Tech Salaries in Europe 2026: Country-by-Country Comparison
What developers, data scientists, and engineers actually earn across 10 European cities
If you're a software engineer, data scientist, or tech professional working in Europe — or thinking about relocating — salary differences between countries will surprise you. The gap between the highest and lowest paying cities is massive, and it doesn't always correlate with cost of living the way you'd expect.
This guide uses real 2026 salary data across 10 major European tech hubs. No self-reported survey averages. No ranges so wide they're useless.
The Big Picture: European Tech Salary Rankings
Here's where each city stands for mid-level tech roles (3-5 years experience), ranked by median total compensation:
| City | Software Engineer | Data Scientist | DevOps Engineer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zurich | €110,000–€140,000 | €115,000–€145,000 | €105,000–€135,000 |
| London | €75,000–€105,000 | €78,000–€108,000 | €72,000–€100,000 |
| Amsterdam | €65,000–€90,000 | €68,000–€95,000 | €62,000–€88,000 |
| Paris | €55,000–€80,000 | €58,000–€85,000 | €52,000–€78,000 |
| Munich | €60,000–€85,000 | €62,000–€88,000 | €58,000–€82,000 |
| Berlin | €52,000–€78,000 | €55,000–€82,000 | €50,000–€75,000 |
| Dublin | €60,000–€88,000 | €62,000–€90,000 | €58,000–€85,000 |
| Stockholm | €55,000–€82,000 | €58,000–€85,000 | €52,000–€78,000 |
| Barcelona | €40,000–€60,000 | €42,000–€65,000 | €38,000–€58,000 |
| Lisbon | €35,000–€55,000 | €38,000–€58,000 | €33,000–€52,000 |
These are base salary ranges in euros. Total comp (including bonuses and equity) adds 10-30% at larger companies.
Software Engineer Salaries Across Europe
Software engineers have the most consistent demand across all European markets. But "consistent demand" doesn't mean consistent pay.The Top Tier: Zurich and London
Zurich leads Europe with median software engineer salaries around €120,000. The catch: Switzerland's cost of living is brutal. A one-bedroom apartment in central Zurich runs €2,500-3,000/month. Still, purchasing power remains the highest in Europe for tech workers.
London comes second at €85,000-95,000 median, though the range is enormous. A software engineer at a FAANG in London can clear €150,000+ total comp, while a startup might pay €65,000. The city's financial sector also pulls developers with competitive packages.
The Sweet Spot: Amsterdam, Dublin, Munich
These three cities offer the best salary-to-quality-of-life ratio in Europe.
Amsterdam pays €70,000-85,000 median with the 30% ruling tax benefit for expats (effectively boosting take-home by 15-20% for the first 5 years). The Dutch tech scene is thriving with Booking.com, Adyen, and a growing startup ecosystem.Dublin's FAANG presence (Google, Meta, Apple all have European HQs there) pushes salaries to €70,000-85,000, with total comp packages that rival London at lower cost of living.
Munich is Germany's highest-paying tech city at €65,000-80,000. BMW, Siemens, and a growing startup scene compete for talent. Higher than Berlin, but so is rent.The Growth Markets: Berlin, Paris, Stockholm
Berlin is Europe's startup capital with median salaries around €60,000-72,000. Lower than Munich, but rent is also lower (though the gap is closing). The city's appeal is lifestyle — it's the most affordable major tech hub in Western Europe. Paris has been catching up fast. Station F, government tax incentives for tech companies, and growing VC funding have pushed salaries from historically low levels to €60,000-75,000 median. The French tech ecosystem is no longer an afterthought.Stockholm punches above its weight thanks to Spotify, Klarna, King, and a disproportionate number of unicorns per capita. Salaries match Paris at €60,000-75,000 but with higher cost of living.
Southern Europe: Barcelona and Lisbon
Barcelona and Lisbon are the remote-worker favorites, but local salaries are 30-40% below Northern Europe. Barcelona pays €45,000-55,000 median, Lisbon €40,000-50,000.The trade-off is obvious: sunshine, lower cost of living, and quality of life. Many tech workers take remote roles paying Northern European rates while living in Southern Europe — the real hack.
