As with most things in Austria, the question of ‘what is a good salary?’ is difficult to answer as the cost of living (and wages) can vary between states and cities.
For example, the east of Austria is typically much cheaper than the west for housing (with the exception of Vienna). And those living in cities often have easier – and cheaper – access to public transport when compared with people living in rural areas.
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Childcare is also something to consider with huge differences between Vienna, where there is access to heavily subsidised services, and places like Tyrol where childcare costs more.
To delve a bit deeper, we looked at the data to find out the average salary in Austria and how it differs between professions and locations.
What is the average salary in Austria?
In 2021, the average gross annual salary in Austria was €44,395, according to the latest data from Statistics Austria.
However, in the latest survey by online job platform Step Stonethe average gross annual salary in Austria is €49,609.
The Step Stone survey then broke it down further by industry with those working in pharma earning the most at €60,504. This was followed by energy at €60,345, medical technology at €59,106 and banking at €58,711.
The industry with the lowest average annual salary is hotels/gastronomy at €37,546, followed by agriculture at €39,779 and tourism at €43,965.
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Occupation also plays a part with people working in management earning the most – on average €66,768. Consulting came second at €53,721.
And like many other European countries, the gender pay gap in Austria prevails. The average annual salary for a man is €52,633 and for a woman it is €44,330.
Furthermore, the top earning city in Austria is Bregenz in Vorarlberg with an average annual salary of €54,620. When comparing the west of Austria with the east, the median salary in Vorarlberg is €46,450, whereas in Burgenland it is just €39,100.
What is the average cost of living in Austria?
Many international residents will find everyday living costs in Austria to be expensive, especially for those that come from countries with a much lower cost of living.
Inflation has also been rising steadily in Austria throughout 2022, leading to some steep rises in prices for groceries, housing costs and energy.
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However, the average cost of living varies across the country, depending on the location. For example, Vienna and Innsbruck in Tyrol are two of Austria’s most expensive cities, but more affordable places to live are Graz in Styria and Klagenfurt in Carinthia.
In Vienna, the average price for a one bedroom apartment in the city centre is €915, going up to €2,000 for a three bedroom apartment, according to Expat Arrivals.
Whereas in Graz, the average cost of a one bedroom city centre apartment is around €609and a three bedroom apartment is €1,170.