniority, and hazard bonus.

Progress in a changing society
Economically and culturally, society is becoming increasingly fair for younger generations. Even though gender pay gaps have not been eliminated, the pay gap for workers aged 34 years and under is remarkably lower than the gap for workers over the age of 44 and substantially far from those above the age of 64. Similarly, the young adult population in Spain seems more aware than older generations about sexual discrimination against women. Despite such progress, Spaniards remain skeptical about the possibility of overcoming this issue. In 2021, over half the population deemed the possibility of equal pay for men and women unlikely. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 slowed progress in the medium term. The female workforce was particularly vulnerable to the pandemic’s economic and social ramifications, such as heightened job insecurity and the need for unpaid care work.