Expert Info

Posted by
on 14 Dec 2012
Hi, please share your knowledge, I've got an offer in Hordaland region near Bergen,Norway in oil and gas services industry as a specialist Engineer. currently living in Germany. offered pay is 550k per annum basic + (permanent contract,overtime, pension and benefits etc). My qualifications: MS Engineering + 3-4 years of experience though not in oil and gas. is that a good starting? In Norway, is that a common/acceptable to revise salaries after probation? will highly appreciate your kind inputs. Cheers/ Joe
Anonymous (not verified) on 21 Dec 2012 - 10:24
Hi Joe,

In your situation there are a lot of different things you'll need to bear in mind.

Firstly, the employment package you have been offered sounds very good. However, a high salary in Norway also means that you will be taxed at a higher rate. So at the end of the day the margin between a low and high salary in Norway is very narrow. 

The cost of living in Norway is also very high and it is currently the 18th most expensive country to live in. The amount of disposable income you'll have will depend on the type of benefits offered by the company (i.e. housing, travel, etc), To get a better idea of the expenses you are likely to incur as an expat in Norway have a read of the Expat Arrival's page on Cost of Living in Norway.

On the positive side, Norway is seen as one of the best countries to work in. The work culture is Norway is generally supportive of their employees and companies tend to encourage employees to develop so I think it would be reasonable to have a pay review at the end of your probation. Take a look at our Working in Norway page to find out more about business culture in the country.

I hope this information helps you and let me know if you have more questions.

.  



Anonymous (not verified) on 20 Feb 2013 - 08:28
I live in Rogaland and work in the Oil & Gas industry, and by the sound of it, your offer for a permanent postion is about par for the course - nothing fantastic, but not bad, either . . . it is normal for your salry to be reviewed once per year, and the normal review is an uplift equivalent to that of inflation. Whether you get more than that, entirley depends upon your performance. If you think of accepting the offer, then maybe negotiate you first salary and performance review after a few months . . . .
Anonymous (not verified) on 12 Jul 2013 - 08:42
Shantalie Hewavisenti, Norway is #2 for cost of living behind Switzerland. Not 18th. The salary seems about right.
Anonymous (not verified) on 12 Jul 2013 - 08:59
I guess Norway's ranking would depend on what survey you're referring to. According to Mercer's Cost of Living survey for 2012, Oslo ranked 18th out of about 214 cities surveyed.

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