Jobs in Austria: The Complete 2026 Guide

Austria offers German-quality salaries with a friendlier, slower pace — Vienna is repeatedly ranked among the world's most liveable cities, and the Red-White-Red card gives non-EU professionals a clear points-based path.

Why work in Austria?

• Excellent quality of life. Vienna tops global liveability rankings year after year.
• Clear points-based visa. The Red-White-Red card lets you qualify on your own merits — no lottery.
• Strong sectors. Tech, engineering, tourism, healthcare and the UN/international organisations in Vienna.
• Cost-balanced. Salaries close to Germany but rents and services are cheaper.

In-demand jobs in Austria

• Software & IT — Vienna and Linz: devs, data, QA at scale-ups and banks
• Engineering — automotive (Magna), machinery, green energy
• Tourism & hospitality — Salzburg, Tyrol and Vienna: English-speaking hotel roles
• Healthcare & care — nurses and carers are on the shortage list
• International organisations — the UN, IAEA and OPCW hire from Vienna

Salary expectations

Vienna salaries average €50,000–€65,000 for professionals — slightly below Zurich but with a much lower cost of living and world-class public services.

Work permits & visas

• EU/EEA citizens: free movement — register with the Meldezettel after arrival.
• Red-White-Red card: points-based permit for non-EU workers (education, experience, language). More points = easier; shortage occupations get bonuses.
• Job-seeker visa: 6 months to search for qualified roles from inside Austria.
• Rot-Weiß-Rot for graduates of Austrian universities: a simplified 12-month job-search right.

Where to find jobs in Austria

WintWorks collects Austria listings automatically every day and links each one back to the original employer:

• Browse all Austria jobs on WintWorks — Vienna, Linz, Graz and remote, updated daily
• Karriere.at, LinkedIn, AMS (public employment service), company career pages

How to apply in Austria

• Your points matter — for the Red-White-Red card, estimate your points first: age, qualifications, experience, German level.
• German B1 doubles your chances in local companies; tech teams often work in English.
• Apply via AMS-listed jobs — certain shortage roles fast-track your permit.
• Vienna has a huge expat community — use meetups and LinkedIn groups; jobs often come via referrals.

FAQ — jobs in Austria

• What is the Red-White-Red card?
  Austria's points-based work permit for non-EU professionals: you score points for age, qualifications, work experience and language skills. Above the threshold you qualify — no employer sponsorship lottery, though you still need a job offer for most categories.
• How much do jobs in Austria pay?
  Vienna: software developers €45,000–€75,000, engineers €45,000–€70,000, nurses €38,000–€55,000. The Austrian minimum wage is about €1,900/month; 14 salaries (double pay in summer and winter) are standard.
• Is English enough to work in Austria?
  In tech, international organisations and tourism — yes. For most local companies German is expected; B1 is the practical baseline.
• Which cities should I target?
  Vienna (everything), Graz and Linz (tech, engineering), Salzburg and Innsbruck (tourism, Alps). Vienna is by far the biggest job market.
• Can I move to Austria first, then find a job?
  Yes — the job-seeker visa gives non-EU candidates 6 months to search on-site, and EU citizens can move immediately and search from there.