What are the average salaries in Austria in 2026?

Thinking about working in Austria? Explore actual 2024 salary data, minimum wage facts, Vienna specifics, and tips to unlock a comfortable expat life.

Ivandzhelin

11 minute read

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Updated on 16 Sep 2026

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Working

The average gross salary in Austria is €52,665 a year (about €4,388 a month), which comes down to roughly €35,961 net a year (€2,996 a month) after tax and social contributions. Planning to look for a job in Austria? To succeed in the Austrian job market and make smart decisions about your pay, you should understand Austrian salaries and how they relate to the country's high living standards. A salary number only helps if you know what it costs to live in Austria, so be sure to compare income with expenses. This guide is tailor-made for expats like you, providing insightful information about:

• The minimum wage in Austria
• The average salary in Austria in 2026
• A good salary to live comfortably in Austria
• Average salaries for different professions in Austria
• Factors that will influence your salary

With this knowledge, you'll be able to make well-informed choices about your career and how you're paid.

• The average gross salary in Austria is €52,665 a year (€35,961 net), and the median is €42,550 a year, so half of workers earn less than that and half earn more.
• Vienna pays slightly less on average than the national figure (€51,219 gross), but its cost of living is also lower than in Salzburg or Innsbruck.
• For students and interns, expect €450-€700 a month from a part-time job or €800-€1,200 from a study-related internship, well within the tax-free and social-security-free thresholds.
• For young professionals, tech, medicine, engineering, and business roles pay the most, and 2-5 years of experience alone can add 32-35% to your salary.
• For families, budget a monthly household income between €4,000 and €5,000 to live comfortably, more in Vienna or Salzburg.
• Austria has no state minimum wage. Pay floors come from sector collective agreements, so your minimum legal salary depends on your industry.

Austria is a country with a strong economy which is reflected in the average salary. The average gross annual salary in Austria is €52,665 (or around €4,388 monthly). After taxes, this comes down to an average net annual salary of €35,961 (or €2,996 monthly). Most salary stats are gross, not net—if you want to know how income tax works in Austria, check the updated tax brackets and deductions to see what you’ll actually take home after tax.

To give you context, the average net annual salary in Austria surpasses that of many EU countries:

Average salary in Vienna vs other Austrian cities

With a monthly cost of living of €1,717, living in Vienna is more expensive than in other Western European capitals like Berlin or Paris. However, Vienna's high salaries make it manageable.

The average gross annual salary in Vienna is €51,219 (or €4,268 monthly). After tax deductions, this comes down to €34,188 yearly (or €2,849 monthly). This kind of salary allows you to live comfortably, save, and treat yourself to things you like. For more on regional differences, see the best places to live in Austria to compare Austrian cities for lifestyle and cost.

Location can have a significant impact on salary levels in Austria. Generally, major urban centres such as Vienna, Salzburg, and Graz tend to offer higher wages compared to rural or less economically developed regions. You'll find the full city-by-city breakdown, including compare salaries to the cost of living, in the comparison table further down this guide.

How have average salaries in Austria changed recently?

Nominal wages in Austria have grown fast in the last few years, up 8.3% in 2024 alone, before cooling to a projected 3.3% in 2025 and 2.7% in 2026, according to WIFO's economic outlook.

Because inflation has also slowed, real wage growth (what your paycheck actually buys) stayed positive throughout, at around 0.6-1.2% a year from 2024 to 2026. In practice, that means your salary is keeping pace with, or slightly beating, rising prices, a healthier position than many other EU countries saw over the same period.

The Austrian minimum wage in 2024 is €1,766.92 per month before taxes for full-time work. Most agreements factor in 14 paychecks a year instead of 12, which includes extra bonuses given in June and December. So, in practice, the minimum monthly pay in Austria totals around €2,020.

However, Austria doesn't have a state-mandated minimum wage. Instead, minimum pay is determined through collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) between trade unions and employers' associations.

