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How much of a job’s cost goes to tax?

For this single-worker case, Canada’s total is 32.1%. The OECD average is 35.1%. Canada is below that average, but above the US at 30.0%.

How much of a job’s cost goes to tax?

Time covered: 2025

Canada
32.1%
OECD average
35.1%
Places shown
38
Colombia: 0%Chile: 7.5%New Zealand: 20.8%Mexico: 21.7%Switzerland: 23%South Korea: 24.8%Israel: 26.1%Costa Rica: 27.7%Australia: 27.9%United States: 30%Iceland: 31.5%Canada: 32.1%United Kingdom: 32.4%Ireland: 32.6%Japan: 33.1%Poland: 35%Denmark: 35.8%Netherlands: 35.9%Norway: 36.4%Greece: 39.3%Portugal: 39.3%Lithuania: 39.8%Latvia: 40.1%Luxembourg: 40.2%Türkiye: 40.3%Sweden: 41.1%Hungary: 41.2%Czechia: 41.2%Spain: 41.4%Finland: 42.5%Estonia: 42.6%Slovakia: 42.7%Slovenia: 45.3%Italy: 45.8%Austria: 47.1%France: 47.2%Germany: 49.3%Belgium: 52.5%

Share of total job cost (%)

Each dot is one place in the source.

See every place

Shown from low to high · Share of total job cost (%)

060
  1. Colombia0%
  2. Chile7.5%
  3. New Zealand20.8%
  4. Mexico21.7%
  5. Switzerland23%
  6. South Korea24.8%
  7. Israel26.1%
  8. Costa Rica27.7%
  9. Australia27.9%
  10. United States30%
  11. Iceland31.5%
  12. Canada32.1%
  13. United Kingdom32.4%
  14. Ireland32.6%
  15. Japan33.1%
  16. Poland35%
  17. Denmark35.8%
  18. Netherlands35.9%
  19. Norway36.4%
  20. Greece39.3%
  21. Portugal39.3%
  22. Lithuania39.8%
  23. Latvia40.1%
  24. Luxembourg40.2%
  25. Türkiye40.3%
  26. Sweden41.1%
  27. Hungary41.2%
  28. Czechia41.2%
  29. Spain41.4%
  30. Finland42.5%
  31. Estonia42.6%
  32. Slovakia42.7%
  33. Slovenia45.3%
  34. Italy45.8%
  35. Austria47.1%
  36. France47.2%
  37. Germany49.3%
  38. Belgium52.5%

This table has the same values as the chart. You can scroll the table sideways.

How much of a job’s cost goes to tax? · Share of total job cost (%)
PlaceName in the sourceTimeRate
ColombiaColombia20250
ChileChile20257.4585
New ZealandNew Zealand202520.8149
MexicoMexico202521.6511
SwitzerlandSwitzerland202522.9794
South KoreaKorea202524.8496
IsraelIsrael202526.0683
Costa RicaCosta Rica202527.6586
AustraliaAustralia202527.9043
United StatesUnited States202529.9771
IcelandIceland202531.5141
CanadaCanada202532.1229
United KingdomUnited Kingdom202532.3789
IrelandIreland202532.6328
JapanJapan202533.12
PolandPoland202535.0261
DenmarkDenmark202535.757
NetherlandsNetherlands202535.9393
NorwayNorway202536.3915
GreeceGreece202539.337
PortugalPortugal202539.3374
LithuaniaLithuania202539.7942
LatviaLatvia202540.1368
LuxembourgLuxembourg202540.1604
TürkiyeTürkiye202540.3343
SwedenSweden202541.1358
HungaryHungary202541.1504
CzechiaCzechia202541.2002
SpainSpain202541.4441
FinlandFinland202542.4799
EstoniaEstonia202542.6368
SlovakiaSlovak Republic202542.7183
SloveniaSlovenia202545.2952
ItalyItaly202545.7574
AustriaAustria202547.0884
FranceFrance202547.1781
GermanyGermany202549.2631
BelgiumBelgium202552.4822
OECD averageOECD Average202535.0835
Download the full comparison table ↓

A full set of 38 OECD countries for one single worker in 2025, with Canada and the OECD average marked.

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Why this matters

People should keep more of what they earn. A tax cut needs a clear price and a fair test of who gains.

What we want to change

Make it easier to earn more and keep more. Test each tax cut with clear income and family cases.

Back a plan for change

Sources

  1. OECD · Taxing Wages 2026, table 1.2 ↗

    Source released:

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How much of a job’s cost goes to tax?

For this single-worker case, Canada’s total is 32.1%. The OECD average is 35.1%. Canada is below that average, but above the US at 30.0%.

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What this does not show: This is a share of the whole cost of the job. It is not a share of take-home pay. Sales tax, property tax and most required payments to private plans are left out. The wage in each country is different.

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