How to Make €100k as a Software Engineer in Europe: Proven Strategies

In my guide on How to Reach FIRE as a Software Engineer in Europe, I mentioned how the first step for reaching Financial Independence in Europe as a software engineer is to reach the €100k total compensation mark (with anything in the €100k-€250k range being ideal).

This article expands on that first crucial step with concrete, actionable strategies.

Find €100k+ tech jobs across Europe →

Why €100k Matters

Before diving into how to technically achieve that salary level, let's clear out why this step is important and why I chose the €100k-€250k salary range.

The Coast-FIRE Target

A requirement for reaching coast-FIRE financial level—following the "European Engineer Blueprint"—would be to have €100k-€250k in savings invested in assets with a return of over 15%.

This is quite a broad range. Why?

Because if invested in a 15% ROI 'machine', this would result in €15k-€37.5k per year passive income.

This should be almost enough to support your living cost in a low-cost (LCOL) location in Europe. Which means that you could decide to actively/progressively start moving your affairs over to that location (from your HCOL one) and potentially move from your high-paying full-time job, to something that covers your expenses only (letting the interests from your investments compound until you're fully FIREd).

The Savings Rate Formula

The faster you'd like to reach full-FIRE, the bigger the offset from your [income + investments ROI] and your living costs should be:

K = [income + investments ROI] - living costs (your saving rate)

YTF (Years to FIRE) = Q / K

Where Q = amount (money) necessary to FIRE

The bigger K is, the faster you'll be FIREd.

Why Not More Detail on Coast-FIRE to Full-FIRE?

I haven't walked that path myself yet, so my experience on the subject is limited. More importantly:

Coast-FIRE is already a comfortable financial state where you're in the position to do things relevant to your long-term life, such as:

• Settling in location(s) you chose for your long-term plans
• Starting a family
• Choosing less remunerative but more rewarding jobs

Some people prefer to take it easy and not rush to full FIRE. Others race toward it. Yet others pursue fat-FIRE.

The ethos of this blueprint is around creating a harmonious plan that leverages high-paying tech jobs and location arbitrage to relatively quickly achieve a privileged financial and lifestyle condition.

Explore strategies for financial independence →

Important Disclaimer: It's About Savings, Not Just Salary

While €100k is catchy and somewhat useful to talk about, notice how in my guide I actually mentioned a €100k-€250k range, which is a broad range.

In the end we're actually interested in a good saving rate, rather than a salary, but of course the most important variable influencing our saving rate is the salary.

The Savings Math

To achieve coast-FIRE (€100k-€250k in savings) in 3-6 years, you need a saving rate of €20k-€70k per year.

A €100k-€250k yearly salary provides an excellent foundation for these savings rates. However:

• Making €100k in a cheaper location might be better than making €120k in an expensive location
• Living frugally increases saving rates significantly
• €100k might be enough for someone living frugally in LCOL
• €250k might be required for someone living very comfortably in HCOL

Real Numbers

For detailed saving rates across jobs in Europe, check our salary and financial data page.

Note: These rates use salaries from big-tech companies (which pay more than regular companies), so saving rates might seem high. However, the principles apply to non big-tech jobs too.

How to Get €100k+ Jobs: Two Main Axes

The answer is straightforward and can be summarized in optimizing over one or more of these axes:

1. Location
2. Company

Let's explore each in detail.

Strategy 1: Optimize for Location

Switzerland: The Easiest Path

Switzerland is the best country in Europe for high salaries.

A €100k salary there is achievable by a new-grad getting a junior job at a local/regular company.

Let's break down the numbers:

Career Stage	Salary (CHF/EUR)	After Tax	Living Costs	Savings/Year	Years to €100k
Junior (0-2 years)	€100k	€80k	€48k	€32k	3.1 years
Mid (2-4 years)	€130k	€100k	€48k	€52k	1.9 years
Senior (4+ years)	€160k+	€120k+	€48k	€72k+	1.4 years

Example Timeline:

You're a new grad and you don't want to stress about getting into top tech companies, but want to follow this blueprint. Your path:

Year 1: Get €100k job in Switzerland (achievable with EU passport + IT degree)
Year 2-4: Live frugally (€4k/month for decent rent + living + weekly dinner out + occasional trips)
Year 3: Hit €100k in savings (€32k/year × 3 years = €96k, plus small raises = €100k+)

Guarantee: If you have an EU passport and work in IT (software engineering, data science, etc.), I can guarantee you that it can't possibly take more than 3 years to get a €100k job in Switzerland if you actively and consistently go for it.

This is probably the easiest and least risky way to reach this salary threshold.

Other High-Paying Locations

Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Netherlands, UK, and Germany are other decent/good countries for high salaries at average companies. But Switzerland has a strong edge over all of them.

Country	Junior Salary	Years to €100k Savings	Difficulty
Switzerland	€100k-€120k	2-3 years	Easiest
Norway	€75k-€95k	3-5 years	Easy
Denmark	€70k-€90k	3-5 years	Easy
Netherlands	€60k-€80k	4-6 years	Medium
UK	€55k-€75k	4-6 years	Medium
Germany	€55k-€75k	4-6 years	Medium

Search for jobs in Switzerland and high-paying locations →

Strategy 2: Optimize for Company

Instead of (or in addition to) optimizing for location, you can also optimize for company: some companies are notoriously harder to get into and pay much more than other companies.

Understanding the Pay Tiers

For an introduction to this topic, check out The Trimodal Nature of Software Engineering Salaries.

