On Monday 19 June 2023, Luxembourg's national statistics agency STATEC published a report on the salaries of residents of different municipalities in the Grand Duchy.
According to STATEC, these statistics make it possible to compare salaries between different regions and to analyse the quality of life of citizens as well as the economic impact on the various municipalities. This new data (taken from the General Inspectorate of Social Security) is thus deemed important for economic planning and the development of public policies.
The statistics take into account average and median salaries, as well as the first and ninth decile of the salary distribution by municipality, i.e. the salary levels of the lowest and highest 10%, respectively. The median salary divides the wage distribution into two equal parts: 50% of salaries are below the median wage and 50% are above.
For example, the average wage in the municipality of Niederanven was €12,644.86. The median wage was €6,659, with half of residents having a lower income and half having a higher income than this. Moreover, 10% of salaries were below €2,234 and 90% were below €21,875.
Overall, the municipalities of Niederanven (€6,659), Schuttrange (€6,153), Kopstal (€6,109), Strassen (€6,070), Leudelange (€6,019) and Bertrange (€6,000) had the highest median salary levels. At the other end of the scale, Rumelange (€3,384), Differdange (€3,335), Esch-sur-Alzette (€3,306), Echternach (€3,297), Reisdorf (€3,250) and Wiltz (€3,167) had the lowest median salaries.
STATEC noted that, as the Grand Duchy's economic and financial centre, Luxembourg City and its suburbs generally had the highest salaries. The more rural northern regions had relatively lower salaries. This also applied to municipalities in the former coalfields in southwestern Luxembourg, due to "a more limited range of jobs and a less diversified economy". STATEC added that employee qualification levels and experience also played a significant role in salary differences.
