Talent Wiki - Greece
Your quick guide on talent and labor compliance norms in Greece
Capital
Athens
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Languages
Greek, Macedonian, Albanian, Turkish
Payroll Frequency
Monthly
GDP per Capita
$21,371.69
Employer Tax
23.33% - 24.74%
Talent Overview
Greece is a developed country with an advanced high-income economy. As the largest regional investor in the Balkan region, Greece focuses on the service sector, which comprises 85% of the total economy. Service workers, professionals, technicians, and shop and market sales workers are in great demand. Tourism is the most significant sector providing jobs and contributing to Greece’s economy.
Major economic hubs:
Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, Heraklion
Skills in demand:
Software Engineers, Medical practitioners, Accountants, Food processing, Language teachers, Shipping-industry related skills, Renewable energy sector skills.
Local Universities
The top local universities in Greece are listed below:
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Ranking
Local: 1
World: 318
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Ranking
Local: 2
World: 388
National Technical University of Athens
Ranking
Local: 3
World: 627
University of Patras (incl. University of Western Greece)
Ranking
Local: 4
World: 780
University of Crete
Ranking
Local: 5
World: 872
Salary Data
Some of the popular jobs in Greece and their monthly salary are as follows:
| Job designation | Average Monthly salary (EUR) | Average Monthly Salary (USD) |
| Accountant | 1580 | 1676.95 |
| Software Engineer | 2190 | 2324.38 |
| Business Analyst | 2770 | 2939.97 |
| Sales Manager | 3890 | 4128.69 |
| Project Manager | 2710 | 2876.29 |
Talent Sourcing Tips
Top Local Job Boards
Kariera, JobFind, Jobs in Greece
Number of LinkedIn users
2,104,000
Multiplier Recruitment Partner
Employing in Greece
Labor laws in Greece follow the basic principle of equal treatment of employees, and any direct or indirect discrimination is strictly prohibited. Employers planning to hire from Greece need to manage payroll, benefits and compensation, taxes, leaves, and other regulated criteria for their Greek employees.
Employee Contract
Except for some specific cases, it is not mandatory to have an employment contract in writing. The employment details are documented, specifying the employer, employee, tenure, type of employment, and other conditions applicable to the employee during the working term in the organization. The information can be compiled in English and Greek (or any other local language) to ensure transparency and clarity on the terms and conditions.
Probation period
There is no statutory law for probation period in Greece.
Public and Provincial Holidays 2023
| Date | Name | Type |
| 1 Jan | New Year’s Day | De Facto Holiday |
| 6 Jan | Epiphany | De Facto Holiday |
| 27 Feb | Orthodox Ash Monday | National Holiday |
| 25 Mar | Independence Day | National Holiday |
| 14 Apr | Orthodox Good Friday | De Facto Holiday |
| 16 Apr | Orthodox Easter Sunday | National Holiday |
| 17 Apr | Orthodox Easter Monday | National Holiday |
| 1 May | Labour Day | National Holiday |
| 4 Jun | Orthodox Whit Sunday | De Facto Holiday |
| 5 Jun | Orthodox Whit Monday | National Holiday |
| 15 Aug | Assumption Day | National Holiday |
| 28 Oct | Ochi Day | De Facto Holiday |
| 25 Dec | Christmas Day | National Holiday |
| 26 Dec | 2nd Day of Christmas | National Holiday |
Employee Leaves
| Type of leave | Time Period | Mandatory |
| Annual leave/Earned Leave Leave | 20 days | Yes |
| Sick Leave | 30 days | Yes |
| Maternity Leave | 17 weeks | Yes |
Payroll
Payroll Cycle
The payroll cycle followed is monthly.
Minimum Wage
The minimum wage in Greece ranges from 663 EUR to 713 EUR per month.
Overtime Pay
Greece follows a 40-hour working week, which can be either a five-day or six-day week. Overtime is restricted to less than 3 hours a day and not more than 150 hours a year. The overtime is compensated in Greece as follows:
Bonus
13th Month Pay
The 13th-month pay is mandatory in Greece and has to be paid on Christmas, Easter, and summer vacation.
Employee Benefits
- Pension Fund
- Health Care
- Supplementary Insurance
- Easter bonus
- Holiday bonus
- Christmas bonus
- Vacation leave
Taxes
Employer Payroll Tax
| Payroll item | Tax contribution |
| Pension Fund | 13.33% |
| Health Care | 4.3% |
| Health in Benefit | 0.25% |
| Supplementary Insurance | 3.25% |
| Unemployment | 1.2% |
| Professional Risk | 1% |
| High Occupational Risk (industry-specific) | 1.41% |
| Total Employer Cost | 23.33% – 24.74% |
Employee Payroll Tax
| Payroll item | Tax contribution |
| Pension Fund | 6.67% |
| Health Care | 2.15% |
| Health in Benefit | 0.4% |
| Supplementary Insurance | 3.25% |
| Unemployment | 1.2% |
| High Occupational Risk (industry-specific) | 2.2% |
| Total Cost on Employee | 13.67% – 15.87% |
Employee Income Tax
| Income | Tax Rate | Corresponding Tax (EUR) | Total Income (EUR) | Total Tax (EUR) |
| First 10,000 | 9% | 900 | 10,000 | 9,00 |
| Next 10,000 | 22% | 2,200 | 20,000 | 3,100 |
| Next 10,000 | 28% | 2,800 | 30,000 | 5,900 |
| Next 10,000 | 36% | 3,600 | 40,000 | 9,500 |
| Above 40,000 | 44% |
Solidarity contribution is included in the Income Tax Code and is calculated as below:
| Annual Income | Progressive Rate |
| 0 – 12,000 | 0% |
| 12,001 – 20,000 | 2.2% |
| 20,001 – 30,000 | 5% |
| 30,001 – 40,000 | 6.5% |
| 40,001 – 65,000 | 7.5% |
| 65,001 – 220,000 | 9% |
| Above 220,000 | 10% |
VAT
The standard VAT rate in Greece is 24%.
Offboarding & Termination
The employer can terminate the employment contract by giving a notice or paying in lieu of notice. The employee can also terminate the contract by giving notice to the employer.
During the probationary period, the notice period is from 1 to 30 days, and for permanent employees, it ranges from one to four months.
In Greece, the severance pay depends on the employment term with the company. In case the employer does not give the necessary notice, the pay is doubled.
Visa and Immigration
For a foreigner to work in Greece for over 90 days, one must get a Type D visa. Also, a work permit has to be obtained within 30 days once the employee arrives in the country. Usually, work permits one year validity, which has to be renewed before 60 days of the expiry date.
