European Salary Benchmarking 2025: Industry Comparison

Benchmark 2025 salaries across tech, finance, healthcare, and engineering with detailed city-level data for Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, London, Madrid, and Milan. Compare gross salaries, net take-home pay after tax and social security, benefits packages, and cost-of-living adjustments to make informed career and relocation decisions.

Tech Sector Salaries

Software Engineers (Mid-Level, 3-5 years)

London: £60,000-£75,000 gross (€70,000-€88,000) | Net: £43,500-£52,000
Amsterdam: €55,000-€70,000 gross (with 30% ruling: net €47,000-€60,000)
Berlin: €55,000-€68,000 gross | Net: €35,000-€42,500
Paris: €48,000-€60,000 gross | Net: €34,000-€42,000
Madrid: €40,000-€50,000 gross | Net: €30,000-€37,500
Milan: €38,000-€48,000 gross | Net: €27,000-€33,500

Senior Engineers / Tech Leads

London: £85,000-£120,000 + equity
Amsterdam: €80,000-€105,000 + stock
Berlin: €75,000-€95,000 + bonuses
Paris: €65,000-€85,000 + variable
Madrid: €55,000-€70,000 + bonuses
Milan: €50,000-€65,000 + welfare

Finance Sector Salaries

Financial Analysts (3-5 years)

London (City): £55,000-£75,000 + 20-40% bonus
Frankfurt: €58,000-€75,000 + 15-30% bonus
Amsterdam: €52,000-€68,000 + 10-25% bonus
Paris (La Défense): €50,000-€65,000 + 10-20% bonus
Milan: €45,000-€58,000 + 10-15% bonus

Healthcare Sector Salaries

Registered Nurses (3-5 years)

UK (NHS): £32,000-£39,000 (Band 5)
Netherlands: €38,000-€48,000
Germany: €38,000-€46,000
France: €28,000-€35,000 (public), €32,000-€42,000 (private)
Spain: €26,000-€33,000
Italy: €24,000-€31,000

Benefits and Total Compensation

UK: Pension (3-12% employer match), private medical optional, 25 days holiday + 8 bank holidays.
Netherlands: Pension (10-17% employer), 25 days holiday, 8% holiday allowance, travel reimbursement.
Germany: Pension (~10% employer), 28-30 days holiday, Christmas/holiday bonuses (13th/14th month).
France: Mutuelle (health insurance), meal vouchers (€10/day), 25 days holiday + RTT days (5-10).
Spain: 22-25 days holiday, meal vouchers, transport cards, flexible benefits.
Italy: TFR (severance ~8.3% salary), 22-26 days holiday, meal vouchers, welfare credits.

Cost of Living Adjustments

Adjust net salary for purchasing power parity:

London: High cost (rent £1,800-£2,500 1-bed central) | Adjusted value: -20%
Amsterdam: High cost (rent €1,600-€2,200) | Adjusted value: -15%
Paris: Very high cost (rent €1,400-€2,000) | Adjusted value: -18%
Berlin: Moderate cost (rent €1,200-€1,700) | Adjusted value: baseline
Madrid: Moderate cost (rent €1,000-€1,500) | Adjusted value: +5%
Milan: Moderate-high cost (rent €1,100-€1,600) | Adjusted value: +3%

Salary Negotiation Tips

Research Market Rates: Use Glassdoor, Payscale, local salary surveys for benchmarks.
Total Compensation: Evaluate pension, bonuses, equity, benefits alongside base salary.
Tax Optimization: Consider expat tax regimes (30% ruling, Beckham Law, forfettario) for higher net.
Cost of Living: Request relocation packages, housing allowances in expensive cities.
Negotiate Benefits: Extra holiday, remote work, training budgets, flexible hours add value.

Next Steps: Use our European salary calculator to convert gross offers to net take-home across cities. Factor in your personal priorities (family, lifestyle, taxes) to choose the best market for your 2025 career move.

European Salary Benchmarking 2025: Tech, Finance, and Healthcare Comparisons