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.