Should you move to Vienna as a software engineer?

Summary

Tomasz, a software engineer from Poland, shares his insights on the job market for software engineers in Vienna. He highlights the limited presence of Big Tech companies and a smaller startup scene compared to cities like Berlin or London. Instead, job seekers can expect opportunities in less glamorous industries like insurance and banking, with companies like Dynatrace offering positions. Salaries for senior software engineers range from 60 to 85 thousand euros gross annually, which, despite high taxes and living costs, is above the city's average and can provide a good life in Vienna. Tomasz suggests that while Vienna may not maximize profits, it offers a great life in a beautiful city for those who value work-life balance.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Tomasz is a software engineer from Poland living in Vienna since 2020 and shares his insights on the job market for software engineers in Vienna.
• 🚫 Big Tech companies like Netflix, Microsoft, and Amazon have limited presence in Austria, making it difficult for software engineers to find jobs with them locally.
• 🌱 Vienna's startup scene is smaller compared to cities like Berlin or London, with fewer opportunities in this sector.
• 🏢 There are many larger, less glamorous industries in Vienna, such as insurance and banking, which offer software engineering jobs.
• 💼 Some companies in Vienna, especially the less known modern tech companies like Dynatrace, may require good knowledge of German.
• 💰 A senior software engineer in Vienna can expect to earn between 60,000 to 85,000 euros gross per year, which is subject to high income tax rates of around 48%.
• 💹 Despite the high cost of living, software engineers in Vienna earn well above the city's average salary of 55,000 euros, allowing for a good quality of life.
• 🏙️ Vienna offers a great life and work-life balance, which might be appealing for those who value these aspects over maximizing profits.
• 🤔 For those seeking the highest possible income, Vienna may not be the top choice when compared to cities like London or Berlin.
• 🌟 If you love the city and are looking for a place to enjoy a good life while doing what you love, Vienna could be the right place for you.
• 🙌 Tomasz encourages viewers to ask questions if they have any and wishes them well.

Q & A

Who is Tomasz and what does he do?

Tomasz is a software engineer from Poland who has been living in Vienna since 2020 and has experience with the job market for software engineers in Vienna.

Why did Tomasz decide to make a video about the job market for software engineers in Vienna?

Tomasz decided to make a video because he was asked about it in the comments and he has some experience with the job market in Vienna.

What does Tomasz love about Vienna?

Tomasz loves Vienna and finds it amazing, which is a good enough reason for him to live there.

What kind of companies can software engineers expect to find in Vienna?

In Vienna, software engineers can expect to find bigger companies from less flashy industries such as insurance, banking, and some modern tech companies like Dynatrace, but the selection is not as great as in cities like Berlin or London.

Are there any Big Tech companies in Austria that hire software engineers?

Big Tech companies like Netflix, Microsoft, and Amazon have very little presence in Austria, and some of them do not hire at all, even for remote positions.

How is the startup scene for software engineers in Vienna compared to other cities?

The startup scene in Vienna is fairly small and much smaller than in cities like Berlin or London.

What are some of the challenges software engineers might face when working for companies in Vienna?

Some companies in Vienna might require good knowledge of German and can be a bit old-fashioned, and they generally do not pay as well as Big Tech companies.

What is the typical salary range for a senior software engineer in Vienna?

A senior software engineer in Vienna can expect to earn between 60 to 85 thousand euros gross a year.

How does the cost of living in Vienna compare to other cities like London and Berlin?

The cost of living in Vienna is quite high, but it is not as high as in London, where software engineers can expect to earn 50k more per year, or Berlin, with a salary range of 78 to 100K a year.

What is the average salary in Vienna and how does a software engineer's salary compare to it?

The average salary in Vienna is 55 thousand euros, so a senior software engineer earning 60 to 80 thousand euros is well above average.

What conclusion does Tomasz draw about working as a software engineer in Vienna?

Tomasz concludes that if one wants to maximize profits, Vienna might not be the best place, but for a great life in an amazing city doing something they love, Vienna might be the right choice.

