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Austria offers a good quality of life, and jobs are readily available for EU citizens. However, it's important to understand the salary you can expect when considering a move to Austria. The average salary in Austria is approximately €2,182-€3,400 per month, but this varies depending on factors such as occupation, experience, location, industry, and education. The minimum wage is €1,500 per month, but this can vary by industry, job role, and experience level. Salaries are higher in bigger cities like Vienna and Salzburg, and certain sectors like management consulting, auditing, electrical engineering, chemical and petroleum processing, IT, banking, and energy supply are known to pay well.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Average salary in 2022-2023 | €2,182-€3,400 per month |
| Average salary in 2024 | €3,546 per month |
| Average salary in 2025 | €3,422 per month before taxes |
| Minimum wage in 2024 | €1,766.92 per month before taxes |
| Minimum wage in 2025 | €1,700 gross per month |
| Minimum wage in 2020 | €1,500 per month |
| Average salary in Vienna | €29,515-€31,407 per year |
| Average salary in Salzburg | €4,120 per month |
| Average salary in Vorarlberg | Among the highest in Austria |
| Average salary in Burgenland | Among the lowest in Austria |
| Average salary in Lower Austria | €34,374 per year |
| Average salary in Dornbirn | €3,470 per month |
| Average salary for specialists and managers in chemical and petroleum processing industries | €60,000+ per year |
| Average salary for project managers | €62,000 per year |
| Average salary for employees with an academic degree | €20,000 more per year |
| Average salary for full-time, year-round employees | €45,595 per year |
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What You'll Learn
Minimum wage in Austria
Austria does not have a federal minimum wage. However, workers' rights to a liveable salary are protected by a series of collective bargaining agreements that stipulate different minimum wages for specific groups or industries. These agreements are negotiated between trade unions and employers' associations and set minimum monthly salaries. In 2024, the minimum wage in Austria was €1,766.92 per month before tax for full-time work, and in 2025, an employee earning the minimum wage would take home €19,809.32 per year.
In January 2017, social partners negotiated a minimum wage of €1,700 per month for full-time employees across all industries, which is effectively a national minimum wage. This amounts to €23,800 per year, €457.69 per week, or €11.44 per hour for employees working 40 hours per week. However, this rate would also be due to employees working 38 hours per week per the terms of the relevant collective agreement.
In 2022, the minimum wage in Austria was reported to be €1,500 per month, and in 2023, the median gross annual income across all employees was €35,314. That same year, the average salary in Austria was approximately €2,182-€3,400 per month, with full-time, year-round employees earning a median gross annual income of €45,595. The median salary in Vienna that year was €31,407 per year, while in Lower Austria, the average gross salary was the highest in the country at €34,374. In Salzburg, the average salary was €4,120 per month.
In 2024, most agreements factored in 14 paychecks a year, including extra bonuses in June and December, bringing the minimum monthly pay in Austria to around €2,020. The median salary in Austria that year was €42,550 per year or €3,546 per month, while full-time employees earned a median gross annual income of €51,500.
In addition to industry, occupation, and location, other factors that influence salaries in Austria include age, experience, and region. For example, specialists and managers tend to earn higher salaries, and employees with academic degrees can earn up to €20,000 more per year.
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Average salary in Austria
The average salary in Austria is around €3,500 per month gross, or €2,996 net. This is higher than many other EU countries. The average net annual salary is €35,961, or €2,996 monthly. This allows for a comfortable standard of living. However, this average varies depending on location, occupation, experience, and industry.
In 2024, the average gross annual salary in Vienna was €51,219 (or €4,268 monthly). After tax, this comes down to €34,188 yearly (or €2,849 monthly). Vienna has higher salaries to compensate for the higher living costs. The highest average salary in Austria is in Vienna — €56,980 per year. The lowest is in Carinthia — €46,667.
The average salary in Austria is impressive in an international comparison. In the EU, Austria's full-time employees are in the top third in terms of pay, closely followed by neighbouring Germany. According to the OECD, only in Denmark and the three Benelux countries do employees receive a higher average annual salary.
The minimum wage in Austria is €1,500 per month. However, there is no state-mandated minimum wage. Instead, minimum pay is determined through collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) between trade unions and employers' associations. These agreements set the minimum wages that employers must adhere to, ensuring fair compensation for workers.
Fields like IT, medicine, engineering, and business generally offer higher salaries. The chemical and petroleum processing industries also offer high salaries, with specialists and managers earning more than €60,000 per year on average. The best-paid professionals in Austria are project managers, with an average annual salary of almost €62,000.
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Salary by industry
The average salary in Austria is approximately €2,182–€3,400 per month, or €47,177 per year. However, salaries vary depending on factors such as occupation, experience, location, and industry.
