Austria has become one of Europe’s best destinations for skilled professionals, with over 170,000 job vacancies and a 4% job vacancy rate, one of the highest in Europe. Sectors like IT, engineering, healthcare, and construction are seeing strong demand for international professionals. The average salary in Austria is around €56,000 per year, with higher pay in tech and engineering roles. With a stable economy and high living standards, Austria offers great career opportunities for skilled Indian graduates and professionals looking to settle in Europe.
Some of the highest paying jobs in Austria are listed below:
|
Occupations |
Average Salaries per year |
|
€45,241 |
|
|
€40,360 |
|
|
€ 35,000 to € 38,443 |
|
|
€37,306 |
|
|
€48,323 |
|
|
€104,000 |
|
|
€39,600 |
|
|
€36,000 |
|
|
€53,760 |
Source: Talent Site

Austria has great job opportunities for skilled professionals. There are more than 170,000 job vacancies in the country, and many companies are looking for foreign professionals to fill these positions. By 2030, the demand for workers in fields like IT, engineering, healthcare, and construction will keep growing. The table below shows the estimated number of job openings in Austria by 2030 in different sectors.
|
Occupation |
Estimated Job Openings by 2030 |
|
IT & Software |
65,000 |
|
Engineering |
60,000 |
|
Healthcare |
55,000 |
|
Construction & Technical |
50,000 |
|
Teaching & Education |
45,000 |
|
Hospitality & Tourism |
40,000 |
|
Marketing & Sales |
35,000 |
|
Nursing |
30,000 |
|
Accounting & Finance |
28,000 |
|
Human Resources & Management |
20,000 |
Step 1: Search for job openings in Austria on trusted websites like LinkedIn, EURES, StepStone, Karriere.at, and Glassdoor.
Step 2: Look for Austrian companies that hire international workers and offer visa sponsorship for skilled professionals.
Step 3: Prepare a Europe-style CV and cover letter highlighting education, work experience, skills, and language abilities (German language skills are a plus).
Step 4: Apply for jobs directly through company career pages or use licensed recruitment agencies that help foreign professionals find work in Austria.
Step 5: Attend online interviews and clearly present qualifications, work experience, and career goals for working in Austria.
Step 6: Once a job offer is received, the employer provides the documents needed to start the Red-White-Red Card or EU Blue Card visa process.
Step 7: After the work visa is approved, apply for a residence permit, make travel plans, and begin a new career in Austria.
Austria has an ageing population, with an average age of 43.4 years and a low birth rate of 1.41. In recent years, the number of deaths has been higher than births, leading to a shortage of local workers. Because of this, Austria depends on foreign professionals to fill job gaps and support its economy. This gives international workers a great chance to work, live, and build a career in Austria.

To work in Austria, residents from different countries need to apply for a D Visa, which is a long-term visa. The only exceptions to this rule are citizens from within the EU and EFA.
However, highly qualified employees from other countries who want to work and live in Austria can make a Red-White-Red card. This document guarantees its holder a job and residence permit for up to two years.
Travellers to Austria on a Schengen Visa are not eligible to work or convert their short-term visa into a long-term visa for work or other purposes. Foreign nationals should apply from their country of residence to be eligible to work in Austria.
Some of the main work permits that non-EU citizens may need in Austria are the following:
Red-White-Red Card: This is a combined work and residence permit that allows foreign professionals to live and work in Austria for up to two years. It is meant for highly qualified individuals and is based on a points system that considers factors like language skills, education, work experience, and age.
EU Blue Card: Similar to the Red-White-Red Card, this permit allows highly skilled employees to live and work in Austria with the same rights as Austrian citizens. However, it is not points-based and is mainly for professionals with higher qualifications and job offers in shortage occupations.
Job Seeker Visa: This visa is for qualified professionals who want to enter Austria to look for a job. It allows them to stay temporarily while searching for employment that matches their skills.
Seasonal Workers Visa: This is a short-term visa mainly for jobs in agriculture and tourism. The employer must apply for a quota to hire seasonal workers for a fixed time period.
The requirements for the work visa in Austria are given as follows:


According to the EURES report on shortages and surpluses job opportunities in Austria, are as follows:
Austria is grouped among European countries with better salaries and living conditions, but this comes with a cost: higher living costs. According to Numbeo, Austria is Europe's 7th most expensive country and the world's 19th.
Living costs in this country depend widely on location and the number of individuals living in your household. According to the same source, the estimated monthly fee for a single person is €1,055; this does not include the rent, and for a family of four, it is estimated €3,590 in monthly expenses.
Rent in Austria also varies depending on the location and size. The projected rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre is €854, while a similar apartment outside the city centre costs €695.
The estimated cost for a three-bedroom apartment in the city centre is €1,540, and for an equivalent apartment outside the city centre, it is €1,215.
Y-Axis has been providing unbiased and personalized immigration-related assistance for more than 25 years. Our team of experienced immigration experts is here to provide end-to-end support to help you migrate to Austria. Our services include: