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.
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 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
| # | Company | Location | Senior TC | €100k+ from level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madrid | €110K-€180K | L4 (mid) | |
| 2 | Meta | Madrid | €130K-€210K | E5 |
| 3 | Stripe | Madrid | €120K-€200K | L3 |
| 4 | Amazon / AWS | Madrid | €85K-€140K | SDE II |
| 5 | Apple | Madrid | €90K-€130K | ICT4 |
| 6 | Microsoft | Madrid, Barcelona | €85K-€130K | 63 |
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 (mid-level): €130K-€170K TC
- E5 (senior): €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 a 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:
| Location | Standard regime net | With Beckham Law | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 are 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, E4 (mid-level) already clears it; at Stripe, senior (L3) is the threshold. At Amazon Madrid, SDE II (senior) typically clears €100K+. 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 a Barcelona presence too). Barcelona has a stronger startup scene (Glovo, Typeform, Factorial) but a 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)