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6 Companies Paying €100k+ to Software Engineers in Spain (2026)

Google Madrid L5 pays €140K+ TC. Amazon SDE-III €110K–€130K. Stripe Madrid €150K+. Meta E5 €200K+. 6 companies consistently paying €100k+ to software engineers in Spain in 2026.

May 6, 2026
7 min read
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Spain's national software engineer median is around €47,000 — but at the top of the Madrid market, a small cluster of US big-tech offices consistently pays €100K–€200K+ TC to senior engineers. Combined with the Beckham Law (24% flat income tax for 6 years), net take-home at these companies in Madrid can actually beat equivalent roles in Dublin or Amsterdam for relocating engineers.

This is the 2026 shortlist: the 6 companies in Spain that reliably pay €100k+ to software engineers, with compensation tables.

Explore software engineering jobs in Spain →
Related: Software Engineer Salary in Spain (2026) →
Spain visa sponsorship →


The Shortlist

#CompanyLocationSenior TC€100k+ from level
1GoogleMadrid€110K–€180KL4 (mid)
2MetaMadrid€130K–€210KE5
3StripeMadrid€120K–€200KL3
4Amazon / AWSMadrid€85K–€140KSDE II
5AppleMadrid€90K–€130KICT4
6MicrosoftMadrid, Barcelona€85K–€130K63

Sources: levels.fyi Spain (March 2026), Glassdoor, and community reports.


1. Google (Madrid) — €110K–€180K

Google Madrid is the largest US big-tech office in Spain, focused on Cloud + Ads + YouTube engineering:

  • L3 (entry): €75K–€100K TC
  • L4 (mid): €100K–€140K TC
  • L5 (senior): €140K–€180K TC
  • L6 (staff): €200K–€280K TC

Google Madrid pays at Madrid-adjusted Google bands — ~20–30% below Google London but aligned with cost of living. With Beckham Law, net pay can be comparable to higher-gross offices elsewhere.


2. Meta (Madrid) — €130K–€210K

Meta Madrid has a smaller engineering presence than Google's, but roles pay at global Meta bands:

  • E4 (senior): €130K–€170K TC
  • E5: €180K–€250K TC
  • E6 (staff): €260K+ TC

Meta's Madrid office focuses on Ads integrity and general engineering support roles for the EU market.


3. Stripe (Madrid) — €120K–€200K

Stripe's Madrid office is smaller than Dublin/Amsterdam/London but pays at global Stripe bands:

  • L2 (entry): €90K–€120K TC
  • L3 (senior): €150K–€200K TC
  • L4 (staff): €210K–€280K TC

High base + meaningful equity (pre-IPO). Madrid Stripe is a great Beckham Law play: €180K TC at 24% flat tax nets roughly €137K — comparable to Dublin Stripe after Irish tax.


4. Amazon / AWS (Madrid) — €85K–€140K

Amazon Madrid covers retail tech, AWS, and devices:

  • SDE I: €60K–€85K TC
  • SDE II (senior): €100K–€135K TC
  • SDE III (staff): €140K–€190K TC
  • Principal SDE: €220K+ TC

High hiring volume. Amazon Madrid is one of the easier entry points to a US big-tech Madrid role for early-career engineers.


5. Apple (Madrid) — €90K–€130K

Apple Madrid's software engineering presence is smaller than Google/Amazon's — focused on iCloud services, localization engineering, and support systems:

  • ICT3: €75K–€95K TC
  • ICT4 (senior): €105K–€140K TC
  • ICT5 (staff): €155K–€200K TC

Stable, base-weighted comp with meaningful RSU component at ICT4+.


6. Microsoft (Madrid, Barcelona) — €85K–€130K

Microsoft has a mid-size engineering presence in both Madrid and Barcelona:

  • 59 (entry): €65K–€85K TC
  • 62 (mid): €85K–€115K TC
  • 63 (senior): €115K–€150K TC
  • 65 (principal): €175K–€230K TC

Growing AI engineering hiring in 2026 driven by the OpenAI partnership.


