The Hardest Market · Denmark

Denmark's HR data

The rules and costs of employing people in Denmark (Copenhagen), from official sources, in English and Japanese.

26.9%women in management (2024, ILO)
1.00×employer's total cost on kr 55,000 a month, as a multiple of salary
10public holidays (2026)
Take-home pay calculatorJapan take-home pay

Employment rules

Statutory annual leave25 days (5 weeks); 6th week common
Public holidays (2026)10 days
Notice of dismissal1-6 months by service (employer); 1 month (employee)
Severance required by law1 month after 12 years, 3 months after 17 years
Typical negotiated exitNo official benchmark
ProbationUp to 3 months, 14 days' notice
Working hours48 h/week average; 37 h norm
How hard is dismissal?Moderate: reasonable grounds after 1 year, capped compensation

Employer contributions

ATP pension (employer share)kr 2,376 a year

Employee contributions

ATP pension (employee share)kr 1,188 a year
Labour-market contribution (AM-bidrag)8%on pay above kr 1,188 a year

Take-home pay and employer cost by monthly salary

Monthly salaryEmployee contributionsIncome taxTake-homeEmployer costCost ÷ salary
kr 40,000kr 3,291kr 10,149kr 26,560kr 40,1981.00×
kr 55,000kr 4,491kr 14,990kr 35,519kr 55,1981.00×
kr 70,000kr 5,691kr 20,691kr 43,618kr 70,1981.00×
kr 95,000kr 7,691kr 32,244kr 55,065kr 95,1981.00×

Salaried employee (funktionær) living in the Municipality of Copenhagen, Danish tax resident and a Danish national (no researcher/key-employee tax scheme), single with no children, aged 25-60, full-time monthly pay of more than 117 hours a month, no bonus or benefits in kind, calendar year 2026. Not a member of the Church of Denmark: this is the cleaner default (membership is a personal choice and adds 0.80% church tax in Copenhagen in 2026). Labour-market contribution (AM-bidrag, 8%) and the employee's ATP share are deducted before income tax; bottom tax (bundskat), Copenhagen municipal tax and the new 2026 middle, top and top-top taxes; personal allowance and the employment and job deductions only. No commuting deduction, union fees or private pension. Employer side: the employer's ATP share only.

Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] Checked 2026-11-08; 2026 rates.