Wage Watchers: How much does a Helpdesk officer earn?

What do you do?
Since 2008 I have been working as a Helpdesk officer in the Information Department of a rehabilitation hospital. Together with 2 other colleagues, we resolve various IT problems and do network maintenance.

Do you enjoy the work?
Yes definitely. The work varies, with some days being busier than others. I find my work nevertheless incredibly interesting. Sometimes IT issues come up that have me completely baffled and thinking, "how is that even possible?” Such daily hurdles makes every day fun and challenging.

What do you think of the pay?
I find my current net monthly salary of €1,533 pretty good. The hospital determines our salaries according to wage brackets, so I cannot do much to change it. Perhaps I could earn more by working for a private company, but I really enjoy where I am now.

How many hours do you work a week?
We work 40-hour weeks here, which is 2 hours more than the typical Belgian employee. So in exchange, we receive extra vacation days.

Do you manage to save?
No: we recently built a house, which, being a major investment, absorbed all of our current savings. 

What do you like to spend money on?
My daughters: making sure they have everything they need.

What would you do if you won the lottery?
I would first pay off my house and make sure everything was taken care of on that front. Then a major part of the money would go into a savings account for my daughters, to make sure they would always be provided for in the future. The rest would go towards enjoying day-to-day life and supporting good causes.