TL;DR:
Bottom line? Solid if you love la dolce vita. Remote or specialize for real money. Ha, code in Italy—bugs fixed with a view!
Software Engineer Salary in Italy – the dream that turns into a puzzle for many coders eyeing la dolce vita. You picture coding in Milan, pasta lunches, and solid pay. ”what is the salarly” But then reality hits: averages hover around €35,000 gross yearly, juniors start at €28,000, and taxes chew big chunks. Suddenly, that espresso lifestyle feels tight, especially with high rents in tech hubs.
The problem? Outdated info, hidden bonuses, and wild variations by city or skills leave you guessing if it’s worth the move. Remote gigs promise €55,000+, but local jobs lag behind northern Europe.
This guide fixes that. We break down real 2026 numbers on software engineer salary in Italy – from entry-level to senior, Milan vs Rome, perks like the 13th month bonus, and tips to boost your pay. Get ready for clear facts to negotiate better or plan smarter.
Introduction
Overview of the Italian Software Engineering Job Market
Italy’s tech world isn’t Silicon Valley, but it’s buzzing. Think Milan as the hotspot, with companies hunting for coders in AI, fintech, and more. The job market in 2026? A bit tough, with lots of applicants for spots, but demand’s high for skilled folks.
Software engineers are wanted in big firms and startups alike. Remote work’s growing too, pulling in international pay. Overall, it’s steady—not explosive, but solid if you know your stuff. And hey, with Italy’s push on green tech and digital health, opportunities are popping up beyond the usual suspects.
Purpose and Scope of the Salary Guide
This guide’s here to cut through the noise on software engineer salary in Italy. We’ll break down numbers like italy software engineer salary averages, from junior to senior levels. Expect real talk on software engineering salary in italy, including software engineer salary in italy per month.
We’ll touch average salary in italy too, comparing it to tech pay. Scope? We’re focusing on 2026 data, cities like Milan and Rome, and tips to boost your earnings. No fluff—just helpful info to help you negotiate or decide on that move. Because let’s face it, nobody wants to under-sell their skills for pasta money.
Thinking about the average salary of software engineer in italy? It’s around €33,790 gross yearly. That’s above the national average salary in italy of about €33,000. For juniors, junior software engineer salary italy starts at €24,505. Seniors? Senior software engineer salary in italy hits €49,301 on average. In Milan, it’s even sweeter at €49,059.
Italy average salary software engineer varies by spot. Rome offers €35,989. Italy salary for software engineer in remote roles? Around $60,238, or roughly €55,000. Software engineer italy salary per month? Divide yearly by 12—or 13 with that bonus month Italians love.
Average software engineer salary in italy per month shakes out to €2,800 gross. Salary of software engineer in italy depends on experience, city, and skills. Stay tuned for more deets in the full guide. Got questions? Drop ’em—I’m here to help you snag that dolce vita paycheck.
Average Software Engineer Salary in Italy
Hey, if you’re scrolling through this, you’re probably wondering what a software engineer salary in Italy looks like in 2026. Maybe you’re job hunting or just daydreaming about coding in Rome.
I’ve been writing about tech jobs for years, and let me tell you, the numbers can surprise you—especially with that Italian lifestyle thrown in. Who wouldn’t trade a bit of cash for endless gelato? Let’s break it down, keeping it real and relevant.
Base Salary Ranges and Median Pay
| Level / Category | Salary Range (Gross, EUR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Base Salary Range (Overall) | €23,500 – €68,400 | Gross pay before taxes |
| Entry-Level Software Engineer | ~€25,440 | Typical starting point |
| Junior Software Engineer | €25,000 – €36,000 | First few years of experience |
| Mid-Level (Median Salary) | €41,820 | Market midpoint |
| Experienced (10+ Years) | €55,000+ | Strong experience premium |
| Senior Software Engineer | €60,000+ | Top local companies |
| Average Software Engineer Salary | €46,720 | Above Italy’s national average |
| City Impact | Milan > other cities | Milan pays the highest |
| High-Value Skills Premium | +€5k–€10k+ | AI, cloud, and advanced stacks |
Monthly and Annual Compensation Breakdown
Now, let’s talk numbers you can bank on. The average software engineer salary in italy per month is about €3,893 gross. Multiply by 12, and you get the annual €46,720. But here’s the fun part: Many jobs include a 13th or even 14th month bonus. It’s like Italy saying, “Hey, extra cash for holidays!” So your effective monthly might feel higher.
Break it down further. Software engineer salary italy per month for juniors? Around €2,120 to €3,013. Mid-level gets €4,028 for 5-10 years. Annual comp includes base plus perks like meal vouchers or transport.