Honorable Mentions (€80K–€100K Senior)

The following companies are close to the €100K TC threshold at senior level but may not reliably clear it:

  • Glovo (Barcelona, delivery) — €70K–€100K senior
  • Cabify (Madrid, ride-hail) — €70K–€100K senior
  • Typeform (Barcelona, SaaS) — €70K–€100K senior
  • Travelperk (Barcelona, B2B travel) — €75K–€105K senior
  • Oracle (Madrid, Málaga) — €75K–€105K senior
  • BBVA digital (Madrid) — €60K–€85K senior
  • CaixaBank tech (Barcelona) — €55K–€80K senior

Google's announced €650M cybersecurity engineering hub in Málaga (opening 2024–2026) is also expected to bring Google-band salaries to southern Spain — watch that rollout.


Beckham Law Math: Why Madrid Works for Senior Engineers

Consider two senior engineers both earning €150K gross:

LocationStandard regime netWith Beckham LawSavings
Madrid€91K€114K+€23K/year
Berlin€95K
Dublin€95K
Amsterdam (with 30% ruling)€100K

Madrid's gross TC is lower than Dublin or Amsterdam for equivalent roles, but the Beckham Law brings net to parity — and Madrid's cost of living is ~25% below Amsterdam and ~20% below Dublin. Net savings in Madrid with Beckham Law at €150K TC is typically €45K–€55K/year — roughly the same as Amsterdam with 30% ruling at equivalent gross, but with much more disposable income for lifestyle.

For more on this math, see tax optimization for software engineers in Europe.


Net Take-Home Reality Check

At Google Madrid L5 senior (€150K TC) with Beckham Law:

  • Net: ~€114K/year
  • Madrid central 1-bed rent: ~€1,500/month = €18K
  • Groceries, transport, dining: ~€15K/year
  • Net savings: €75K–€80K/year

At Stripe Madrid senior (€180K TC) with Beckham Law:

  • Net: ~€137K/year
  • Same living costs: ~€33K
  • Net savings: ~€100K+/year — one of Europe's strongest savings profiles at this gross level

Frequently Asked Questions

Which company pays software engineers the most in Spain?

Google Madrid is the highest-volume, highest-paying employer: L5 senior TC is €140K–€180K. Meta Madrid pays E5 at €180K–€250K but has smaller hiring volume. Stripe Madrid clears €150K–€200K at senior level.

What level do I need to hit €100K TC in Spain?

At Google Madrid, L4 mid-level clears €100K+ reliably. At Meta and Stripe, senior (L3/E4) is the threshold. At Amazon Madrid, SDE II (senior) clears €100K+ typically. Outside these six companies, €100K TC requires staff/principal level at most Spanish employers.

Do these companies sponsor Highly Qualified Professional visas?

All six do, and they use the fast-track UGE-CE processing. Typical timeline is 6–10 weeks from offer to residence card. See our Spain visa sponsorship guide for the full process.

Can I apply for the Beckham Law at all of these companies?

Yes, provided you haven't been Spanish tax resident in the previous 5 years and you apply within 6 months of arrival. All six companies are experienced with relocation and their HR/mobility teams typically connect you with Spanish tax advisors to file the Beckham application.

Is Madrid or Barcelona better for software engineering in Spain?

For top pay, Madrid — 5 of 6 top-payers are Madrid-only (Microsoft has Barcelona presence too). Barcelona has a stronger startup scene (Glovo, Typeform, Factorial) but lower ceiling on individual comp.

How much do engineers save at Google Madrid L5 vs Google Dublin L5?

At Google Madrid L5 (~€150K TC) with Beckham Law: net ~€114K, Madrid costs ~€33K, savings €80K/year. At Google Dublin L5 (€200K TC, standard Irish tax): net ~€115K, Dublin costs ~€38K, savings ~€75K/year. Madrid savings edge out Dublin on equivalent role, driven by Beckham Law + lower cost of living — despite €50K lower gross TC.


Related reading: Software Engineer Salary in Spain (2026) → · Visa Sponsorship in Spain (2026) → · 26 Companies Paying €100k+ Across Europe (3-part series) →


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