peruspalkkaa

Peruspalkka, or base pay, refers to the fixed, regular part of an employee’s compensation. It is the core salary that an employee expects for performing a defined set of duties and working agreed hours, and it does not include variable elements such as bonuses, overtime pay, allowances, or fringe benefits. The peruspalkka is usually specified in an employment contract or in collective agreements and serves as the foundation of an employee’s pay.

The amount of peruspalkka is typically linked to the employee’s job grade, responsibilities, required education, and work experience. In many sectors, base pay is determined within standardized pay scales negotiated through collective agreements (TES). In other cases, the employer sets the base pay for each position, sometimes with room for individual adjustment.

Peruspalkka is used as the base for calculating paid time off, pension accrual, and other statutory or contractually defined entitlements. It also appears on the payslip as the principal number. Additional compensation, such as bonuses, performance pay, overtime, and various allowances or benefits, is paid on top of the peruspalkka and does not replace it.

Legal and sector context: Finland does not have a universal statutory minimum wage; wage levels are largely determined through collective bargaining, sectorwide agreements, and employer policies. Consequently, peruspalkka levels vary by industry, company, and region and are often updated through annual negotiations or changes in pay scales.

The term is widely used in both private and public sectors, where the peruspalkka is typically defined within job classifications and pay structures that reflect experience and responsibilities.