A Spanish bricklayer who has spent seven years working in Norway says the country’s construction sector offers strong wages and flexible hours but struggles to find enough qualified local workers.
Pablo González shared his experience on social media, as reported by French outlet L’Internaute. He said the sector’s main problem is a shortage of qualified Norwegian professionals, describing a situation where money is available but skilled labor is not. That gap has pushed companies to hire more foreign workers to meet demand for housing and infrastructure.
Norway does not have a general minimum wage, González explained. Each sector sets its own minimums. In construction, a qualified worker earns at least 209 Norwegian crowns per hour, roughly 20 euros gross. Workers without specialization receive around 188 crowns per hour, about 18 euros, while those with little experience earn around 196 crowns, about 19 euros per hour. After taxes, net pay typically amounts to around 70 percent of the total.
Engineers and site managers earn over 6,000 euros a month
Salaries rise sharply with seniority. Management positions can reach around 62,000 crowns per month, approximately 6,200 euros gross. Engineers, architects, geologists and site managers typically earn between 6,000 and 6,400 euros gross per month. Painters earn around 3,600 euros a month, carpenters between 3,600 and 4,600 euros, plumbers and machinery operators around 4,100 euros, and crane operators approximately 4,300 euros per month.
González also highlighted working conditions. The standard schedule runs Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 16:00, for about 37.5 hours a week. Overtime is paid above the standard rate and many companies allow flexible arrangements. Some workers concentrate their hours from Monday to Thursday to take Fridays off, while others use a shift system involving twelve consecutive working days followed by nine days of rest.
González said this flexibility is one of the main reasons foreign professionals continue to be drawn to Norway’s construction sector, as it allows them to return to their home countries more frequently.