Outlines

00:00

👋 Introduction to Tomasz and Vienna's Job Market Overview

Tomasz, a software engineer from Poland, introduces himself and provides an overview of the job market for software engineers in Vienna. He mentions his love for the city and the intention to share insights based on his experience. Tomasz highlights the lack of Big Tech companies and the smaller startup scene compared to cities like Berlin or London, but notes the presence of strong players in less flashy industries such as insurance and banking.

🏢 Company Types and Work Culture in Vienna

The script discusses the types of companies one can expect in Vienna, emphasizing the prevalence of larger companies from less glamorous industries and modern tech firms like Dynatrace. It points out that these companies may not offer Big Tech salaries and can be somewhat old-fashioned, with some requiring knowledge of German. Tomasz suggests these companies could be suitable for those valuing work-life balance or with less experience.

💰 Salaries and Cost of Living for Software Engineers in Vienna

Tomasz details the salary expectations for a senior software engineer in Vienna, which ranges from 60 to 85 thousand euros gross per year, with variations among companies. He contrasts this with higher income potential in cities like London and Berlin, while also noting the high income tax rate of 48% and the cost of living in Vienna. Despite the financial considerations, Tomasz asserts that software engineers earn well above the city's average salary of 55 thousand euros, allowing for a good life in Vienna.

🌟 Conclusion on Living and Working in Vienna

In conclusion, Tomasz suggests that while Vienna may not be the best place to maximize profits, it offers a great life and work environment for those who love what they do and appreciate the city's charm. He invites questions and signs off with a friendly farewell.

Keywords

💡Software Engineer

A software engineer is a professional who applies engineering principles to the design, development, testing, and evaluation of computer software. In the context of the video, Tomasz, the speaker, identifies himself as a software engineer and discusses the job market for this profession in Vienna. The term is central to understanding the video's theme, which revolves around the professional experiences and opportunities for software engineers in a specific geographic location.

💡Vienna

Vienna is the capital and largest city of Austria, known for its rich cultural history and high quality of life. The video focuses on the job market for software engineers in Vienna, making it a key geographical reference point. The city's appeal and living conditions are contrasted with the professional opportunities available to software engineers, highlighting the trade-offs between lifestyle and career prospects.

💡Big Tech

Big Tech refers to the largest technology companies in the world, such as Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon, and Airbnb. These companies are often sought after for their innovative work culture and high salaries. In the script, Tomasz mentions that Big Tech companies have a limited presence in Austria, which affects the job opportunities for software engineers who aspire to work for such知名企业.

💡Startup Scene

The startup scene refers to the community and environment of new, often innovative businesses that are in the initial stages of their growth. The script describes Vienna's startup scene as not being as vibrant as in cities like Berlin or London, which may impact the opportunities for software engineers looking for dynamic and fast-paced work environments.

💡Industries

Industries in this context refer to the various sectors of the economy where companies operate. The video mentions that software engineers in Vienna can expect to find opportunities in less glamorous but stable industries such as insurance and banking. These industries may offer a different set of challenges and rewards compared to the tech sector.

💡Dynatrace

Dynatrace is an example of a modern tech company mentioned in the script that operates in less flashy industries. It represents the type of companies that software engineers might consider working for in Vienna, which may not be as well-known as Big Tech firms but still offer opportunities in the tech field.

💡Work-life Balance

Work-life balance refers to the equilibrium between an individual's work and personal life. The script suggests that companies in Vienna might be a good choice for those valuing a good work-life balance, indicating that the city offers a lifestyle that can be appealing alongside professional opportunities.

💡Income Tax

Income tax is a government-imposed levy on an individual's earnings or income. The video discusses the high income tax rate in Vienna, which can significantly affect a software engineer's take-home pay. This is an important consideration when evaluating the financial attractiveness of job opportunities in the city.

💡Cost of Living

Cost of living refers to the amount of money needed to sustain a certain level of living, including expenses such as housing, food, and transportation. The script mentions that despite high income tax, the cost of living in Vienna is not as high as in cities like London, making it a more affordable place to live for software engineers.

