What do you take home from a hotel job? Hourly pay, bonuses, and holiday pay explained

Written by:
Jacob de Graaff

Many people know their gross salary in a hotel or hospitality job, but not exactly how much they take home after deductions. This is because factors such as bonuses, holiday pay, and different contract types all affect your final paycheck.

In this article, you'll learn:

• the difference between gross and net salary;

• what hotel and hospitality workers typically earn;

• how bonuses and night shift premiums work;

• how holiday pay is calculated;

• and how to better understand your payslip.

The examples are based on the Dutch Hospitality Collective Labour Agreement (CAO) 2025–2026, the wage tables effective from January 1, 2026, and Dutch tax rules for 2026.

What is the difference between gross and net salary?

Your gross salary is the amount agreed upon with your employer. Taxes and social insurance contributions are deducted from this amount. In hospitality, the employee portion of the pension contribution is also often deducted and paid to the Hospitality & Catering Pension Fund.

What remains is your net salary: the amount that is actually deposited into your bank account.

On your payslip, you will usually see payroll tax deductions and sometimes pension contributions or other deductions. Your employer also pays additional contributions that do not come directly out of your salary.

Example: If you earn €2,500 gross per month, you would take home approximately €2,313 net per month in 2026, assuming payroll tax credits are applied and there are no additional deductions.

You can only apply payroll tax credits (loonheffingskorting) to one employer at a time. If you have multiple jobs, your net salary may be lower than expected.

What does someone typically earn in a hotel?

Salaries in hotels vary by role. A housekeeping employee earns differently from a receptionist or chef. Under the hospitality CAO, jobs are classified into pay grades with corresponding wage scales.

The table below provides an indication of wages for skilled employees aged 20 and older based on the wage table effective January 1, 2026. Salaries range from the starting wage to approximately the maximum wage within each pay grade.

Since January 1, 2025, wage progression steps have been indicative rather than guaranteed. Employers may not pay less than the minimum wage for your pay grade.

These figures are indicative. Your actual pay depends on factors such as experience, age, pay grade, applicable collective agreement, and whether your employer pays above the CAO rate.

Under the hospitality CAO, you are considered a skilled employee if you are at least 18 years old and have a recognized qualification or sufficient work experience. Employees in pay grade 5 or higher are automatically classified as skilled workers.

Skilled employees aged 18 and 19 do not yet receive the full adult wage. An 18-year-old receives 80%, a 19-year-old receives 90%, and from age 20 onward, employees receive 100% of the base wage. Employees who are not yet skilled workers or who are enrolled in a vocational apprenticeship program (BBL) are entitled at least to the youth wage applicable to pay grades 1 and 2.

What bonuses and premiums can you receive in hotels?

Many people assume that evening, weekend, and night shifts automatically come with extra pay. In practice, this depends on both the collective agreement and your employer's policies. Always check your employment contract, staff handbook, and payslip.

Night shift premium in hotels

For front office roles in hotels, the hospitality CAO provides a 10% night shift premium if the shift continuously includes the hours between midnight and 6:00 a.m.

The premium applies to the entire shift. This is particularly relevant for positions such as night receptionist, night porter, and night auditor.

Working on public holidays

If you work on a public holiday, you will generally receive compensatory time off (time-for-time). If this cannot be taken within three months, you are entitled to a 50% wage supplement for the hours worked.

This arrangement does not apply to employees who are not classified as skilled workers.

Overtime

Overtime is generally compensated through time off first. If compensatory time cannot be taken within three months, the overtime hours must be paid at 100% of the regular hourly wage.

Evening and weekend premiums

The hospitality CAO generally does not provide a standard premium for evening or weekend shifts. Whether you receive additional compensation often depends on company-specific arrangements.

How does holiday pay work in hospitality?

Holiday pay (vakantiegeld) is officially called holiday allowance. Employees in the Netherlands are entitled to at least 8% of their annual gross salary. Under the hospitality CAO, this must be paid no later than June.

