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Software Engineer Salaries in Europe, Compared by Country

Julien Sicard
Julien Sicard
|
Published
November 7, 2026
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Updated
November 9, 2026
EU AVERAGE, PROFESSIONALS IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION, 2022

Professionals working in the information and communication sector, which includes software development, earned EUR 57,522 a year on average across the EU in 2022, gross. Switzerland paid the most (EUR 126,024), then Ireland (EUR 90,905) and Denmark (EUR 88,248). Inside the EU, Poland was lowest at EUR 29,721.

€57,522 / year
Highest, Switzerland
EUR 126,024
Highest in the EU, Ireland
EUR 90,905
EU average
EUR 57,522
Lowest in the EU, Poland
EUR 29,721

This page compares what software engineers and other IT professionals earn across 34 European countries, using one official source for all of them, so the numbers can be compared directly. It is for job seekers deciding where a remote employer pays well and for companies budgeting a hire. Each country with a full guide is linked below, with national figures that are more recent and more specific than this comparison.

Mean annual gross earnings of professionals in information and communication, 2022

<table class="ert-table"><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Country</th><th>Mean annual gross earnings</th><th>Versus EU average</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Switzerland</td><td>EUR 126,024</td><td>219%</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Ireland</td><td>EUR 90,905</td><td>158%</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Denmark</td><td>EUR 88,248</td><td>153%</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Iceland</td><td>EUR 87,055</td><td>151%</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Norway</td><td>EUR 84,544</td><td>147%</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Germany</td><td>EUR 78,189</td><td>136%</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Luxembourg</td><td>EUR 76,730</td><td>133%</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Belgium</td><td>EUR 74,098</td><td>129%</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Austria</td><td>EUR 71,668</td><td>125%</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Netherlands</td><td>EUR 69,120</td><td>120%</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Finland</td><td>EUR 65,145</td><td>113%</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>France</td><td>EUR 60,737</td><td>106%</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>Sweden</td><td>EUR 58,225</td><td>101%</td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td>Cyprus</td><td>EUR 53,572</td><td>93%</td></tr><tr><td>15</td><td>Italy</td><td>EUR 49,625</td><td>86%</td></tr><tr><td>16</td><td>Spain</td><td>EUR 45,646</td><td>79%</td></tr><tr><td>17</td><td>Slovenia</td><td>EUR 43,817</td><td>76%</td></tr><tr><td>18</td><td>Lithuania</td><td>EUR 43,622</td><td>76%</td></tr><tr><td>19</td><td>Czechia</td><td>EUR 43,077</td><td>75%</td></tr><tr><td>20</td><td>Estonia</td><td>EUR 42,753</td><td>74%</td></tr><tr><td>21</td><td>Malta</td><td>EUR 40,893</td><td>71%</td></tr><tr><td>22</td><td>Romania</td><td>EUR 40,037</td><td>70%</td></tr><tr><td>23</td><td>Portugal</td><td>EUR 39,232</td><td>68%</td></tr><tr><td>24</td><td>Latvia</td><td>EUR 37,414</td><td>65%</td></tr><tr><td>25</td><td>Serbia</td><td>EUR 36,070</td><td>63%</td></tr><tr><td>26</td><td>Croatia</td><td>EUR 32,494</td><td>56%</td></tr><tr><td>27</td><td>Slovakia</td><td>EUR 31,617</td><td>55%</td></tr><tr><td>28</td><td>Bulgaria</td><td>EUR 30,903</td><td>54%</td></tr><tr><td>29</td><td>Greece</td><td>EUR 30,635</td><td>53%</td></tr><tr><td>30</td><td>Hungary</td><td>EUR 30,147</td><td>52%</td></tr><tr><td>31</td><td>Poland</td><td>EUR 29,721</td><td>52%</td></tr><tr><td>32</td><td>North Macedonia</td><td>EUR 23,057</td><td>40%</td></tr><tr><td>33</td><td>Bosnia and Herzegovina</td><td>EUR 21,234</td><td>37%</td></tr><tr><td>34</td><td>Albania</td><td>EUR 12,253</td><td>21%</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>EU average (27 countries)</td><td>EUR 57,522</td><td>100%</td></tr></tbody></table>

What the figures cover

Eurostat's Structure of Earnings Survey is the only official source that measures pay the same way in every country here. The figures are mean gross annual earnings in 2022 for people in the occupation group Professionals who work in the information and communication sector, in firms with 10 or more employees. That group includes software developers, but also other IT and media professionals, and it is gross pay before tax and social contributions. The survey runs every 4 years, so 2022 is the latest edition.

The highest-paying countries

Switzerland leads at EUR 126,024, more than 4 times Poland's EUR 29,721. Ireland (EUR 90,905), Denmark (EUR 88,248), Iceland (EUR 87,055) and Norway (EUR 84,544) follow. Germany is 6th at EUR 78,189. The gap between countries is the reason a remote role with an employer in a high-paying country can pay far more than a local job, without moving.

Pay is not the whole picture

A higher figure does not always mean more money left at the end of the month. Tax, social contributions and the cost of housing differ a lot between countries. Our country guides set pay next to the cost of living, minimum wage and public holidays for each country.

Country guides

Method note

All values come from the Eurostat dataset earn_ses22_49, read on 7 November 2026. We did not adjust for purchasing power or exchange rate changes since 2022. The ranking and the share of the EU average are our calculation from those values.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change and collective agreements can set different terms. Confirm with a local accountant or lawyer before you hire.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average software engineer salary in Europe?

Professionals in the information and communication sector, which includes software development, earned EUR 57,522 a year on average across the EU in 2022, gross, according to Eurostat.

Which European country pays software engineers the most?

Switzerland, at EUR 126,024 a year on average in 2022. Inside the EU, Ireland pays the most at EUR 90,905, then Denmark at EUR 88,248.

Which EU country pays software engineers the least?

Poland, at EUR 29,721 a year on average in 2022, followed by Hungary (EUR 30,147), Greece (EUR 30,635) and Bulgaria (EUR 30,903).

Is this the salary of software developers only?

No. Eurostat publishes the comparison for all professionals working in the information and communication sector, which includes software developers. Our country guides add national figures for software developers where the statistics office publishes them.

Can I earn a higher-country salary while living somewhere else in Europe?

Yes, if a remote employer in that country hires you, although some companies adjust pay to where you live. Our job board lists remote roles open to people across Europe.

Sources

  1. Eurostat, Mean annual earnings by sex, occupation and economic activity, earn_ses22_49, Structure of Earnings Survey 2022, updated 9 Feb 2026. Checked 7 Nov 2026.
Julien Sicard
Written by
Julien Sicard
Founder, Euro Remote Talent

Julien founded Euro Remote Talent, which helps people in Europe find remote jobs and places European remote professionals with remote companies.

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