💡Salary Range

A salary range indicates the minimum to maximum expected earnings for a particular job or profession. The video provides a specific salary range for senior software engineers in Vienna, which helps viewers understand the potential earnings and compare them with other cities or job opportunities.

💡Quality of Life

Quality of life encompasses an individual's overall well-being, including physical health, emotional state, and social and environmental factors. The video concludes by emphasizing the high quality of life in Vienna, suggesting that despite potential financial drawbacks, the city offers a desirable lifestyle for software engineers.

Highlights

Tomasz, a software engineer from Poland, shares his experience about the job market for software engineers in Vienna.

He expresses his love for Vienna as a reason for living there, despite the job market's limitations.

Big Tech companies like Netflix, Microsoft, and Amazon have little to no presence in Austria, making it difficult for software engineers to find jobs.

The startup scene in Vienna is smaller compared to cities like Berlin or London.

Software engineers can expect to find jobs in larger, less glamorous industries such as insurance and banking.

Dynatrace is mentioned as an example of a modern tech company in Vienna.

Salaries in these companies may not be as high as Big Tech, and some may require knowledge of German.

Less experienced individuals or those valuing work-life balance might find these companies a good choice.

A senior software engineer in Vienna can expect an annual gross salary between 60 to 85 thousand euros.

High income tax rates of 48% and living costs make the salary less attractive compared to other cities.

London offers significantly higher salaries for software engineers, around 50k more per year.

Berlin also provides a more attractive salary range of 78 to 100K a year compared to Vienna.

The average salary in Vienna is 55k, making a senior software engineer's salary well above average.

Vienna offers a good life and the opportunity to enjoy the city's beauty, despite not maximizing profits.

Tomasz concludes that Vienna may not be best for maximizing profits but is great for a fulfilling life.

He invites viewers to ask questions and ends the video with a farewell.

Transcripts

Servus! I'm Tomasz, a software engineer from Poland who has been living in Vienna since 2020.

And someone asked me in the comments about job market for software engineers in Vienna,

so I thought, okay, let's make a short video about this as I have some experience with that.  

And, as you probably know, I love Vienna I think it's amazing, so for me this is a good enough reason to live here,

but you probably want to get a little bit more insights, so let's do it,

Let's start with the companies. What kind of companies can you expect here? Sadly the selection is not that great.

If you dream about working for the Big Tech so companies like Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon, Airbnb and so on,

it will be very hard to do this in Austria. Many of those companies have very little presence in Austria

and some of them don't hire at all here, even for the remote positions. 

Similarly with the startup scene it's not that great. It's fairly small, much smaller than in Berlin or London and cities like that.

Even that there is a few strong players here.

What you can expect is a lot of bigger companies from less flashy Industries. Anything from insurance to banking  

and also some less known modern tech companies, so something like Dynatrace for example.

And those companies of course don't pay as well as the Big Tech and they can be sometimes a little bit old-fashioned.

Some of them require good knowledge of German. Not all of them but it's not that uncommon.

And what can I say?  They still might be a good choice for many people.

People who are maybe less experienced or people who just value a good work-life balance.

This still might be a good choice. 

Okay, that said what about the money?

So a senior software engineer in Vienna can expect to get  anything between 60 to 85 thousands gross a year.

This is what most people get. There are some companies that pay more and some companies that pay less,

but this is what most people get.

And if you add to that a high income tax - for this range it will be 48%

and quite high costs of living, it's not that much.

Especially comparing to something like London where you can expect 50k more. Every year.  

And yeah, even Berlin with its respectful range of 78 to 100K a year looks much better than Vienna.

However it's still worth mentioning that average salary in Vienna it's 55k,

so as a software engineer, as a senior software engineer with respectful 60, 70 maybe 80 thousands

you are way above average and you can enjoy a very good life in Vienna with everything that this beautiful city has to offer.

So I think the conclusion is quite simple. If you want to maximize your profits  

Vienna might not be the best place to try to do it,

but if you just want to have a great life and do something you love in an amazing city

go for it. I think Vienna might be might be the place for you.

So I think that's it for all for today. Let me know if you have any questions and take care! Tschüs!