Taxes take 25-40%, so net monthly could be €2,500-€3,000 average. Italy average salary software engineer beats non-tech jobs, but plan for those deductions. Remote roles? They often pay more, like €55,000 annual. Italy salary for software engineer feels solid if you love the vibe.
Salary Distribution (Lower Quartile, Median, Upper Quartile)
Curious where you fit? The salary of software engineer in italy spreads out like this. Lower quartile (25th percentile) is €30,700 annual— that’s the bottom 25%. Median, as I said, €41,820. Upper quartile (75th percentile) reaches €54,180. So half earn below median, half above.
Average software engineer salary in italy per month for lower quartile? About €2,558. Upper? €4,515. If you’re below lower, time to upskill or switch gigs. Software engineer italy salary distribution shows room to grow—experience adds €10k+ every few years.
Funny how a certification can turn “pasta money” into “vacation fund.” Stay tuned for more on factors affecting these nums.

Salary by Experience Level
Hey, if you’re climbing the software ladder in Italy, experience is your best buddy. Maybe you’re just starting or aiming for that lead spot. I’ve dug through the data—numbers shift like espresso prices, but here’s the scoop for 2026. Think of it as your cheat sheet before that interview. And yeah, taxes bite, but so does good pasta.
Entry-level Software Engineer Salaries
| Category | Entry-Level Software Engineer Salary (Italy) |
|---|---|
| Experience Level | Fresh graduates / 1–3 years |
| Annual Salary (Gross) | €24,505 |
| Monthly Salary (Gross) | ~€2,042 |
| Upper Range (Major Cities) | Up to €29,000 |
| Primary Locations | Milan, Rome, Turin |
| Comparison to Average Jobs | Higher than many non-tech entry roles |
| Career Outlook | Rapid growth with skills and experience |
| Key Focus at This Stage | Learning, upskilling, and project exposure |
Mid-level Software Engineer Salaries
Got 4-7 years under your belt? Mid-level software engineering salary in Italy averages €33,790 to €45,450 gross annually. That’s comfy cash for weekend trips. Software engineer salary Italy per month? Roughly €2,800 to €3,788. Add bonuses, and it’s sweeter.
Average salary of software engineer in Italy here outpaces starters by a lot—think €10k bump. In Rome, expect €35,000-ish. Funny how fixing bugs suddenly pays for better wine. Italy average salary software engineer at mid? Solid if you specialize.
Senior Software Engineer Salaries
Seasoned pro with 8+ years? Senior software engineer salary in Italy hits €42,933 to €73,686 gross. Average around €49,059 in Milan. Monthly, that’s €3,588 to €6,140 before taxes. Leading teams? Extra perks like remote options push it higher.
Salary of software engineer in Italy for seniors beats the national average salary in Italy big time. Ha, who knew gray hairs (or code scars) pay off? Software engineer italy salary here? Worth the late nights.
Lead/Principal Software Engineer Salaries
Top of the game? Lead or principal software engineer salaries in Italy range from €51,726 to €77,762 gross a year. In Milan, €46,000 to €56,000. Monthly? €4,310 to €6,480. These roles mean big decisions—and bigger checks.
Italy salary for software engineer at this level? Elite, especially remote at €55,400 average. Average software engineer salary in italy per month feels luxe here. Just don’t let the title go to your head— or your ego might need its own bonus.
Salary by Location
Hey, thinking about where to code in Italy? Location matters a lot for your software engineer salary in Italy. Big cities pay more, but living costs bite too. Milan tops the list, Rome follows. Let’s break it down—I’ve checked fresh 2026 numbers to keep it real.
Milan Salary Ranges
Milan’s the tech king. Italy software engineer salary here averages €38,500 to €47,000 gross yearly. Ranges hit €30,625 to €48,625 for most folks. Seniors push €66,000. Monthly? About €3,200 to €4,000 before taxes. Fashion and finance boost pay. But rent? Ouch—worth it for the vibe?
Rome Salary Ranges
Rome’s solid but trails Milan. Average software engineer salary Italy around €36,600 gross. Typical range €31,000 to €43,000 yearly. Entry-level €24,000 to €32,000. Monthly shakes out to €2,600 to €3,600. History’s great, but traffic? Not so much. Still beats smaller spots.
Other Major Tech Hubs in Italy
Turin shines in auto tech—similar to Milan, around €40,000 average. Bologna and Florence grow fast, €35,000 to €45,000. Smaller hubs like Genoa or Naples drop to €30,000-€38,000. Remote gigs? Software engineer Italy salary can hit €55,000+ with international firms.
