In 2015, mean total earnings were lowest among non-professionals in pre-primary and compulsory schools and after-school programs, 318 thousand ISK. Directors and chief executives for enterprises and organisations had the highest earnings, about 1.5 million ISK in monthly total earnings
Earnings in 226 occupations and occupational groups 2015
Earnings by occupation are now published for the first time in a comprehensive form, regardless whether employees work in the private or public sector. Data cover earnings for 226 occupations and occupational groups and include for the first time information on earnings in public sector occupations such as custom officers, home care workers, teachers and employees in health care.
Diverse distribution of earnings in different occupations
Distribution of earnings was different for occupations in the dataset. About 80% of child-care employees (5131) received total monthly earnings between 250-350 thousand ISK. Further examples of occupations with a quite narrow distribution were special education teachers (2341) in pre-primary and compulsory schools where 65% of employees received total earnings between 450-550 thousand ISK and ore and metal furnace operators (8121) where 40% received total earnings between 550-650 thousand ISK while another 30% had total earnings between 450-550 thousand ISK. Occupations with a wider distribution were for example business professionals (2419), including employees both in the private and the public sector where 20% received total earnings between 550-650 thousand ISK and another 20% between 650-750 thousand ISK. The distribution of earnings for medical doctors (2221) was also quite wide, as earnings of half of the medical doctors were equally distributed between 750 thousand and 1,350 thousand ISK. The distribution can partly be explained by the fact that both general and specialist medical doctors belong to the group.
Note: Medical doctors (2221), special education teaching professionals(2341), business professionals (2419), child-care workers (5131), ore and metal furnace operators (8121).
Different composition of total earnings
Looking at some of the large occupations in the dataset it can be noted that the composition of total earnings can vary. About 90% of the total earnings for pre-school teachers (2332), finance and associate sales professionals (3419) and pre-school teachers (2331) were basic earnings. On the other hand, basic earnings were less than 50% of total earnings for other occupational groups, such as crane and hoist plant operators (8333), police officers (5162) and heavy truck and lorry drivers (8324).
All kind of regular bonuses and premiums, paid every pay-period such as shift premium, were about 22% of total earnings for crane and hoist plant operators, 19% of total earnings for police officers and 16% of total earnings for heavy truck and lorry drivers. These payments were about 3% for the group of finance and associate sales professionals but almost non-existing in the two teaching professional groups. Overtime payments were a substantial part of total earnings in the occupations were the share of basic earnings is low. Overtime payments were about 25% of total earnings for heavy truck and lorry drivers and 22% for hoist and crane plant operators and 17% for police officers. For pre-school teachers the share of overtime payments was about 6% but for the pre-primary teachers and finance and sales associate professionals the share was about 1%. The share of irregular bonuses, such as holiday supplement and other irregular payments, was also different. For police officers these payments were about 15% and for other occupations the share was 4-10%, lowest for pre-school teachers and highest for heavy truck and lorry drivers.
Note: Pre-primary education teaching professionals (2332), finance and sales associate professionals (3419), primary education teaching professionals (2331), heavy truck and lorry drivers (8324), police officers (5162), crane, hoist and related plant operators (8333).
About earnings by occupation
Occupations are based on the Ístarf95 classifications (based on ISCO88). Data covers the year 2015 but back-data for the years 2008-2014 will be published later. Previous information on the subject has been moved to the section of earlier tables on Statistics Iceland’s web. When comparing data it has to be kept in mind that methods have changed slightly and the quality of data improved. In addition, older data on occupations only covered the private sector, but now both the private sector and the public sector are covered. Thus, it is not always possible to compare data on the same occupations between new and old tables as the composition of employees in certain occupations might be different.
Results are based on the Icelandic Survey on Wages, Earnings and Labour Cost and cover about 70 thousand employees. The survey is a stratified sample survey and data are weighted according to the survey design. The survey covers about 80% of the Icelandic labour market even though certain economic activities are missing. A notice has to be made on the economic activity Information and communication where information about smaller companies and IT companies are missing. In addition data in Public administration, Education and Human health and social work activities are only based on employees within the public sector. Results are preliminary. Further information on definitions and methods is available on Statistics Iceland website.