On-call employees and workers with zero-hour contracts also accrue holiday pay. In hospitality, holiday pay for zero-hour workers may sometimes be paid together with regular wages, provided it is listed separately on the payslip. As a result, some on-call employees receive holiday pay monthly rather than as a single annual payment.

A simple calculation illustrates this:

It is important to remember that the €2,400 holiday allowance in this example is a gross amount. The net amount paid out will usually be lower because holiday pay is taxable income. The Dutch Tax Administration uses separate withholding tables for special payments such as holiday pay, which can make it appear as though more tax is being deducted.

Why does your net salary differ, and how do you read your payslip?

Two colleagues with nearly identical gross salaries may still receive different net salaries. Differences can result from age, part-time or full-time status, hours worked, bonuses, pension contributions, and payroll tax credits.

Pension contributions are another factor. Employees aged 18 and older generally participate in the hospitality pension scheme. Part of the pension contribution is deducted from your salary, which affects your take-home pay.

How to read a payslip

A payslip typically includes:

• Gross salary: your agreed salary before deductions

• Bonuses and premiums: extra payments for night shifts or public holidays

• Holiday allowance: holiday pay accrued or paid out

• Accruals/reserves: amounts earned but paid later

• Payroll tax: tax withheld by your employer

• Pension contribution: your employee pension contribution

• Net pay: the amount you actually receive

You are entitled to a payslip with your first salary payment and whenever there is a change to your wages or deductions.

How much do you take home?

The examples below are estimates and not personalized salary calculations. They are based on Dutch tax rules for 2026, payroll tax credits being applied, and no additional deductions such as pension contributions. Actual amounts may differ.

* For students, net pay can be almost equal to gross pay if payroll tax credits are applied. If you have multiple employers or do not apply payroll tax credits, your take-home pay will generally be lower.

Key takeaways

• At lower income levels, gross and net pay are often relatively close because of tax credits.

• The difference between gross and net pay becomes more noticeable at full-time salary levels.

• Bonuses, holiday pay, and pension contributions can further affect net earnings.

Frequently asked questions

How much do you earn net in a hotel job?

This depends on your role, hours worked, age, payroll tax credits, and any deductions. Based on the examples above, a part-time hotel employee may take home around €1,511 net from a gross monthly salary of approximately €1,551, while a full-time receptionist may receive around €2,290 net from approximately €2,463 gross.

Do hotel employees receive bonuses or premiums?

Yes, but not all bonuses are standard. The hospitality CAO specifically provides a 10% night shift premium for front office employees in accommodation businesses when a shift continuously includes the hours between midnight and 6:00 a.m.

There are also arrangements for public holiday work and overtime. Evening and weekend premiums often depend on employer-specific policies.

How much holiday pay do hospitality workers receive?

Employees receive at least 8% of their gross earnings from the previous year. This is confirmed in the hospitality CAO, and payment must be made no later than June. On-call and zero-hour workers also accrue holiday pay.

Is working in a hotel well paid?

It depends on the role. Entry-level positions such as housekeeping, service staff, and front office employees often start around the base wage for pay grades 3 or 4. More specialized roles, such as independent chefs or night positions with additional responsibility, generally pay more. Experience and skilled-worker status also play an important role.

Do part-time employees receive holiday pay?

Yes. Holiday pay is not limited to full-time employees. Part-time workers, on-call workers, and employees on zero-hour contracts all accrue holiday pay based on the wages they earn. If you work fewer hours, you will naturally accrue less holiday pay in absolute terms. In some cases, holiday pay is already included in monthly wages, meaning you will not receive a separate payment in May or June.

This article has been reviewed by:

Sander (A.J.C.) Theunissen
Employment Lawyer (Counsel) - CLINT | Littler

Sander (A.J.C.) Theunissen has over fifteen years of experience and specializes in labor law and works council law. He has gained experience in labor law for the hospitality industry, among other areas.