Best Regions for €140k as a Software Developer in Europe

A web developer with 6 years of Ruby on Rails experience and 2 years of full-stack React development, currently earning just under $100k/year as a contractor in Poland, recently asked about transitioning to a €130k-€140k compensation range.

With Amsterdam buzzing as a potential hub and opportunities in the Arabian Peninsula emerging, they wanted to know: Where should a European software engineer steer their career for higher compensation?

Here's a comprehensive strategic breakdown of the options available.

Browse 5,000+ high-paying tech jobs across Europe →

Understanding the Variables

Before diving into specific strategies, let's clarify what we're actually optimizing for. It's not just about salary—it's about the combination of:

• Salaries: Total compensation
• Cost of living: Monthly expenses
• Taxes: Effective tax rates
• Quality of life: Lifestyle preferences
• Career growth: Long-term earning potential

For context: $100k as a contractor in Poland takes you further than €140k in Switzerland. You'd be looking at roughly €60k vs €50k in yearly savings respectively, assuming a comfortable non-stingy lifestyle.

So if what you want to increase is actually a combination of lifestyle and saving rate, you need to optimize for a salary/cost-of-living/taxes combo.

Strategy 1: Low Costs + High Remote Salary

Goal: Maintain low costs and taxes while increasing salary

Poland is already optimal for keeping costs and taxes low. The challenge is getting a higher-paid remote job while staying put.

The Reality

€140k ($150k+) for remote positions is possible, but not easy. Here's how people typically achieve it:

1. Start in a high-paying location (Switzerland, US)
2. Build track record with company/team
3. Relocate to cheaper country while keeping the high salary

Key Considerations

• Risk: You become dependent on that specific company for your high salary
• Challenge: Finding another remote role at similar rates if you lose the job
• Timeline: 2-3 years to build the track record

Resource: Check our guide on finding high-paying remote tech jobs with companies that offer competitive compensation.

Browse fully remote opportunities →

Strategy 2: Move to HCOL Cities

Goal: Substantially increase salary while accepting higher living costs

Target €150k senior positions in high-cost-of-living European hubs:

• Amsterdam
• Zurich
• London
• Dublin

The Numbers

Once established in these cities, you can grow your career to €200k-€250k+ levels:

City	Senior Engineer (€150k)	Staff/Principal (€250k)	Annual Savings
Amsterdam	€90k after tax	€145k after tax	€60k-€100k
Zurich	€110k after tax	€165k after tax	€70k-€110k
London	€95k after tax	€150k after tax	€60k-€100k
Dublin	€92k after tax	€148k after tax	€60k-€100k

Savings estimates assume €2.5k-€3.5k monthly living costs

Career Growth Path

1. Year 1-2: Land €150k senior role
2. Year 3-5: Progress to €200k-€250k
3. Long-term: €300k+ at staff/principal level

Compare detailed salary data across European cities →

Strategy 3: Big Tech (Recommended)

Goal: Enter the big tech ecosystem for immediate and long-term compensation growth

As a senior engineer in Google Warsaw, you could make around €130k total compensation, though you wouldn't be a contractor and you'd pay slightly more taxes (but gain more benefits).

Why Big Tech?

Short-term benefits:

• Immediate €130k+ compensation
• Better benefits than contracting
• Career prestige and learning

Long-term advantages:

• Once in big tech, it's relatively easy to stay in big tech
• Easy relocation to higher-paying European cities
• Path to €300k+ as senior engineer in Amsterdam/Zurich/Dublin/London

The 3-Year Plan

Year 1: Prepare and interview

• Study system design, algorithms, behavioral questions
• Apply to all big tech companies in Warsaw (extensive list below)
• Land senior position at €130k+

Year 2-3: Build track record

• Perform well, get promoted to senior/staff
• Request transfer to higher-paying location

Year 4+: Maximize earnings

• €200k-€300k+ in Amsterdam, Zurich, London, or Dublin
• Save €100k-€150k+ annually

Warsaw Big Tech Companies

Google, Snowflake, Netflix, Pinterest, Rippling, Oracle, Waymo, AMD, Samsung, NVIDIA, Warner Bros, Visa, Amazon, Bolt, Samsara, Asana, Box

For comprehensive lists across Europe, see our guide to the best tech companies by city.

Strategy 4: UAE/Dubai

Consideration: No income taxes, but tradeoffs exist

Advantages

• 0% income tax
• Growing tech scene
• International environment

Disadvantages

• Higher cost of living than Eastern Europe
• Fewer remote contract opportunities (GDPR, timezone, costs)
• Different work culture

When It Makes Sense

• You want to live in Dubai for lifestyle reasons
• You secure a €150k+ job with relocation
• You're interested in the Middle East market

Local company option: Careem (Uber subsidiary)

Bottom line: Not recommended for a €100k remote job unless you have specific reasons to be there.

Strategy 5: USA Transfer (Advanced)

Goal: Enter the US market for maximum compensation (€300k-€500k+)

The Challenge

You need a visa. Options are limited:

• Marriage
• EB-1 visa (rare, government contractor sponsorship)

The Big Tech Transfer Path (3-4 Years)

Year 1-2: Join big tech in Europe

• Enter any major company (especially Amazon, Meta, Google)
• Perform well in your role

Year 2-3: Request US transfer

• Apply for internal transfer
• Receive L1 visa
• Move to US with small raise
• Apply for green card immediately

Year 3-4: Maximize earnings

• Receive green card
• Switch companies for proper market-rate salary
• Earn €300k-€500k+ total compensation

Reality Check

This is a 3-4 year plan requiring significant effort.

