The Accountable Index: insights into the income of Belgium’s self-employed

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How much do the self-employed in Belgium really earn? Which professions generate the highest turnover, and where in the country can a starter reach €100,000 the fastest?

With the Accountable Index, based on anonymised data from 11,803 self-employed professionals, we provide a unique view of income patterns, regional differences, and surprising trends in Belgian entrepreneurship.

Income by profession: who earns the most?

Not every profession is equally lucrative. Here are the median annual turnovers for full-time self-employed professionals, according to the Accountable Index:

1. Doctors – Physicians take the undisputed top spot, with a median turnover of €200,000. Their expertise and high level of responsibility are clearly reflected in their income.
   
2. Car dealers – In second place are car dealers, generating a solid median turnover of €160,000. The combination of demand for mobility and commercial margins makes this a particularly lucrative profession.
   
3. Financial advisors & brokers – With a median turnover of €135,000, financial advisors and brokers show that high-quality service and trust pay off.
   
4. Consultants & IT professionals – Consultants and IT specialists earn an average of €100,000. Their income grows rapidly thanks to the scalability of digital solutions and the ongoing demand for technical expertise.
   
5. Engineers & technical consultants – These professions also score high, with a median turnover of €100,000. Their earnings reflect the strong demand for technical knowledge and problem-solving skills.
   
6. Sales representatives – With a stable €90,000 turnover, sales representatives demonstrate that commercial acumen and strong client relationships are consistently rewarded.
   
7. Construction professionals – The construction sector firmly ranks in the top ten, with a median turnover of nearly €85,000. Interestingly, construction professionals outperform many traditional white-collar roles.
   
8. HoReCa entrepreneurs – Despite often high workloads, hospitality operators have a median turnover of €65,000. A clear example of a sector where passion often takes priority over profit.
   
9. Designers and photographers – Creative professions such as designers, photographers, and coaches earn between €45,000 and €55,000. Many professionals in these fields work part-time or combine multiple activities.
   
10. Small retailers – Small shop owners achieve a median annual turnover of €48,000. Local traders often face high fixed costs, rising e-commerce competition, and thin margins, yet they remain vital for the vibrancy of cities and towns.
    
11. Architects – Surprisingly, architects close the list with a median turnover of only €45,000, despite their extensive education and significant responsibility.

How quickly do self-employed professionals reach €100,000 turnover?

The speed at which self-employed professionals reach €100,000 in turnover varies significantly by profession:

• Consultants & IT professionals: on average 1.5 years.
• Paramedical professionals, construction professionals, sales representatives & HoReCa operators: less than 2 years.
• Architects, urban planners & real estate agents: 3 years on average.
• Most other professions take more than 3 years to reach a €100,000 annual turnover.

Regional differences: Flanders, Wallonia & Brussels

The Accountable Index reveals some striking contrasts between the regions:

• Car dealers in Flanders earn the most in Belgium, with a median turnover of €138,971.
• Construction professionals perform well everywhere, but do even better as a secondary occupation in Wallonia.
• Lawyers in secondary occupation rank highest in Brussels (€79,915) and Flanders (€61,015).
• Artists are among the lowest-earning groups across all regions.
• Marketing professionals earn much more in Brussels (€89,523) than in Flanders or Wallonia (~€50,000).
• Paramedical professionals achieve the best results in Brussels (€82,760).
• Photographers show significant regional inequality, ranging from €54,134 (Wallonia) to €61,630 (Brussels).

Flanders

Zooming in on Flanders, it’s clear that in Antwerp the entrepreneurial spirit is stronger than ever.

According to the Accountable Index, the average annual income of a full-time self-employed professional in Antwerp is €60,659, while part-timers (secondary occupation) average €14,290.

Top earners in Antwerp:

• IT Professionals: €119,384 median annual turnover
• Consultants: €111,593
• Construction professionals: €100,074
• Drivers & couriers: €94,097
• Teachers: €88,883

What stands out is that consultants and IT professionals in Antwerp reach their first €100,000 turnover about 25% faster than in Brussels, and even 60% faster than in West Flanders.

Yet, in terms of overall turnover, Antwerp ranks only third, after Walloon Brabant and Limburg. A possible explanation? Intense competition in a densely populated, entrepreneurial city.

Wallonia

Heading south, we find that Walloon Brabant is the hotspot for freelancers.

The average annual income there amounts to €59,725 for full-time self-employed professionals and €18,295 for those in secondary occupation.

Top earners in Walloon Brabant:

• Consultants & IT professionals: €136,132 median annual turnover — the highest figure in all of Belgium (national average: €101,347)
• IT specialists (alone): €135,451 median turnover, also the absolute top nationwide
• Engineers: rank among the best-earning groups in the province

Profession in focus

Consultants & engineers

• Median turnover: €102,738 nationwide
• Best-performing region: Wallonia (€109,350)
• Top province: Walloon Brabant (€135,451)
• Weakest regions: West Flanders, Namur, and Hainaut (≈ €85,000)

Construction professionals & architects

• Construction workers: consistently high and stable incomes across all regions
• Architects: strikingly low, averaging €45,000–47,000 — far below engineers

Coaches & designers

• Designers: median turnover of €45,000–55,000, with strong regional differences
• Coaches: perform better in Brussels (€62,000) than in Flanders or Wallonia

Paramedical professionals

• Highest earners in Brussels (€82,760)
• Less lucrative in Wallonia (€60,105)
• Wide variation depending on specialization and region

About the Accountable Index

The Accountable Index is based on anonymised user data from 11,803 self-employed professionals active between January 1 and December 31, 2024. The figures represent median annual turnovers and are not official statistics, but they provide a unique insight into the economic life of Belgium’s self-employed.

Author - Nicolas Quarré

Nicolas is co-founder and CEO at Accountable. His vision for the company has always been clear: free self-employed from administrative nightmares.

Who is Nicolas ?