The exact amount varies based on factors like industry, occupation, age, experience, and region. This ensures fairness of starting salaries depending on the complexity of the job. For example the minimum wage in Austria in some fields is:

• Restaurant Servers/Delivery/Cleaning/Security guards: €2,025 - €2,070
• Logistics/Packaging/Maintenance: €2,055 - €2,143
• Drivers (vehicles weight max 3.5 t, cranes, forklift)/Metal sorters: €2,130 - €2,245
• Drivers (trucks over 3.5 t and tractors): €2,190 - €2,325
• Certified drivers/Trained professionals/Metal cutters: €2,225 - €2,365

However, almost everyone working in Austria is guaranteed a certain level of pay. This is because public and private companies must be part of the Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ) group. This group checks that the agreements are balanced and treats workers fairly.

By 2026, most sector CBAs have pushed entry-level minimums up to a range of €1,800 to €2,000 gross per month, again paid 14 times a year, according to the Austrian Ministry of Social Affairs. This applies to full-time employees regardless of nationality, but students and expats working part-time or in mini-jobs fall under different, lower earnings thresholds, covered in the students and interns section below. If you're coming to Austria to study, your budget works differently—see student visa rules in Austria to understand how part-time work and earnings fit with your study plans.

Your gross salary (Bruttogehalt) is what's written in your contract, before any deductions. Your net salary (Nettogehalt) is what actually lands in your bank account, after income tax and mandatory social security contributions are taken out. If you’re curious about Austria’s tax system in plain English, see our detailed breakdown of what you’ll actually take home after tax.

You can use the gross-net calculator provided by the Austrian government to calculate exactly how much your net salary is.

Austria uses a progressive income tax, meaning higher portions of your income are taxed at higher rates. As of 2026, the official brackets are:

On top of income tax, employees pay roughly 18% of gross salary in social security contributions (health, pension, and unemployment insurance combined), according to PwC's tax summary. Together, these deductions explain the gap between the gross and net figures you'll see throughout this guide.

What you earn depends on your job. Fields like IT, medicine, engineering, and business generally offer higher salaries. Here's a glimpse of average salaries for different jobs in Austria:

Your job's field plays a big role in your salary. Professions with more training or complex tasks usually pay better. This is clear in Austria's top-paying jobs:

• Medical doctor/Surgeon- €94,680
• Software Engineer- €71,040
• Data Scientist- €90,000
• Lawyer- €69,360
• Marketing Manager- €65,520
• Physician- €103,800

Another point to consider is your field's demand in Austria. If your role is needed and hard to fill, it's a sign you might get the salary you want. In-demand jobs in Austria include:

• Engineers
• Nurses
• Construction workers
• Waiters/Waitresses
• Technicians
• Restaurant chefs

For more information you can visit migration.gv.at, which lists all available in-demand and shortage jobs in Austria. If you’re ready to move from salary stats to action, check out jobs that are in demand right now and what it’s like working in Austria as a foreigner.

In Austria, a good salary means more than just covering your basics, it's about having the freedom to enjoy life comfortably. Think hitting the gym, hanging out with friends over dinner, and getting quality clothes.

A single person with a monthly income between €2,500 and €3,500 can have a comfortable standard of living in Austria. Whereas a family of 3, needs a monthly income between €4,000 and €5,000 to live comfortably.

Note that bigger cities like Vienna and Salzburg have higher living costs and salaries. For instance, apartments for rent in Vienna are more expensive than those in Linz. So seeing how your salary compares to your expenses is key.

To put a number on it, a single person's monthly costs, excluding rent, run around €1,060 across Austria, and a family of four spends around €3,680 a month excluding rent, according to Numbeo. Add rent on top: expect €700-€1,400 for a one-bedroom flat in a city centre, more in Vienna, Salzburg, or Innsbruck, less in Graz or Linz. Don’t forget what you’ll pay for utilities each month when calculating your real monthly expenses in Austria. Match your target salary against these numbers before you commit to a city.

The median salary in Austria is €42,550 per year (or €3,546 monthly). This gives you an idea of what the typical income level is. Half of Austrians earn less than this, and half earn more.

1. Gender

Sadly, the gender pay gap persists in Austria. Women earn 18.8% less than men in comparable roles, exceeding the European average of 12.7%.