My take: With the same effort, you can achieve very high pay in Europe (€250k-€350k at senior/staff levels). For many people, Europe offers better quality of life, work-life balance, and healthcare. But if US compensation is your dream, this path works.

Start your journey: explore European tech jobs →

Recommended Path Summary

For a developer currently at $100k in Poland aiming for €140k+, here's my recommended strategy:

Option A: Fast Track (Big Tech)

1. Spend 3-6 months preparing for big tech interviews
2. Apply to 10-20 companies across Warsaw and Europe
3. Land €130k-€150k senior position
4. Transfer after 1-2 years to Amsterdam/Zurich for €200k+

Timeline: 6 months to first offer, 2-3 years to €200k+

Option B: Remote Work

1. Target high-paying remote companies (see our remote job guide)
2. Build relationships at these companies
3. Negotiate remote work after proving value
4. Stay in Poland saving €60k+/year on €140k salary

Timeline: 6-12 months to land remote role

Option C: HCOL Cities

1. Apply to senior roles in Amsterdam, Zurich, London, Dublin
2. Relocate for €150k+ position
3. Grow career to €200k-€250k over 3-5 years

Timeline: 3-6 months to land role, immediate salary bump

City-by-City Compensation Comparison

Location	Senior Role	Staff/Principal	After-Tax Income	Cost of Living	Annual Savings
Poland (contractor)	€100k	€130k	€85k-€110k	€30k	€55k-€80k
Amsterdam	€150k	€250k	€90k-€145k	€42k	€48k-€103k
Zurich	€170k	€280k	€125k-€195k	€60k	€65k-€135k
London	€160k	€260k	€100k-€155k	€48k	€52k-€107k
Dublin	€155k	€255k	€95k-€150k	€42k	€53k-€108k
Berlin	€120k	€180k	€75k-€110k	€36k	€39k-€74k
Munich	€130k	€200k	€80k-€120k	€42k	€38k-€78k

All figures are estimates based on typical tech salaries and living costs as of 2024

Explore salary data for your target cities →

Important Disclaimers

This Strategy Requires Effort

Achieving €130k-€140k+ compensation isn't automatic. It requires:

• Skill development: System design, algorithms, leadership
• Interview preparation: 3-6 months of focused study
• Multiple applications: 10-20+ companies
• Willingness to relocate: Geographic flexibility
• Career investment: Evenings and weekends for prep

This Isn't for Everyone

You should evaluate whether this path aligns with:

• Your life priorities
• Family situation
• Risk tolerance
• Career interests
• Lifestyle preferences

My goal is simply to show what's possible and provide actionable steps for those interested in this path.

Next Steps

Regardless of which strategy resonates with you:

1. Update your CV to highlight impact and tech stack
2. Build your interview skills (algorithms, system design, behavioral)
3. Research target companies in your chosen cities
4. Start applying consistently (5-10 applications per week)
5. Network with engineers at target companies

For more resources on European tech careers, salaries, and job opportunities, explore our comprehensive guides and career resources.

The path from €100k to €140k+ is absolutely achievable with focused effort. From there, €200k-€300k becomes realistic within 3-5 years through career progression in the right companies and locations.

Start your job search now →

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I really reach €300k+ as a software engineer in Europe?

Yes! Senior and staff engineers at big tech companies (Google, Meta, Amazon, Databricks, Stripe, etc.) regularly earn €250k-€350k+ in cities like Zurich, Amsterdam, London, and Dublin. This includes base salary, stock, and bonuses. Check our salary data for detailed breakdowns.

How long does it take to prepare for big tech interviews?

Most engineers need 3-6 months of consistent preparation covering:

• Data structures and algorithms (LeetCode medium/hard)
• System design for senior+ roles
• Behavioral/leadership questions
• Domain-specific knowledge

Spending 10-15 hours per week, you can be interview-ready in 3-4 months.

Is contracting in Poland better than a full-time job in Western Europe?

It depends on your salary. €100k contract in Poland gives you €85k after tax with low living costs (€30k/year), leaving €55k savings. €150k in Amsterdam gives you €90k after tax with €42k costs, leaving €48k savings. The Poland option is currently better, but Amsterdam offers more career growth potential to €200k-€300k.

Should I learn new technologies to reach €140k+?

Experience with modern tech stacks helps, but it's not the bottleneck. Focus on:

1. Senior-level skills: System design, architecture, leadership
2. Interview preparation: Algorithm problem-solving
3. Company targeting: Apply to high-paying companies
4. Networking: Referrals significantly increase success rates

Your Ruby on Rails + React experience is already solid—now optimize for the job search process.

Can I negotiate remote work after joining a company?

Yes, many engineers follow this path:

1. Join company on-site for 6-12 months
2. Build trust and prove performance
3. Negotiate permanent remote work
4. Move to lower-cost location while keeping salary

Success rate depends on company culture, your performance, and role requirements. Some companies are more flexible than others.

Is it worth moving to the US for software engineering?

The US offers higher compensation (€300k-€500k+ for senior roles) but comes with tradeoffs:

• Pros: Higher salaries, cutting-edge companies, strong tech ecosystem
• Cons: Visa complexity, expensive healthcare, less vacation time, longer working hours, less job security

Bottom line: You can achieve excellent compensation (€250k-€350k) in Europe with better work-life balance. Only pursue the US if you're specifically drawn to the market and willing to navigate visa challenges.

What if I don't want to work for big tech?

You have other options for €140k+:

• High-paying scale-ups: Databricks, Stripe, Datadog in Europe
• Trading firms: Optiver, IMC, Jane Street (€200k+ for juniors)
• Remote companies: GitLab, Automattic, and others hiring across Europe
• Senior roles at well-funded startups: Often €120k-€180k

See our best companies by city guide for comprehensive options.