alapalkki

Alapalkki is a Finnish term referring to the fixed portion of an employee's compensation, commonly translated as base pay or base salary. It represents the guaranteed part that is paid regularly, such as monthly salary or hourly wage, and does not depend on sales, bonus targets, overtime, or performance-based incentives.

In wage structures, alapalkki serves as the baseline for total compensation. Variable components, such as bonuses, commissions, overtime pay, or other allowances, are paid on top of alapalkki.

Determination: In Finland, base pay is typically defined by collective agreements within an industry or profession, or by individual employment contracts. The exact level depends on job classification, required qualifications, experience, and market conditions. There is no general statutory minimum wage in Finland; however, many sectors have agreements that include minimum base pay levels.

Context: When negotiating wages or reviewing pay, changes to alapalkki are often the primary focus, with adjustments used to reflect changes in living costs, job responsibilities, or workforce bargaining outcomes.