Social & healthcare worker Salary in Denmark 2026: What Do Social and healthcare workers (SOSU) Earn?
Social and healthcare workers (SOSU) are the backbone of Danish elderly and institutional care — and among the professions Denmark actively recruits internationally via the Positive List. Danish language requirements apply in practice; the figures are official standardised earnings.
What does a social & healthcare worker earn in Denmark in 2026?
The official number (incl. pension and supplements, full-time equivalent): The standardised monthly earnings average 39,738 DKK/month (DISCO 5321, 25,666 full-time employees, all sectors, 2024 — pulled directly from Statistics Denmark). Source: Statistics Denmark, LONS20 — direct table extract.
Work permit note: This trade appears on Denmark's official Positive List for skilled work — with a job offer, non-EU citizens can apply for a residence and work permit through the scheme. Lists update every 1 January and 1 July; always check the current list. Source: nyidanmark.dk — The Positive Lists. See also our working in Denmark guide.
The real salary spread — quartiles straight from Statistics Denmark
Averages get pulled up by top earners. The quartiles show where pay actually sits for social and healthcare workers (SOSU) (standardised hourly earnings, all sectors, 2024):
| Quartile | Hourly earnings (DST) | Monthly equivalent* |
|---|---|---|
| Lower quartile (25% earn less) | 215.25 DKK | approx. 34,511 DKK |
| Median (the middle salary) | 242.18 DKK | approx. 38,829 DKK |
| Upper quartile (25% earn more) | 278.28 DKK | approx. 44,617 DKK |
Half of all social and healthcare workers (SOSU) earn between approx. 34,511 and 44,617 DKK/month. Hourly figures are DST's raw numbers — *monthly figures are OUR calculation (hourly earnings × 160.33, DST's standard month). Source: Statistics Denmark, LONS20 — direct table extract. Last fact-checked 16 July 2026.
What makes up the salary?
The standardised hourly earnings in this trade (247.85 DKK/hour, 2024) break down like this:
| Component | DKK per hour (DST) | Share* |
|---|---|---|
| Base pay | 191.21 DKK | 77.1% |
| Pension incl. ATP | 23.46 DKK | 9.5% |
| Shift/inconvenience supplements | 26.71 DKK | 10.8% |
| Irregular payments (bonus etc.) | 6.44 DKK | 2.6% |
| Employee benefits | 0.03 DKK | 0.0% |
Hourly figures are DST's raw component numbers — *shares are OUR calculation. Source: Statistics Denmark, LONS20 — direct table extract. Last fact-checked 16 July 2026.
What moves the pay in this trade?
Shift supplements drive SOSU pay: fixed evening or weekend rotas add substantial amounts to the FOA base rate. The education ladder — from helper (hjælper) to assistant (assistent) — is the durable pay rise, and municipal employers offer the steadiest terms.
How to read the numbers
The figures are standardised monthly earnings: everything the employer pays (base pay, pension, supplements, holiday pay) converted to full time. That is usually higher than the base salary on a payslip — but it is the honest number for comparing trades. Part-timers are converted to full-time equivalents. All figures are before tax.
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Average salary in Denmark · Trades careers in Denmark · Working in Denmark guide