In terms of industry, management consulting, auditing, and electrical engineering offer high incomes. The chemical and petroleum processing industries offer even higher salaries, with specialists and managers earning more than €60,000 per year on average. The IT sector, banking, and the energy and water supply industries also offer high average salaries. Project managers in Austria earn an average annual salary of almost €62,000.
Other high-paying jobs in Austria include those in the aviation industry, such as airline pilots and flight engineers, which compensate for rigorous training, irregular working hours, and responsibility for passenger safety. Experienced professionals in the oil, gas, and renewable energy sectors also earn high salaries due to the strategic importance of energy resources and the complexity of the industry.
IT and technology roles have seen above-average wage increases in recent years due to the growing importance of digitalization and tech skills. As a result, these sectors have experienced faster wage growth than others.
While the minimum wage in Austria is not state-mandated, it is determined through collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) between trade unions and employers' associations. The minimum wage in 2024 is €1,766.92 per month before taxes for full-time work, which totals around €2,020 per month in practice. However, the minimum wage in some fields may be higher, such as in logistics, packaging, or maintenance, where it can range from €2,055 to €2,143 per month.
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Salary by location
In Austria, salaries vary depending on location, with major urban centres like Vienna, Salzburg, and Graz offering higher wages than rural or less economically developed regions. Here is a breakdown of salaries by location in Austria:
Vienna
Vienna, the capital of Austria, offers higher salaries due to its diverse industries, including research, IT, tourism, and services. The average salary in Vienna is reported to be between €47,577 and €56,980 annually, with a monthly gross income of around €4,268. After-tax deductions, this amounts to approximately €34,188 per year or €2,849 per month. Executives and specialists in Vienna tend to earn the highest salaries, with project managers earning an average of almost €62,000 annually.
Salzburg
Salzburg is home to international companies like Red Bull and has a thriving tourism industry. While specific salary data for Salzburg may differ, it is likely to be comparable to other major cities in Austria.
Graz
Graz is another major urban centre in Austria, but specific salary information for this location is scarce. However, it is reasonable to assume that wages in Graz could be similar to those in Vienna or Salzburg, given its urban setting.
Vorarlberg
Vorarlberg stands out as the region where full-time employees earn the highest salaries in Austria. However, the federal capital, Vienna, takes the lead when it comes to specialist and managerial positions.
Tyrol
In contrast, Tyrol is the region with the lowest salaries for full-time workers in Austria. This indicates that salary levels can vary significantly between different areas of the country.
Overall, location plays a crucial role in determining salary levels in Austria, with urban centres generally offering higher wages. Additionally, factors such as industry, occupation, experience, and education level also influence income, contributing to the overall salary landscape in the country.
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Salary by gender
Although Austria has a strong economy and one of the highest average salaries in Europe, the gender pay gap persists. Women in Austria earn 18.8% less than men in comparable roles, exceeding the European average of 12.7%.
The average salary in Austria is €38,457 per year or €3,204 monthly. The minimum wage is €1,500 per month, although this is not state-mandated and may be higher in some industries. The median salary in Austria is €42,550 per year or €3,546 monthly. This means that half of Austrians earn less than this, and half earn more.
In Vienna, the median salary is €31,407 per year, resulting in an estimated net income of €23,617 per year after taxes. However, professionals can likely command an average salary between €50,000 and €55,000, while those at the entry level can expect an average of around €40,833. The average gross annual salary in Vienna is €51,219 or €4,268 monthly. After tax, this comes to €34,188 yearly or €2,849 monthly.
In other parts of Austria, salaries differ. In Salzburg, the average salary is €4,120 per month. In Lower Austria, the average gross salary is the highest in the country at €34,374. In Dornbirn, the average salary is €3,470 per month. In Vorarlberg, full-time employees can expect the highest salary level, while the lowest is in Burgenland.
The best-paid roles in Austria are in project management, with an average annual salary of almost €62,000. The highest-paying industries include management consulting, auditing, electrical engineering, chemical and petroleum processing, IT, banking, energy and water supply, and financial services. An academic degree can earn you up to €20,000 more per year.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria does not have a national statutory minimum wage, but a government-mandated minimum wage of €1,500 per month. However, in 2024, the Austrian minimum wage was €1,766.92 per month before taxes for full-time work.
The average salary in Austria is approximately €2,182-€3,400 per month. The median salary is about €3,422 per month before taxes, and €24,652 per year after taxes.
Austria's average salary is in the top third in the EU, closely followed by neighbouring Germany. Only Denmark and the Benelux countries have higher average salaries.
The highest-paying jobs in Austria are in the management consulting, auditing, electrical engineering, chemical, and petroleum processing industries. Project managers earn an average annual salary of almost €62,000.
Aside from occupation and industry, experience, education, location, company, and market trends can also influence salary. Bigger cities like Vienna and Salzburg have higher living costs and salaries.
