# Hiring in Greece: employment costs, payroll and compliance

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> Canonical page: https://eoroverview.com/hiring-guides/greece/
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> Statutory data last updated: 2026-04-01. Every figure below carries its own source year.

## Country

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Region | Europe |
| Currency | EUR (Euro) |

## Pay & working time

| Field | Value | Source year |
|---|---|---:|
| Minimum wage | €920 | 2026 |
| Average wage | 32,257 | 2024 |
| Statutory work week | 40 hours/week | 2021 |
| 13th-month salary | mandatory | 2026 |

## Employer cost & tax

| Field | Value | Source year |
|---|---|---:|
| Employer social security | 21.8% | 2025 |
| Employee social security | 13.4% | 2025 |
| Total tax wedge | 39.3% | 2025 |
| Corporate tax rate | 22% | 2025 |

## Termination

| Field | Value | Source year |
|---|---|---:|
| Notice period | 0 weeks | 2019 |
| Severance pay | 15.9 weeks | 2019 |
| Employment protection | 2.5 | 2019 |

## Leave & time off

| Field | Value | Source year |
|---|---|---:|
| Paid annual leave | 20 days | 2026 |
| Public holidays | 9 days | 2026 |
| Maternity leave | 56 weeks | 2024 |
| Paternity leave | 11.1 weeks | 2026 |
| Parental leave | 8.7 weeks | 2024 |

## Labour market

| Field | Value | Source year |
|---|---|---:|
| Retirement age | 62 | 2024 |
| Unemployment rate | 9.7% | 2025 |
| GDP per capita | $24,626 | 2024 |
| Union density | 13.4% | 2020 |
| Collective bargaining coverage | 13.1% | 2017 |

## Overview

Greece puts a 21.79% employer social security contribution on top of every gross salary you pay, and that single figure shapes your total cost more than anything else. For context, the average annual wage sits at around 32,257 EUR, so that contribution adds up fast. What you get in return is access to a labour force of roughly 4.7 million people who work some of the longest hours in Europe, averaging 1,898 hours a year, well above most EU peers.

Hiring through an Employer of Record (EOR) means you skip the need to register a Greek legal entity and still stay fully compliant with Greek labour law. The EOR handles payroll, social contributions, and statutory entitlements on your behalf. Greece has a total tax wedge of 39.3%, so understanding the full cost picture before you make an offer is genuinely important.

## Cost context

The employer cost in Greece is driven primarily by the 21.79% social security contribution applied on top of gross wages. Employees also contribute 13.37% from their own side, but that is their cost, not yours. Together these contributions fund pensions, healthcare, and unemployment insurance under the Greek social insurance system. There are no additional statutory employer contributions listed beyond the 21.79%, so that percentage is the main lever to watch when modelling your true cost per hire.

## Things to watch

A few Greece-specific details are worth keeping front of mind before you commit to headcount.

- Employer social security is substantial. At 21.79% of gross salary, it is one of the higher rates in Southern Europe. Budget for it from day one so your offer letter reflects the real total cost.

- Maternity leave runs for 56 weeks. That is over a year, which is a long cover period to plan around. Make sure your resourcing plan accounts for extended absences.

- Severance can reach 15.9 weeks. Greece has a moderately strict employment protection framework, with an overall EPL score of 2.5. Ending a contract is not cheap, so think carefully before hiring on a permanent basis if your project timeline is short.

- Collective bargaining coverage is low at 13.1%. Most workers are not covered by a sector agreement, which means statutory minimums and individual contracts carry more weight. The monthly minimum wage is 920 EUR, so any offer needs to clear that floor.