Employment Contracts
Minimum wage in Spain (SMI)
The current national minimum wage (Salario Mínimo Interprofesional) and how it applies to your pay.
Last reviewed: 2026-06-15The SMI is reviewed and, where changed, applied from 1 January each year, sometimes with retroactive effect if approved partway through the year.
This guide is not yet verified by Tuchati's editorial review — treat it as a helpful starting point, not a final legal answer.
Overview
Spain's national minimum wage, the SMI (Salario Mínimo Interprofesional), sets a legal floor on pay for all employees, full-time or part-time (pro-rated), regardless of nationality or contract type. It's reviewed and typically increased each year.
Requirements
- Applies to all employees working in Spain, including foreign workers and part-time staff (on a pro-rated basis)
- Your convenio colectivo may set a higher minimum for your specific sector — the SMI is only the legal floor
Step-by-step process
- Check the current SMI figure for the year you're being paid, since it's updated periodically by the Council of Ministers
- Compare it against your payslip's gross monthly salary, remembering the SMI is normally expressed across 14 payments a year (12 monthly plus 2 extra payments, unless your convenio spreads them across 12)
- If you work part-time, confirm your pro-rated minimum based on your contracted hours
- Check whether your sector's convenio colectivo sets a higher rate than the SMI — many do
Required documents
- Your payslips (nóminas), to compare actual pay against the legal minimum
Common mistakes
- Comparing a monthly SMI figure against a salary quoted only across 12 payments — check how your extra payments (pagas extra) are structured
- Assuming the SMI is the actual minimum for your job — many sectors' collective agreements set higher floors
Practical tips
- Workers earning exactly the SMI are exempt from income tax (IRPF) withholding on that income
- If your pay looks close to or below the SMI, checking your applicable convenio colectivo is the fastest way to know if you're being underpaid
How Tuchati can help
If you're not sure whether your salary meets the legal minimum for your hours and sector, Tuchati can help you check the figures.