Regional Salary Variations
North crushes south. Milan and north average 10-20% above national. South lags due to fewer tech jobs. Average salary in Italy for software engineer nationally €35,000-€46,000, but north adds €5k-€10k. Cost of living evens some out—south stretches euros further. Ha, pick north for cash, south for sun?
Salary by Specialization
Skills pay extra. Hot fields boost your salary of software engineer in Italy. General devs average €40,000, specialists more. Here’s the scoop.
Data Engineer Salaries
Data folks earn well. Average €32,000 to €76,000 gross, typical €31,000-€41,000. Seniors hit €94,000. Big data demand pushes it. Monthly €2,600 to €6,300. Crunch numbers for cash—nice trade.
Solution Architect Salaries
Architects plan big. Average €45,000 to €98,000. Milan €47,000-€70,000. Total comp around €46,000-€53,000 base. Experience adds big bumps. Design systems, design your bank account.
Sales Engineer Salaries
Sales engineers mix tech and talk. Average €45,000 gross, range €32,000-€56,000. Milan higher, up to €64,000. Bonuses from deals sweeten it. Good if you charm clients without awkwardness.
Other Specialized Roles
AI/ML? €50,000-€90,000. Cybersecurity similar. DevOps or cloud €45,000+. Niche skills like embedded lower unless specialized. Senior software engineer salary in Italy in hot areas tops €70,000. Upskill for that gelato upgrade.

Compensation Beyond Base Salary
Base is just start. Italian jobs add perks to your average software engineer salary in Italy. That famous 13th/14th month? Standard.
Common Health Benefits for Software Engineers
Public health covers basics, but companies add private insurance, check-ups, dental. Tech firms often include mental health support. Family coverage common.
Bonus Structures and Equity Compensation
Bonuses 3-5% usual, or one extra month. Performance adds more. Equity rare in traditional firms, common in startups/international—RSUs possible. Total comp boosts 10-20%.
Additional Perks and Benefits
Meal vouchers, transport passes, gym, flexible hours, remote work. Training budgets, unlimited PTO sometimes. That 13th month? Like surprise cash for vacations.
Total Compensation Packages
Add it up: Base €35,000-€47,000 + bonus €3,000-€5,000 + perks €2,000-€5,000 value. Remote/international? Italy salary for software engineer total €50,000+. Not Silicon Valley, but lifestyle? Priceless. Negotiate—you deserve it. Questions on your situation? Hit me up!
Career Development and Salary Growth
Hey, if you’re a software engineer in Italy—or thinking about becoming one—you’re probably wondering how to bump up that paycheck. I’ve written about tech careers for years, and let me tell you, it’s not just about coding harder. A little strategy goes a long way. Plus, who doesn’t want extra euros for more trips to the Amalfi Coast? Ha.

How Software Engineers Can Increase Their Salary
Want more in your software engineer salary in Italy? Switch jobs often—many folks see 10-20% jumps. Go remote with international companies; averages hit €55,000 or more. Negotiate hard; Italians aren’t big on it, but data shows it works. Specialize in hot stuff, and move to Milan for higher italy software engineer salary.
Career Progression Pathways
Start junior around €25,000-€32,000. Mid-level (4-7 years) gets €35,000-€45,000. Seniors €49,000 average, leads up to €70,000+. Paths? Stay technical as principal, or go management. Many switch to freelancing or remote for faster growth in software engineering salary in italy.
Skills That Command Higher Pay
AI, machine learning, cloud (AWS/Azure), DevOps— these boost average salary of software engineer in italy big time. Python, Java, JavaScript basics, but niche like cybersecurity adds €10k+. Data engineering? Often €50,000+. Upskill; it’s the quickest win for software engineer salary italy per month.
Certification and Education Impact
Master’s degree? Can add €10,000-€20,000 over bachelor’s. Certs like AWS, Google Cloud, or Cisco help, especially early. Not always needed, but in competitive spots, they open doors to better average salary in italy for software engineer.
Job Market Insights
Italy’s tech scene is growing steady. Not exploding like Berlin, but solid demand in fintech, auto, and health.
What Software Engineers Do (Role Responsibilities)
You design, build, test software. Fix bugs, work with teams, maybe lead projects later. Daily? Coding, meetings, coffee breaks. Fun mix of problem-solving and creativity.
Popular Companies for Software Engineers in Italy
Big ones: Intesa Sanpaolo, IBM, Microsoft, Amazon, Google offices. Also STMicroelectronics, Leonardo. Startups in Milan/Rome hiring too.
