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Country hiring guide

Hiring in Denmark ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ฐ

Denmark offers a highly skilled, English-fluent workforce under a flexicurity model with low statutory employer taxes but strong collective agreements. All-in employer cost runs around 1.12x the gross salary before pension. Here is what to know before your first Danish hire.

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Capital cityCopenhagen
CurrencyDanish krone (DKK)
LanguagesDanish
Population~5.9 million
Payroll frequencyMonthly
VAT standard rate25%
Employer burden*~10-14%* of gross
TGTC flat EOR fee$499/mo ยท Tier B
Overview

Employing in Denmark

Employment is shaped less by statute than by collective agreements, which set pay, pension, and notice for most roles. Statutory employer charges are low, but agreed occupational pension and a holiday supplement add real cost.

Minimum wage

  • No statutory minimum wage
  • Collective agreements set pay floors

Payroll cycle & extra pay

  • Monthly salary
  • No mandatory 13th salary

Public holidays

  • ~9-10 public holidays
  • Great Prayer Day abolished 2024

Onboarding & probation

  • Probation max 3 months (Funktionaer)
  • Written contract required
Employer costs

What you pay on top of salary

Statutory employer contributions are modest, but occupational pension of roughly 8-12% under collective agreements is the main real cost, plus the mandatory holiday allowance.

Employer contribution*Rate
ATP (labour-market pension)fixed, ~DKK 2,376/yr*
Labour-market funds (AES etc.)~1-2%*
Occupational pension (collective agreement)~8-12%*
Holiday pay (Ferieloven)12.5%

Holiday model

Denmark runs a concurrent holiday-pay model, with 12.5% holiday allowance accruing as leave is earned and used.

Employee-side taxes

Employees pay a labour-market contribution plus municipal and state income tax, withheld at source. Withholding is the employer's responsibility, which under EOR means ours.

Types of leave

Statutory leave in Denmark

Annual leave

  • 25 days (5 weeks) under Ferieloven
  • Holiday pay 12.5% of salary

Maternity & parental leave

  • Mother: 4 weeks pre-birth + 10 after
  • Parental: 24 weeks each, 11 non-transferable*

Sick leave

  • Salaried: full pay from day one
  • Employer pays the first 30 days

Other leave

  • Paternity 2 weeks after birth
  • Child sick days via agreement
Employment termination

Ending employment in Denmark

Notice

  • Employer: 1-6 months by tenure
  • Employee: 1 month (Funktionaer)

Severance

  • 1 month's pay after 12 years
  • 3 months after 17 years

Probation

  • Max 3 months
  • 14 days' notice during probation*

Contractor risk

  • Reclassified on control and integration
  • Authorities can back-tax the employer

*All figures are estimates from public sources (2025-26), pending ops verification - same basis as the EOR cost calculator. Not tax or legal advice.

Employ in Denmark without opening an entity

Compliant Danish employment contract, payroll, pension, and holiday pay, handled. One invoice, flat $499 per month.

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