One of the most common questions we get from founders in the Netherlands: "What should I pay for this role?"
It's a fair question. The Dutch startup market is competitive, salaries have shifted significantly since 2023, and getting compensation wrong — too high or too low — costs you either runway or talent.
We compiled real salary data from funded startups across the Netherlands (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Eindhoven, The Hague, Utrecht) based on placements we've made and market research from 2025-2026.
How to Read These Benchmarks
- All figures are gross annual salary in EUR
- Ranges reflect Seed to Series B (earlier stage = lower end, later = higher end)
- Excludes equity — stock options are separate (see our equity guide)
- Based on Amsterdam market — other Dutch cities typically 5-10% lower
- Full-time, on-site or hybrid — fully remote international hires may differ
Engineering Roles
Software Engineer
Junior: €38-48K | Mid: €50-65K | Senior: €65-85K | Lead/Staff: €85-110K
Frontend Engineer
Junior: €36-45K | Mid: €48-60K | Senior: €60-78K | Lead/Staff: €78-95K
Backend Engineer
Junior: €40-50K | Mid: €52-68K | Senior: €68-88K | Lead/Staff: €88-115K
Full-Stack Engineer
Junior: €38-48K | Mid: €50-65K | Senior: €65-85K | Lead/Staff: €85-105K
DevOps/SRE
Junior: €42-52K | Mid: €55-70K | Senior: €70-90K | Lead/Staff: €90-115K
ML/AI Engineer
Junior: €45-55K | Mid: €58-75K | Senior: €75-100K | Lead/Staff: €100-130K
Product & Design Roles
Product Manager
Junior: €42-50K | Mid: €55-70K | Senior: €70-90K | Lead/Head: €90-120K
Product Designer (UX/UI)
Junior: €36-45K | Mid: €48-60K | Senior: €60-78K | Lead/Head: €78-95K
Sales & Marketing Roles
Account Executive
Junior: €40-50K + comm | Mid: €55-70K + comm | Senior: €70-90K + comm
Customer Success Manager
Junior: €36-42K | Mid: €45-58K | Senior: €58-72K | Lead/Head: €72-90K
The 30% Ruling: Still Worth It in 2026
The Dutch 30% ruling allows employers to pay international hires a tax-free allowance of up to 30% of their salary. An international hire with a €70K gross salary effectively earns closer to €85K in take-home.
Need Help Hiring Your Team?
We specialise in helping funded startups across the Netherlands hire the right people at the right price. No percentage fees.
Related reading:
• CTO Hiring Checklist for Startups
• How Many Stock Options Should You Offer?
• How to Hire Your First Developer After Funding
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