What is the average salary in Austria

The average median salary in Austria, according to Statistik Austria, is €31,407. This is an estimated net income of 23 617 (after taxes) which works out to around €1,968 per month. Separating the genders, we find that men earn an average of €37,707 while women earn slightly less at €24,309.

These are the overall averages for the whole country of Austria, including all occupations and industries. While a total average is nice to know, it’s not going to help you understand your earning potential if you are living in Austria. So let’s dive deeper into salary averages in Austria. Keep reading as we discuss averages by province, industry, occupation and role.

Analysing Average Salaries in Austria

Average salary by region

The average salary in Austria is quite high compared on a global scale. Austria sits slightly higher than the UK average but a fair bit lower than Switzerland (which is one of the highest in the world). Within Austria there are variations in average wages as well, for example, in Niederösterreich (Lower Austria) the average gross salary is the highest in Austria at €34,374. Looking within this province we find the province of Vienna which actually reports the lowest (surprisingly) avg. salary at €29,515. Here’s a table of each federal state and the average salaries.  

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Average salary by sector

The industry you work in also plays an important part in your annual earnings. Let’s take a look at each sector as a whole and see what the average income is.

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Average salary by occupation

We can compare average salary in Austria by occupation to get a better idea of what your peers are earning. Here are the main categories and what they are earning.

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How much do politicians make?

Have you ever wondered what politicians earn? Thanks to Finanzrechner, we’ve got access to public service salary data — have a look and see how you compare. Let’s just say it’s an interesting comparison against the national workforce…

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Average salary by role

We looked at industry sectors as a whole, which is useful when comparing one sector to another, but if we want to compare one role to another we’ll need to break down this data by role. Below, we've outlined notable sectors along with their corresponding average salaries:

Information Technology (IT):

• IT Manager: €75,000
• Software Engineer: €61,000
• Data Analyst: €42,000

Finance:

• Financial Analyst: €49,000
• Accountant: €40,000
• Investment Banker: €71,000

Healthcare:

• General Practitioner: €93,000
• Registered Nurse: €33,000
• Surgeon: €146,000

Engineering:

• Mechanical Engineer: €49,000
• Civil Engineer: €38,000
• Electrical Engineer: €45,000

Marketing:

• Marketing Manager: €60,000
• Social Media Manager: €40,000

Factors influencing salary levels

Aside from occupation and industry, the next biggest factors that can push your potential earnings higher are experience, education, location, company, and market trends. Let’s go through each of these factors and discuss why and how they influence salary. 

1. Experience:

• Compensation generally increases as you gain more experience in your industry or career. Experience also plays a role in title changes (for example, moving from an individual contributor to a manager) and promotions within a company, which often come with a salary bump. As you accumulate more years of experience, you'll likely receive higher pay, have more job opportunities, and see your earning potential rise. However, it's important to note that this assumes experience equates to skill (which isn't always the case) and that you're in a role that requires specific abilities.

2. Education and qualifications:

• Having a solid education can greatly increase your chances of getting your foot in the door, particularly when it comes to securing a higher-paying entry-level or graduate position. Prominent companies like Google and Meta often set specific requirements for their entry-level roles, sometimes even mandating a master's degree in a particular field. Possessing such a degree not only gives you a competitive edge but also positions you for a potentially higher salary, potentially earning you $20,000 to $40,000 more than your peers if you secure the job. Moreover, education plays a significant role in obtaining a work visa in several European countries, including Austria.

3. Location:

• In general, urban areas offer greater earning potential compared to towns or regional locations across various professions. According to the Statistik Austria, average wages also differ between provinces. However, this doesn't necessarily imply that moving to a different canton would guarantee higher earnings. It does, however, indicate that regions with higher-earning individuals tend to have more prosperous job markets with well-paying opportunities, often associated with corporate and multinational companies. To get an overview of average wages by Austrian region, please refer to the map below.

4. Company size and industry demand:

• Larger companies possess more substantial financial resources and can afford to offer higher salaries in order to attract top-tier talent. Transitioning from a smaller company to a multinational corporation or a technology-oriented company often results in a salary increase. While startups generally offer lower salaries, there is potential for significant earnings if you receive stocks or equity and remain with the company until it is acquired. Scaleups and unicorns, benefiting from substantial funding from investors, tend to provide slightly higher compensation. Growth and management positions within these companies can earn considerably more. Finally, there are renowned tech giants such as Google and Meta that exclusively hire exceptional talent but compensate them generously for their skills and contributions.

5. Market trends and economic conditions:

• The state of the economy and current trends play a big role in influencing investor decisions regarding capital allocation. This, in turn, has a cascading effect on the behaviour of companies and the allocation of resources. When investors channel substantial funds into machine learning startups and AI ventures, it triggers a notable shift in company focus towards these areas. Consequently, salaries tend to be higher in thriving markets, particularly for specialists possessing the sought-after skills in these domains. Conversely, if investors reduce or withdraw their investments significantly, it leads to hiring freezes and workforce downsizing. In such a market scenario, the functions of HR and recruiting become less essential, resulting in many of these roles being vulnerable to potential cuts.

Summary

While the average gross salary in Austria hovers around 31,000 EUR per year, your own earnings can vary based on the factors we discussed earlier. To get a better idea of your potential salary range, you can try out the salary calculator. If you happen to be earning below the national average, it might be time to dust off your resume and start looking for a new job. Tech professionals, make sure to check out the WeAreDevelopers job board and see what exciting new opportunities await you!