2. Experience level

Your experience matters. Those with 2-5 years of experience earn 32%-35% more than newcomers. With 10 years of experience, you could see a 20% raise. And at 15 years, this increase is between 14% and 15%.

3. Level of education

Generally, higher education brings higher pay. Austrians with a Bachelor's degree earn 23%-25% more than those with a high school diploma. Those with Master's degrees earn 20%-30% more than those without. People with PhDs and Doctorates earn 10%-20% more.

If you're studying in Austria, keep your part-time earnings under €518.44 a month (the 2026 Geringfügigkeitsgrenze, or marginal earnings limit) to avoid social security contributions. Most student jobs pay €450-€700 a month, while study-related internships typically pay €800-€1,200 a month, according to Europe Study. If you have a student visa, how studying in Austria works for internationals can affect your ability to work part-time and plan your budget.

Any income you earn stays tax-free up to €13,539 a year, so most students and interns won't pay income tax at all. Budget around €1,300 a month in total living costs as a student, according to Statistik Austria's 2025 student social survey, covering accommodation, food, and personal expenses. If your internship or part-time job pays within the ranges above, you'll comfortably cover the essentials, but you likely won't have much left over for savings, so plan your budget before you commit to a lease.

Let's see how location influences your salary and budget by comparing 5 of the larger Austrian cities:

For a breakdown of lifestyle, affordability, and city perks, check out which Austrian city fits your budget.

Understanding the various aspects of salaries in Austria is essential when exploring job opportunities. Armed with this knowledge, you're ready to make informed decisions and start your career in Austria. After you've landed a job, find out how to apply for an Austrian residence permit and look at our relocation checklist to ensure you've everything in place.

Once you know your budget, the next step is locking down a place to live before you arrive. On HousingAnywhere, you can browse verified listings, message landlords directly, and book your room, studio, or apartment online, with Tenant Protection covering your first month's rent and deposit until 48 hours after move-in. That means you can secure your Austrian home from anywhere in the world, without a viewing and without the stress of arriving with nowhere to stay.

What is the average salary in Austria in 2026? The average gross salary is €52,665 a year (€4,388 a month), or €35,961 net a year (€2,996 a month) after tax.

How much do people earn in Vienna compared to other Austrian cities? Vienna's average gross salary (€51,219-€53,570 depending on the source) is broadly in line with Linz and slightly ahead of Salzburg, Innsbruck, and Graz, though its cost of living is also higher than those smaller cities.

What is the minimum wage in Austria, and does it apply to students or expats? Austria has no state minimum wage; sector collective agreements set pay floors, now typically €1,800-€2,000 gross a month for full-time roles. Students and expats working part-time or in mini-jobs fall under lower thresholds, like the €518.44 monthly Geringfügigkeitsgrenze.

How do gross and net salaries differ in Austria? Gross is your contracted salary before deductions. Net is what you take home after income tax (0-55%, progressive) and around 18% in social security contributions.

What are the highest-paying industries in Austria for young professionals? Medicine, data science, software engineering, law, and marketing management top the list, with doctors and physicians earning €90,000-€104,000 a year.

How much can students or recent graduates expect to earn in Austria? Students typically earn €450-€700 a month from part-time work or €800-€1,200 from internships, both largely tax-free under the €13,539 annual threshold.

Is the cost of living in Austria affordable on the average salary? Yes for most single professionals and dual-income families; a single person needs €2,500-€3,500 a month to live comfortably, which the average net salary covers, though families need €4,000-€5,000 and should budget more carefully in Vienna or Salzburg.

How have average salaries in Austria changed in recent years? Nominal wages grew 8.3% in 2024 before slowing to around 2.7-3.3% growth in 2025 and 2026, still outpacing inflation in real terms.

What taxes or deductions are taken from salaries in Austria? Progressive income tax from 0% to 55% plus roughly 18% in social security contributions for health, pension, and unemployment insurance.

Does visa status affect how much expats can earn in Austria? Visa status itself doesn't set your salary, employers pay the same CBA-defined rates regardless of nationality, but it can affect which jobs you're eligible for and how quickly you can start working, so confirm your work permit conditions before accepting an offer.