Top Paying Companies and Sectors
FAANG-like pay higher—Amazon up to €90,000+, Facebook even more in Rome. Fintech and banking top local. Auto (Turin) solid. Remote internationals best for senior software engineer salary in italy.
Demand Trends in the Italian Market
High demand for AI, cloud, cyber. Jobs growing 15-20% in hubs. Over 5,000 openings now. Good time if skilled.
Comparative Analysis
How does italy average salary software engineer stack up?
Gender Breakdown and Pay Equity
Gap around 7-9%. Women earn €2,300 less yearly on average. Tech segregation plays in—fewer women in high-pay roles. Improving with laws.
Salary Comparison with Other European Countries
Italy €35,000-€46,000 average. Lower than Germany (€60,000+), UK (€70,000+ London), France similar or bit higher. Switzerland tops Europe. But Italy’s lifestyle? Often worth trade-off.
Tech Industry vs Other Sectors
Tech beats average salary in Italy (€33,000 national). Engineers earn 20-30% more than non-tech. Finance close, but tech growing faster.
Practical Considerations
Real life stuff for your salary of software engineer in italy.
Cost of Living Adjustments
Milan expensive—rent €1,000+ for decent spot. But south cheaper, euros stretch. Average €40,000 gross comfy most places, especially with bonuses.
Tax Implications in Italy
Taxes 25-43% progressive. But 13th/14th month bonus standard. Impatriate regime for newcomers cuts tax big—70% exemption sometimes. Net often 60-70% gross.
Relocation Considerations for International Candidates
Visa needed non-EU. Blue Card for skilled. English ok in big firms, but Italian helps. Remote popular for expats.
Negotiation Strategies
Research market—use Glassdoor/Levels.fyi. Ask higher than offer. Mention competing offers. Focus total package: bonus, remote. Polite but firm works in Italy.

Also Read: What Is The Software Engineer Salary in Canada: Complete Guide 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Highest Pay for Software Engineers in Italy?
Top pay hits €104,000 gross yearly for principal roles. That’s €8,667 monthly. Local seniors max €60,000-€64,000. But FAANG changes everything—Facebook in Rome/Milan pays €183,000-€185,000 total comp with stock. Amazon L6? Up to €128,000. Remote or big tech? €150,000+ possible. Ha, enough for a yacht… or just endless gelato.
What is the Lowest Pay for Software Engineers in Italy?
Entry-level and juniors start at €25,500-€26,875 gross yearly. That’s €2,125 monthly. In Milan, €26,463 low end. Net? About €1,600-€1,800 after taxes. Tight for startups, but beats zero. Upskill quick—pay jumps fast.
Is the Salary Good for the Cost of Living in Italy?
Yeah, for most. Average software engineering salary in Italy €35,000-€46,000 gross (€2,800-€3,800 monthly) nets €2,000-€2,500. Milan rent €1,000-€1,600 for one-bed; food €300-€400 monthly. Public healthcare helps. €40,000 covers comfy life outside center—pasta’s cheap! South? Euros stretch further. Milan squeezes, but doable with roommates.
How Does Italy Compare to Other Tech Markets?
Italy software engineer salary lags: €35k-€46k average vs Germany €65k-€97k, UK €70k+ (London), France €66k, Switzerland €110k+, US $120k+. Northern Europe doubles pay. But Italy wins on work-life—35-hour weeks, sun, food. Many pick it over grind. Remote FAANG? Levels the field. Senior software engineer salary in Italy €50k feels solid locally, not global.
Resources and Tools
Salary Benchmarking Tools
Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, SalaryExpert. Great for average software engineer salary in italy.
Community Discussions and Forums
Reddit r/ItalyInformatica or r/cscareerquestionsEU. Expats share real numbers.
How to Submit and Compare Salaries Anonymously
Use Glassdoor or Levels.fyi—add your data, see others.
Conclusion
Summary of Key Findings
Software engineer salary in Italy averages €35,000-€46,000 gross. Juniors start low, seniors hit €50,000+. Milan pays best, skills like AI boost big. Lifestyle often beats higher pay elsewhere.
Future Outlook for Software Engineering Salaries in Italy
Growing with digital push. AI/cloud demand up, salaries rising slowly. Remote options best bet for big jumps. Solid future if you skill up. Dreaming of that Italian tech life? Go for it—you won’t regret the pasta breaks. Questions? I’m here.

Shahzada Muhammad Ali Qureshi (Leeo)
I’m Shahzada — a software engineer by education and an SEO professional by trade. I built WhatIsTheSalary.com to go beyond just showing salary numbers — every page is manually researched across sources like BLS, Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary, and PayScale to give you the full picture in one place. If you found what you were looking for here, that’s exactly the point.
