--- title: Dreaming of your first job? This is how you determine and negotiate a realistic starting wage. description: Your first paycheck in Belgium? What to expect? And what is still open to negotiation? We looked it Up for you... image: https://blog.upliving.be/hubfs/Upliving_TheBrewery-057.jpg --- Discover our availabilities [here](https://upliving.be/en/rent-upliving) ![](https://blog.upliving.be/hubfs/Upliving_TheBrewery-057.jpg) # Dreaming of your first job? This is how you determine and negotiate a realistic starting wage. Published by [Marie](https://blog.upliving.be/en/author/marie) on Jul 5, 2021 12:21:07 PM   Your first **salary**, a true **milestone**! But before you start daydreaming about what you will buy with it, it is best to do some **research**. Because without a point of reference it is difficult to negotiate during your job interview. What can you expect? And what is there still left to negotiate? We swiftly looked it **Up** for you...   **Gross wage: know your worth** The **minimum gross wage in Belgium** depends on your sector and position. In the private sector, the minimum wages are set by the joint committee to which your job belongs. But as a **starter**, why not negotiate? To put your salary expectations on the table without any red cheeks, it is best to do your homework: check out [Jobat's **salary compass**](https://www.jobat.be/en/salary-calculator) to see what gross amount is realistic. On average, a school-leaver with a higher diploma earns around € 2200 gross.   ![Upliving_TheBrewery-057](https://blog.upliving.be/hs-fs/hubfs/Upliving_TheBrewery-057.jpg?width=723&name=Upliving_TheBrewery-057.jpg)     **Net salary: adjust your expectations to reality** You may well be negotiating gross amounts, but in the back of your mind you should keep the net amount in mind. Because that's how you'll have to live (and therefore pay for those nice things and dream trips). Calculate, based on your fixed costs, what net amount you can survive on and what you still need to enrich your life. Throw that amount through the **gross-net calculator** and you immediately know whether you need to adjust your salary expectations. ![Upliving_TheBrewery-090](https://blog.upliving.be/hs-fs/hubfs/Upliving_TheBrewery-090.jpg?width=557&name=Upliving_TheBrewery-090.jpg)**There's more to life than just money! Aim for extra-legal benefits** Is there a small gap between your salary expectations and the salary proposal? Before turning the job away... consider which **extralegal benefits** could be valuable for your work-life happiness. **Group insurances** and a **commuting allowance**, for example, are popular. Meal vouchers and eco vouchers are a nice bonus. And hospitalization insurance also gives a lot of peace of mind if you have an active lifestyle. Do you need more** mental space**? Then ask for extra vacation days. Do you live further away from your job? Then a **company car** with (limited) fuel card might be interesting, or why not ask for an electric car, electric bike, step or speed pedelec to combine health, fitness and ecology. In any case, you **choose what is important to you, **so don't go lightly over this and do a little personal exercise before going to the interview Curious about what life actually costs after **leaving your parental nest**? Then read : [living alone! But #whatdoesitallcost?](https://blog.upliving.be/en/joepie-alleen-wonen-maar-watkostdat-eigenlijk?hsLang=en)   All set Up for your new exciting life as a **young professional**?  Find your **Upliving** rental apartment [![In Ghent](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/19928326/f205bc10-af78-43f8-a8cd-88b182872127.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/19928326/f205bc10-af78-43f8-a8cd-88b182872127) [![In Brussels](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/19928326/115cb553-fb48-4869-a83b-c82f407d1ce5.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/19928326/115cb553-fb48-4869-a83b-c82f407d1ce5)       Tags: [paycheck](https://blog.upliving.be/en/tag/paycheck), [Salary](https://blog.upliving.be/en/tag/salary), [Benefits](https://blog.upliving.be/en/tag/benefits), [Belgian wages](https://blog.upliving.be/en/tag/belgian-wages), [Working in Belgium](https://blog.upliving.be/en/tag/working-in-belgium) [Back to Blog](https://blog.upliving.be/en) ## Related Articles ## [Working 4/5 as a young professional? 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