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Pay level and collective agreement terms for painters

In Denmark, pay conditions are established through collective agreements or individual agreements between companies and employees. On this page, you can see the pay levels and agreement terms and conditions for painters.

The pay of individual employees varies and depends on factors such as performance, skills, experience and in some cases piecework and bonus agreements. Other factors are the company's profile, geographical location, etc..

The chart below shows hourly earnings for painters who are employed as ordinary employees. Apprentices, young workers (< 18 years), managers, and employees with special responsibilities are not included.

Earnings per hour worked for painters


Source: Confederation of Danish Employers 2022. Painters are calculated on the basis of work function (DISCO) = 713110: Building painters and paperhangers

See the bar chart "Earnings per hour worked for painters" in a larger scale

The chart shows that a quarter of employees receive an overall payment of less than DKK 238,97 per hour worked. The median is DKK 261,37. The most highly paid quarter receive an overall payment of more than DKK 288,38.

Some employees receive significantly less and others significantly more than the figures mentioned.

The average is DKK 269,33 per hour worked.

What do earnings per hour worked consist of?

Earnings per hour worked is the overall amount which Danish employers pay for 1 hour of work. The payment includes all pay elements, including the agreed hourly wage and fixed and variable supplements, free choice schemes, bank holidays (public holidays which fall on a weekday), holiday and absence payments, and pensions. Absence payments are distributed across the hours worked.

Supplements for overtime and other nuisance compensation are not included.

Remuneration of posted employees must take place within the framework of EU law.

Pay elements of the Painters' Collective Agreement

The salaries shown reflect the agreements that have been entered into between companies and employees. There can, among other things, be individual agreements between the company and the individual employee or a collective agreement. The leading collective agreement for painters is the Painters’ Collective Agreement between Danske Malermestre (Danish Master Painters) and Malerforbundet (Danish Painters’ Union).

The summary shows the pay elements that form the basis for earnings, excluding nuisance compensation, for employees covered by the Painters’ Collective Agreement.

  • Minimum wage agreement. The agreement contains a minimum rate below which the basic wage must not fall.
  • Personal and locally negotiated pay supplements.
  • Employer-paid pension contributions: 10 %.
  • Additional holiday entitlement, payment for public holidays or free choice scheme: 12.75% From 1 March 2024: 14.55%.
  • Health insurance scheme
  • Right to wages during periods of illness and maternity leave, etc. under certain conditions
  • Piecework pay options
  • In addition to the agreement-based pay elements, the legislation prescribes a holiday payment of 12.5 %.

Painters' Collective Agreement 2020-2023 (in danish)

Any Questions?

Please contact the Danish main organisations:

The Confederation of Danish Employers
Dansk Arbejdsgiverforening (DA)
Telephone: +45 33 38 90 00
Email: da@da.dk

Danish Trade Union Confederation
Fagbevægelsens Hovedorganisation (FH)
Telephone: +45 35 24 60 00
Email: fh@fho.dk

Last updated: 20-02-2024