Salaries in Austria: Average income & taxes in 2026

With a median gross monthly salary of €3,713, Austria offers attractive opportunities, particularly in industry, finance and IT. How much can you expect to earn, and how do taxes, social security and payslips work? Here are the key points to know.

There is no statutory national minimum wage in Austria. Minimum salaries are instead determined mainly by collective agreements (Kollektivverträge), which vary depending on the sector and occupation.

The applicable collective agreement depends mainly on the industry and activity of the employer. As a result, two employees doing similar jobs can have different contractual minimum salaries if they work in different sectors.

To illustrate the differences, here are examples of median gross annual incomes by industry for employees in Austria:

📊 Tip: When applying for a job in Austria, check which Kollektivvertrag applies to the position. Austrian job advertisements are generally required to indicate the applicable minimum salary and any willingness to pay above the collective-agreement level.

According to the latest available data from Statistics Austria, the median gross monthly income in Austria was €3,713 in 2024, while the median net monthly income was €2,711.

For full-time employees, the median gross monthly income reached €4,317, compared with €2,178 for part-time employees.

It is important to note that these monthly figures already include the pro-rata share of holiday and Christmas payments, as well as regular overtime, bonuses and certain allowances.

For full-time employees working throughout the entire year, the median gross annual income was €55,678 (2025).

However, income varies considerably depending on the sector:

📌 Good to know: Austria is well known for its 13th and 14th salary payments, commonly called Urlaubsgeld (holiday bonus) and Weihnachtsgeld (Christmas bonus). However, these payments are not a general statutory entitlement. Their amount and payment dates are normally determined by the applicable collective agreement or employment contract.

Employees in Austria pay income tax (Lohnsteuer) and social security contributions directly from their salary. The employer calculates and transfers the applicable amounts to the relevant authorities.

For 2026, Austrian income tax is progressive. The main tax brackets are:

These rates apply to taxable income and do not directly represent the percentage deducted from your entire gross salary. Various tax credits and deductions can reduce the final amount of tax due.

Employees also pay social security contributions. In 2026, the employee share generally includes contributions for:

• Pension insurance: 10.25%
• Health insurance: 3.87%
• Unemployment insurance: generally 2.95%
• Chamber of Labour contribution: 0.50%

For lower incomes, the employee's unemployment insurance contribution is reduced or may be zero.

⚠ Warning: The final net salary depends on several factors, including gross income, tax credits, social security contributions, family situation and special payments.

To estimate your monthly net income after tax and social security contributions, you can use an Austrian salary calculator such as the one provided by the Arbeiterkammer.

Unlike Switzerland, where employees generally have to take out individual compulsory health insurance, Austria operates a statutory social health insurance system for employees.

Employees covered by compulsory social insurance automatically receive health insurance coverage through the Austrian social security system. Health insurance is financed through contributions paid by employees and employers.

In 2026, the employee's general health insurance contribution is 3.87% of the contribution base, while the employer contributes a further 3.78%.

Health insurance covers a wide range of services, including medical treatment, hospital care and prescription medicines, subject to the applicable rules and co-payments.

💡 Tip: When calculating your disposable income in Austria, remember that basic health insurance is already financed through the social security contributions deducted from your salary. You therefore do not normally need to budget for a separate mandatory health insurance premium comparable to the Swiss system.

The Austrian salary statement (Lohn- oder Gehaltsabrechnung) shows how your gross salary is converted into your net income.

Employers must provide employees with a monthly salary statement showing how the remuneration is calculated. It can also be provided electronically.

The main elements include:

• Gross salary: The agreed monthly salary before deductions
• Social security contributions: Pension, health and unemployment insurance contributions
• Income tax (Lohnsteuer): The wage tax withheld by the employer
• Employee deductions: Including the Chamber of Labour contribution
• Net salary: The amount paid to your bank account

The payslip should clearly show the assessment bases and amounts used to calculate social security contributions and wage tax.

Austria also uses the annual wage statement (L16), which employers must submit to the Austrian tax authorities.

📝 Please note: Your payslip may also include holiday or Christmas payments, bonuses, overtime, allowances or other special payments depending on your employment contract and collective agreement.

Salary negotiation is an important part of the recruitment process in Austria. Before discussing your expectations, it is useful to check the applicable collective agreement, the usual salary level for your profession and your own experience.

• Check the collective agreement: Start by identifying the Kollektivvertrag applicable to the employer. It establishes the minimum remuneration and other important employment conditions.

• Don't give a random figure: Research salaries for your profession, industry, experience level and region. In Austria, the salary stated in a job advertisement can also provide a useful starting point because the applicable minimum salary generally has to be indicated.

• Highlight your profile: Professional experience, qualifications, language skills and specialist knowledge can all be relevant arguments during salary negotiations. For Franco-Austrian or international positions, French and German language skills may be particularly useful.

• How to answer the question about salary expectations: Rather than giving an arbitrary figure, prepare a realistic salary range based on the position, your experience and the applicable collective agreement. You can then discuss the exact amount with the employer.

• Think beyond salary: Also consider the 13th and 14th salary, bonuses, working hours, holidays, remote working, company benefits, training opportunities and other contractual advantages. In Austria, special payments can represent an important part of total annual remuneration.

👉 Tip: The Austrian Chamber of Labour also recommends preparing concrete arguments based on your responsibilities, achievements, additional qualifications and future contribution to the company.

Find out more:

• Job search platforms in Austria: The best sites
• Average salary in Europe: Country ranking
• Minimum wage in Europe: Country ranking

Olivier Geslin