Austria offers several post-study employment pathways for international graduates, particularly in occupations affected by labor shortages. The country’s official shortage-occupation lists include roles in healthcare, information technology, engineering, skilled trades, and hospitality.
In this article, we will focus on some of the most promising work opportunities for international students after graduation in Austria. Read on to learn about potential career paths, indicative salaries, qualification requirements, and the immigration rules that may apply.
In-Demand Job Opportunities in Austria
1. Healthcare Professionals
- Indicative Gross Salary Range: Approximately €2,070 to €8,480 per month for selected nursing and medical roles
Healthcare offers promising employment opportunities in Austria, although the salary, qualification, and licensing requirements differ significantly by profession. Austria’s nationwide shortage-occupation list includes graduate nurses and physicians.
Doctors diagnose illnesses, provide treatment, and monitor patients’ health. Graduate nurses provide clinical care, administer treatments, and support patients in hospitals and other healthcare settings. According to the Austrian Public Employment Service, indicative gross monthly pay ranges from €2,070 to €3,800 for graduate nurses, while general practitioners and specialists may receive substantially higher salaries. Allowances, employer agreements, experience, and working hours can affect actual pay.
Medical, nursing, and other healthcare professions are regulated in Austria. International graduates may need to have their qualifications formally recognized before they can practice. Doctors must also meet the Austrian Medical Chamber’s German-language requirements and may have to pass a professional language examination unless an exemption applies. Applicants should confirm the recognition and language rules for their profession through Austria’s professional recognition portal before applying for work.
2. IT Specialists
- Indicative Gross Salary Range: Approximately €2,340 to €4,350 per month, depending on qualifications and the position
IT professionals support Austria’s increasingly technology-dependent economy. Their responsibilities may include software development, cybersecurity, systems administration, database management, technical support, and IT project management.
Austria’s 2026 nationwide shortage-occupation list includes higher-trained and graduate-level data-processing technicians, including software developers, programmers, data scientists, database administrators, IT architects, cybersecurity specialists, and systems engineers. Some additional IT occupations are also included on regional shortage lists for specified federal provinces.
According to the Austrian Public Employment Service, IT salaries vary by occupation and qualification level. Indicative gross monthly salaries for computer scientists range from €2,340 to €4,350, while software developers generally fall between €2,340 and €3,950. Actual salaries may be higher depending on experience, specialization, employer, and collective agreement.
3. Engineers
- Indicative Gross Salary Range: Approximately €2,210 to €4,350 per month for selected engineering roles
Engineering remains an important employment field in Austria. Engineers help design, develop, build, and maintain the infrastructure, machinery, products, and technical systems used by businesses and the public. Opportunities are available in fields such as civil, electrical, mechanical, production, process, and building-services engineering.
Austria’s 2026 shortage-occupation lists include several engineering categories, including power-engineering technicians and graduates, mechanical engineers, agricultural-machinery engineers, civil-engineering specialists, and other technical professionals. Some engineering occupations are nationwide shortages, while others are shortages only in particular federal provinces.
Salary levels vary considerably by engineering discipline and qualification. For example, the Austrian Public Employment Service lists indicative gross monthly salaries of €2,210 to €3,490 for building-services engineers, €3,320 to €4,350 for electrical engineers, and €2,660 to €4,350 for production and process engineers. These figures are more representative of starting or collectively agreed pay than a nationwide average for all engineers.
4. Skilled Tradesmen
- Indicative Gross Salary Range: Approximately €2,420 to €3,340 per month for selected qualified trades
Skilled trades in Austria include roles such as plumbers, electricians, joiners, carpenters, metalworkers, and qualified construction workers. These professionals install, repair, build, and maintain essential equipment, buildings, and infrastructure.
Many skilled trades do not require a university degree, but they normally require recognized vocational education, an apprenticeship, or comparable professional training. Third-country nationals applying as skilled workers in a shortage occupation generally need training comparable to a multiyear Austrian apprenticeship, a qualifying job offer, and the required number of immigration points.
The nationwide shortage list includes building plumbers, construction and furniture joiners, carpenters, electrical mechanics, welders, and construction fitters. The regional shortage list also includes trades such as bricklaying and floor and wall tiling in specified federal provinces.
Indicative salaries differ by trade. The Austrian Public Employment Service lists gross monthly pay of €2,420 to €2,680 for joiners, €2,880 to €3,180 for installation and building technicians, and €2,920 to €3,340 for electrical technicians working with plants and operating equipment.
5. Tourism and Hospitality Professionals
- Indicative Gross Salary Range: Approximately €1,990 to €3,840 per month, depending on the role and qualification level
Austria’s tourism and hospitality industry offers roles for chefs, receptionists, hotel managers, restaurant managers, event managers, guest-service employees, and travel and tourism professionals.
Tourism remains a major source of activity in Austria. According to Statistics Austria, accommodation establishments recorded approximately 157.3 million overnight stays in 2025, the highest annual total on record at that time.
Restaurant chefs are included on Austria’s 2026 nationwide shortage-occupation list. Hotel and restaurant professionals are regional shortage occupations in Salzburg and Tyrol, while travel and tourism professionals are listed as regional shortages in Tyrol and Vorarlberg. Therefore, demand and immigration eligibility can depend on the exact occupation and the federal province where the employer is located.
The Austrian Public Employment Service lists indicative gross monthly pay starting at €2,080 for chefs and receptionists, €2,540 to €2,970 for hotel directors, and €1,990 to €3,840 for culture and event managers. German is important for many customer-facing positions, while English and other languages may also be valuable when working with international visitors.
We hope this article has helped you begin planning your career after graduation. You can also explore more information on our Study in Austria and Available Programs for International Students!
