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Living and working in Austria

Austria offers international skilled workers attractive career opportunities, a high quality of life and a stable environment.

Your next steps:

  • Important information about living in Austria
  • An overview of the healthcare system and social security
  • Insights into the Austrian education system 
  • Clear information on the cost of living in Austria
  • Direct access to jobs in Austria on the Talent Hub

Why Austria?

From economic stability to a high quality of life

Punctual Rail Transport

94 %

Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) achieves one of the highest punctuality rates in Europe.

  • Dense rail network across the country
  • Electricity sourced 100% from renewable energy
  • Comfortable travel, including night trains

Protection Through Collective Agreements

approx. 98 %

Almost all private-sector employees are covered by the provisions of a collective agreement.

  • Regulation of minimum wages by industry
  • Ensures fair working conditions
  • Defines annual salary adjustments

Practice-Oriented Dual Vocational Training

approx. 80 %

Apprenticeships combine practical on-the-job training with classroom instruction at vocational schools.

  • Strong practical focus within companies
  • Around 200 apprenticeship occupations available
  • Earn an income from the start through apprentice pay

Comprehensive Coverage Nationwide

99.9 %

Thanks to mandatory public health insurance, almost the entire population is covered.

  • No exclusion clauses for medical conditions
  • Coverage for family members included
  • Covers hospitals, specialists and rehabilitation

Largest Student City

197,000

No city in the German-speaking world has more students than Vienna.

  • 77 higher education institutions across Austria
  • Wide range of study programmes
  • International three-cycle system (Bachelor's, Master's, PhD)

Additional Public Holidays Each Year

13 days

Thirteen public holidays provide people in Austria with regular time off throughout the year.

  • High number of public holidays compared to other EU countries
  • Full salary payment on all public holidays
  • More time for leisure and recreation

Additional Salary Payments

14 salaries

Employees in Austria typically receive fourteen salary payments per calendar year.

  • Holiday and Christmas bonuses
  • Low taxation of additional salary payments
  • Usually paid out in June and November

High Life Satisfaction

7.2 points

People in Austria rate their overall life satisfaction well above the OECD average.

  • Measured on a scale from 0 to 10
  • OECD average stands at just 6.7 points
  • Austria scores highly for health and nature

Strong Innovation Performance

2,272 patents

In 2025, thousands of inventions were successfully filed with the Austrian Patent Office.

  • Strong business-driven research
  • Upper Austria leads in patent applications
  • Focus on future technologies

Digital Public Services for Employees

6.3 million

More than 6 million citizens use the FinanzOnline portal for simple tax-related matters.

  • Convenient tax filing from home
  • Available free of charge 24/7
  • Secure access via ID Austria

Personal Guide

Get off to a good start in Austria

Arrive well-informed. Get off to a safe start. The Personal Guide supports international professionals with reliable information on all aspects of living and working in Austria—from everyday topics and the cost of living to the healthcare and education systems. The guide can be personalized to suit your needs and accessed with a single click.

Download the Personal Guide to Living & Working in Austria

Put together your own personalised guide to living and working in Austria – tailored to your interests and needs. Whether it’s the health and education systems, housing, the cost of living or everyday life: You’ll receive exactly the information you need to get started in Austria – concise, practical and free of charge.

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