Factory and warehouse work is one of the most common jobs for people without a degree. In Spain, factories, food plants and warehouses need people to pack, sort and move goods every day. This guide shows what the work is like, what it pays in Spain, which papers you need and the safe way to apply.
Read this first: you cannot ask for a Spanish work visa alone. An employer in Spain must get a work permit for you first, and the rules are strict. This guide shows the real ways.
| Legal minimum pay | €1,221 a month before tax, 14 payments (2026) |
|---|---|
| Year | €17,094 before tax at the minimum |
| Education | No degree needed |
| Visa | A work permit asked for by the employer |
| Language | Spanish |
What the work is like
In a factory you may work on a production line, pack products into boxes, check that goods have no faults, or clean machines at the end of a shift. In a warehouse you load and unload trucks, move boxes, pick orders with a hand scanner and keep the shelves in order. Some workers drive a forklift after training.
The work is physical and it repeats. You stand or walk for most of the day, and you may lift boxes many times an hour. Many sites run day and night, so shifts can start early in the morning, in the afternoon or late in the evening. Food plants can be cold and wet. Other plants can be loud, so you wear ear and eye protection.
Common job titles are warehouse worker, material handler, packer, picker, production worker, machine operator and general labourer.
Who can do this job
You do not need a degree, and many employers train new workers in the first days. What employers look for is simple:
- You are fit enough to stand, walk and lift for a full shift.
- You come on time, every day. This matters more than anything else.
- You can follow safety rules and understand simple instructions.
- You are ready to work shifts, nights or weekends.
Past work in a factory, a shop storeroom or a farm helps. A forklift licence or experience with machines can bring better pay. Men and women both do this work.
How much you can earn in Spain
In 2026 the minimum wage in Spain is €1,221 a month before tax, paid 14 times a year. That is €17,094 a year. If the employer pays 12 times, it is about €1,424 a month. For work paid by the day it is €40.70 a day. Many helper jobs in factories and warehouses pay the minimum wage or a little more. Most sectors also have a collective agreement that sets the pay for each level, and it can be higher than the minimum.
Night shifts and extra hours bring more pay. Food plants and fruit packing houses need many workers in the harvest months.
The visa reality: for helper work, the normal work permit is hard to get, because the employer must show that nobody in Spain was found. Packing work linked to the harvest is sometimes part of seasonal group hiring.
Hours and shifts
A normal week is about 40 hours, often in shifts of eight hours. Busy seasons, such as the months before the end of the year, bring extra hours. Ask how overtime is paid before you sign. Also ask how you get to the site, because many factories and warehouses are outside the city and public transport may not run at night.
What you need before you can work in Spain
Spain has high unemployment, so the law protects workers who are already in the country. For people from outside Europe there are two real ways:
- The normal work permit. An employer in Spain asks for a residence and work permit for you. The office says yes only if the job is on the official list of jobs that are hard to fill, or if the employer shows through the public job service that nobody in Spain was found. The list is published every three months and it is short.
- Group hiring in your country. Each year a government order lets Spanish companies hire groups of workers in their home countries, mostly for seasonal farm work. In 2025 about 25,700 workers from 17 countries came this way. It works with countries that have an agreement with Spain, and the selection is done together with the authorities of that country. Seasonal workers must go home when the season ends.
In both cases the employer starts the process while you are still in your country. When the permit is approved, you ask for the visa at the Spanish consulate. You cannot work on a tourist visa. Nobody can promise you a permit.
Costs to plan for
Rent is the biggest cost. It is highest in Madrid, Barcelona and on the islands, and lower in small towns and in the south. From your pay, about 6.5% goes to social security. Income tax depends on your salary, and workers on the minimum wage pay little or none. In seasonal farm work, the employer must offer housing that meets the rules, and the travel is organised for the group. Ask what is taken from your pay for it. Spanish is needed for almost every job.
These are guides, not live vacancies. We are not an employer.
How to apply safely
- Read the work permit pages of the Spanish Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration.
- Ask the labour ministry of your own country if it has a seasonal work programme with Spain.
- Search for jobs on Empléate and EURES, and tell employers from the start that you need a work permit.
- If an employer wants you, the employer asks for the permit in Spain. You wait in your country.
- When the permit is approved, ask for the visa at the Spanish consulate yourself.
Mistakes to avoid
- Saying yes to a job without knowing the pay per hour and the hours per week.
- Hiding a health problem that makes lifting unsafe for you.
- Ignoring safety rules to work faster. Most injuries happen this way.
- Paying an agent who promises a factory job. Real employers do not sell jobs.
Your rights as a worker in Spain
- You must get a written contract and at least the minimum wage.
- The employer must register you with social security before your first day of work.
- The normal working week is 40 hours on average. Extra hours must be paid or given back as free time.
- You have 30 calendar days of paid holiday a year.
- You are covered by the public health system while you work. Unions and the labour inspection help workers for free.
Protect yourself from fake job offers
- Never pay for a contract or a work permit. The employer asks for the permit and pays the fee for it.
- Seasonal group hiring goes through official offices in your country. Agents who sell “places” in it are not part of the programme.
- Be careful with offers that tell you to enter as a tourist and “fix the papers later”. Working without a permit puts you at risk.
- Check that the company exists and has a real address and tax number in Spain.
Questions people ask
Do I need experience for factory work in Spain?
Often no. Many packing and warehouse jobs train you at the start. Experience and a forklift licence help you get hired faster and can raise your pay.
Is the work hard?
It is physical. You stand for hours and you may lift boxes all day. If you are healthy and used to manual work, you can do it.
Can I enter Spain as a tourist and then get a work permit?
As a rule, no. The normal work permit is asked for while you are still in your own country, and you travel only when you have the visa.
Do I need to speak Spanish?
Yes, for almost every job. Teams, safety rules and contracts are in Spanish. Start learning before you apply.
More guides for Spain
- Driver jobs in Spain
- Hotel and cleaning jobs in Spain
- Construction jobs in Spain
- All jobs in Spain for foreign workers
- How to apply for jobs in Spain
- Spain work visa guide
Last checked: November 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and pay change, so always confirm on the official websites before you decide. We are not a recruiter and we never ask for money.
These are guides, not live vacancies. We are not an employer.