Data Scientist Salaries in Europe
Data scientists command a premium over software engineers in most European markets, driven by the AI/ML boom.Where Data Scientists Earn the Most
Data scientists in Berlin earn €58,000-78,000 — lower than London (€82,000-100,000) but the gap narrows when you factor in Berlin's lower taxes and cost of living.Paris is interesting for data science specifically. France's strong mathematics tradition produces world-class ML talent, and companies pay for it: €62,000-80,000 median, sometimes higher for NLP or computer vision specialists.
The Zurich premium is even larger for data scientists than software engineers — €120,000-140,000 median — because Swiss pharma and finance companies compete aggressively for ML talent.
The AI Effect
Since 2024, data science salaries across Europe have grown 8-12% annually (vs 4-6% for general software engineering). Cities with strong AI research presence — London, Paris, Amsterdam, Zurich — see the highest premiums.
If you're a data scientist evaluating offers, check the detailed salary breakdown for your target city on CareerCheck.
What Actually Matters: Purchasing Power
Raw salary numbers are misleading without cost-of-living context. Here's how the same €70,000 salary feels in different cities:
| City | €70K After Tax | Monthly Rent (1BR) | Effective Spending Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin | ~€3,500/mo | €1,100 | High |
| Paris | ~€3,300/mo | €1,400 | Medium-High |
| Amsterdam | ~€3,400/mo | €1,600 | Medium |
| London | ~€3,200/mo | €1,800 | Medium-Low |
| Munich | ~€3,400/mo | €1,500 | Medium |
| Barcelona | ~€3,100/mo | €1,000 | High |
| Zurich | ~€4,600/mo | €2,800 | Medium |
Berlin and Barcelona give you the most spending power at the same gross salary. London and Zurich eat it up in rent and taxes.
The Remote Work Factor
Post-2024, roughly 35% of European tech roles offer full remote or hybrid options. This changes the calculus:
Strategy 1: Northern salary, Southern living. Work remotely for a London or Amsterdam company while living in Lisbon or Barcelona. Common, legal with proper tax setup, and increasingly accepted by employers. Strategy 2: Swiss salary, German living. Live in southern Germany (Freiburg, Konstanz) and commute to Zurich. Some companies even have offices near the border specifically for this. Strategy 3: Local plus remote top-up. Work a local Berlin role at €65K but supplement with freelance consulting for US/UK clients. Popular among senior developers.The catch: many companies are now adjusting salaries for location. A "remote" role paying London rates might offer 15-20% less if you're based in Portugal. Always clarify this during the offer stage.
Taxes: The Hidden Variable
Gross salary comparisons miss the tax story entirely:
The Netherlands' 30% ruling and Spain's Beckham Law are the biggest legal tax optimizations available to tech workers relocating in Europe.
How to Negotiate in Each Market
Negotiation culture varies dramatically:
Germany: Companies publish Tarifvertrag (collective agreement) salary bands. There's room above them, but less than you'd think. Focus on benefits: signing bonus, remote days, training budget. UK/Ireland: Most negotiation-friendly market in Europe. Always counter. 10-15% above initial offer is normal. France: Negotiate firmly but professionally. The 13th month salary is standard — make sure it's included. Ask about RTT (extra rest days) and profit-sharing (participation/intéressement). Netherlands: Negotiate the 30% ruling into your package. Some companies handle the application; others expect you to do it. Also negotiate pension contributions — they vary widely. Switzerland: High salaries but less room to negotiate percentage-wise. Focus on equity, relocation package, and bonus structure.Making Your Move
Before accepting any European tech role:
1. Check the actual salary data for your role and target city on CareerCheck's salary explorer — ranges vary significantly by specialization. 2. Calculate net salary using a country-specific tax calculator. Gross-to-net varies by 15-25% between countries. 3. Factor in relocation costs. Security deposits, first/last month rent, visa fees, and the productivity hit of settling in. 4. Negotiate for the right things. In markets with rigid salary bands, push for signing bonus, equity, remote flexibility, or relocation support instead. 5. Talk to people who've done it. Reddit's r/cscareerquestionsEU and Blind have real relocation stories with salary details.
Europe's tech market is more fragmented than the US, which means more arbitrage opportunities. The developers who earn the most are the ones who understand the full picture — not just the number on the offer letter.
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