Salaries in Austria: Average pay, minimum wage & taxes 2026

With competitive salaries and a high standard of living, Austria attracts many French expatriates. However, it is worth understanding the basics before making the move. Discover the key facts about salaries and taxation in Austria to assess your earning potential and plan your professional future.

Before looking at the Austrian salary system in detail, it is important to understand the different types of remuneration, including the minimum wages set by collective agreements, the country's average income and the gender pay gap.

In Austria, the following terms are used:

• Gehalt: the salary paid to white-collar employees
• Lohn: the wages paid to manual workers
• Lehrlingsentschädigung: the remuneration paid to apprentices
• Honorare: fees received by self-employed professionals and certain independent contractors (freie Dienstnehmer)

Your salary depends on your position, industry and the applicable collective agreement (Kollektivvertrag). Some companies also have a company-level agreement negotiated with the works council, setting out specific rules on pay and working conditions.

☝ Key feature: Salaries are generally paid in 14 instalments per year, where provided for by the applicable collective agreement or employment contract. These consist of 12 regular monthly payments, a 13th-month payment at Christmas and a 14th-month payment during the summer holiday period.

Unlike France or Germany, Austria does not have a single statutory national minimum wage. Strictly speaking, there is therefore no Austrian equivalent of the French (SMIC) or German statutory minimum wage. Learn more about minimum wages in Austria.

However, sector-specific collective agreements set minimum pay rates for most occupations. These agreements are negotiated between trade unions and employers and cover approximately 98% of Austrian employees.

The minimum income therefore depends on the sector, experience and, in some cases, the region. Most collective agreements provide for a minimum of €1,700 gross per payment over 14 instalments, equivalent to an average of approximately €1,983 gross per month when spread over 12 months.

📊 Good to know: Some sectors, such as hospitality and retail, may offer slightly lower rates to entry-level employees.

In 2026, the average annual gross salary in Austria is estimated at around €60,500 for a full-time position, equivalent to approximately €4,320 per payment over 14 instalments.

According to the latest available data from Statistik Austria, the median annual gross income in Austria for employees who worked full-time throughout the entire year was €55,678. This corresponds to approximately €3,977 per payment over 14 instalments.

✍ Please note: The median salary is the level of pay that divides employees into two equal groups, with half earning more and the other half earning less.

Like many other European countries, Austria continues to face pay inequalities between women and men. According to the latest data from Statistik Austria, women earned an average of 17.6% less than men in gross hourly pay, compared with 11.1% across the European Union.

To address these inequalities, public authorities are promoting pay transparency and working to remove barriers to equal opportunities in the workplace. Despite progress in recent years, the gender pay gap remains significant and continues to be a major issue for equality in the Austrian labour market.

In 2024, Austria had the third-largest gender pay gap in the European Union, behind Estonia (18.8%) and Czechia (18.5%).

🔍 Important clarification: These figures refer to the unadjusted gender pay gap in gross hourly earnings in private-sector companies with at least 10 employees. They do not mean that women invariably earn 17.6% less than men doing exactly the same job with the same level of experience.

As in France and Germany, income tax is deducted at source from employees' salaries in Austria.

Your social security contributions, including pension and social insurance contributions, are deducted from your gross salary before your net pay is calculated. Self-employed professionals generally have to file an annual tax return with the tax office (Finanzamt), often with the help of a tax adviser (Steuerberater).

Employees can also file a tax return, particularly if they have incurred substantial work-related expenses. Depending on their circumstances, the Austrian tax authorities may refund part of the tax already withheld at source.

💡 Tip: To estimate your take-home pay, use an online salary and tax calculator for Austria. The result is only an estimate; the Finanzamt is the relevant authority for confirming your exact tax position.

Understanding an Austrian payslip can seem complicated, but the Austrian Chamber of Labour (Arbeiterkammer) has developed an interactive online payslip guide: Mein Lohnzettel in Österreich.

It helps you understand each item on your payslip. Click on the question marks next to individual entries to find out more about them.

An Austrian payslip (Lohnzettel or Gehaltsabrechnung) is generally structured around three main categories:

• Earnings: hourly pay, overtime, daily allowances and bonuses
• Contributions: employer contributions, social insurance and pension contributions
• Other items: tax allowances, for example for single parents, and tax deductions applicable to certain parts of your salary

Salary negotiation can play an important role in the recruitment process in Austria. To approach the subject with confidence, prepare a realistic salary estimate based on your occupation, experience, qualifications and the region where you want to work.

• Research typical salaries: Find out what people in your industry usually earn and check the minimum rate set by the collective agreement applicable to the position. Then establish a salary range that reflects your profile.

• Set a clear target: How much would you like to earn, both gross and net? You could be in for an unpleasant surprise when you receive your payslip if you do not accurately calculate your deductions. Use this gross-to-net salary calculator.

• Highlight your skills: Your experience, qualifications, specialist knowledge and command of German or French can strengthen your negotiating position, particularly when applying to international companies.

• Prepare your salary expectations: If the recruiter asks about your expectations, give a reasoned salary range rather than a fixed figure. Take into account the responsibilities of the role, your experience and the overall employment package.

• Consider benefits beyond base pay: In Austria, do not focus solely on your basic salary. Ask about the 13th- and 14th-month payments, bonuses, paid leave, remote working, flexible hours and any other benefits offered by the company or provided for under the collective agreement.

📌 Note: Most Austrian companies include salary information in their job advertisements. Check that the advertised salary is at least equivalent to the minimum rate set out in the applicable collective agreement.

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