At the beginning of 2026, Spanish employees will face another change in salary calculations. The country is increasing contributions under the Intergenerational Equity Mechanism (MEI), which will lead to a decrease in net income for everyone who pays pension contributions. The new measure will affect both salaried workers and the self-employed.
According to the new rules, the MEI rate will rise to 0.9% of the contribution base. Of this amount, 0.75% will be paid by the employer and 0.15% by the employee. For self-employed individuals, the entire amount falls on the entrepreneur. This change will directly impact monthly payments, especially for those earning above the average.
For example, if the annual contribution base is €24,000, the employer will pay an additional €180 per year, and the employee—€36. This is €4.8 more than in 2025, when the MEI rate was lower. For those contributing at the maximum base (€63,180 per year), the net salary loss will be €95 per year—the maximum new deduction.
A key feature of this mechanism is that the additional contributions do not increase future pensions. All collected funds go exclusively to the reserve fund to support the pension system amid an aging population. Workers will not receive any extra pension rights or supplements for these contributions.
The MEI rate is expected to continue rising: it will reach 1% in 2027, 1.1% in 2028, and from 2029 until mid-century it will be fixed at 1.2%. At the same time, the employer’s and employee’s share will also change in favor of the former.
Starting in 2026, an additional levy will be introduced—the so-called ‘solidarity contribution.’ This will only affect those whose salary exceeds the maximum base for contributions. The rate will begin at 1.38% and will increase annually, reaching 5.5–7% by 2045. The aim is to boost the social security system’s budget and ensure payments to future pensioners.
As a result, Spaniards will soon see new amounts in their payslips. For most, this will mean a small but noticeable reduction in income, especially for high earners or the self-employed. The authorities expect these measures will help keep the pension system stable for decades to come.