Basically: big tech companies pay a lot more than regular companies.

What is "Big Tech"?

By big tech companies here we usually mean publicly traded American companies whose products are software products:

Very large and well-known: Google, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Netflix

Smaller but high-paying: Datadog, Databricks, Snowflake, Twilio, Stripe, Coinbase

For a comprehensive list of such companies per location in Europe, checkout our guide: Best Companies by City for Software Engineers in Europe.

Big Tech Salaries Across Europe

Joining one of these companies can be game-changing and make locations somewhat irrelevant:

Level	Zurich	London	Amsterdam	Berlin	Warsaw	Remote
Junior (E3)	€120k	€90k	€85k	€75k	€65k	€70k-€90k
Mid (E4)	€160k	€130k	€120k	€105k	€90k	€100k-€120k
Senior (E5)	€220k	€170k	€155k	€135k	€115k	€130k-€160k
Staff (E6)	€300k+	€240k+	€220k+	€180k+	€145k+	€180k-€220k+

Key insight: Basically everywhere in Europe you can save more than €15k/year as a junior engineer and €25k-€40k as a mid-level engineer (which at these companies is the level you get after being at junior level for 1-3 years).

Big Tech Savings Rates by City

City	Junior (€90k)	Mid (€130k)	Senior (€170k)
Zurich	€40k/year	€72k/year	€110k/year
London	€25k/year	€50k/year	€75k/year
Amsterdam	€23k/year	€48k/year	€70k/year
Berlin	€20k/year	€45k/year	€65k/year
Warsaw	€25k/year	€50k/year	€70k/year

Assumes reasonable lifestyle with €2.5k-€4k/month living costs depending on city

Years to €100k savings:

• Junior level: 2.5-5 years depending on location
• Mid level: 1.4-2.5 years depending on location
• Senior level: 1-1.5 years in most locations

Browse big tech jobs across Europe →

The Career Timeline

In my opinion, 3 years of focused preparation and consistent attempts should be enough for joining a big tech company in Europe.

Year 1: Learn fundamentals and start preparing

• Strengthen CS fundamentals
• Practice algorithms (LeetCode easy/medium)
• Build projects for your CV
• Start applying to some companies for interview experience

Year 2: Serious interview prep and applications

• Master algorithms (LeetCode medium/hard)
• Study system design for senior+ roles
• Practice behavioral questions
• Apply to 15-20 companies
• Land first big tech offers

Year 3: In big tech, performing well

• Excel in your role
• Build relationships
• Plan next move (stay and promote, or switch for higher comp)

Check out our deep dive into the top 3 cities in Europe for software engineers, including salary numbers, saving rates, and companies' names.

Trading Firms: The €200k+ Fast Track

For those with strong mathematical/algorithmic backgrounds, trading firms offer the highest compensation in Europe:

Firm	Junior (0-2 yrs)	Mid (2-4 yrs)	Senior (4+ yrs)
Jane Street	€150k-€200k	€200k-€300k	€300k-€500k+
Citadel	€140k-€180k	€180k-€280k	€280k-€450k+
HRT	€130k-€170k	€170k-€260k	€260k-€400k+
Optiver	€120k-€160k	€160k-€240k	€240k-€380k+
IMC	€110k-€150k	€150k-€230k	€230k-€370k+

Requirements:

• Very strong algorithms/competitive programming
• Low-latency systems experience
• Mathematical thinking
• Extremely rigorous interview process

Tradeoff: Higher stress, more competitive culture, longer hours than typical big tech

Explore trading firm opportunities →

Complete Strategy Comparison

Strategy	Time to €100k Salary	Difficulty	Time to €100k Savings	Best For
Switzerland (any company)	0-1 year	Easy	2-3 years	Risk-averse, EU citizens
Big Tech (anywhere)	1-3 years	Medium	2-4 years	Career growth, prestige
Trading Firms	2-4 years	Hard	1-2 years	Math geniuses, max comp
Remote (big tech/scale-up)	2-4 years	Medium-Hard	2-3 years	Location freedom
Nordic Countries	0-2 years	Easy	3-5 years	Work-life balance

Your Action Plan

Option A: Switzerland Fast Track (Easiest)

Timeline: 6-12 months to first job, 2-3 years to €100k savings

Steps:

1. Month 1: Update CV, research Swiss companies
2. Month 2-3: Apply to 20-30 companies in Zurich
3. Month 4-6: Interview and land offers
4. Year 1-3: Work, save €30k-€40k/year, hit €100k savings

Best for: EU citizens, those who want straightforward path, people okay with high cost of living

Option B: Big Tech Preparation (Most Popular)

Timeline: 6-12 months prep, 2-4 years to €100k savings

Steps:

1. Month 1-3: Learn/review algorithms, start LeetCode
2. Month 4-6: Practice system design, behavioral prep
3. Month 7-9: Apply to 15-20 companies, start interviewing
4. Month 10-12: Land offer, start working
5. Year 2-4: Save aggressively, hit €100k savings

Best for: Career-focused, those who want brand names on CV, people interested in cutting-edge tech

Option C: Trading Firms (Highest Pay)

Timeline: 12-24 months prep, 1-2 years to €100k savings

Steps:

1. Month 1-6: Master algorithms, competitive programming
2. Month 7-12: Learn low-latency systems, C++ optimization
3. Month 13-18: Practice probability, mental math, trading questions
4. Month 19-24: Apply and interview with firms
5. Year 1-2: Save €50k-€100k+/year, hit €100k quickly

Best for: Strong math background, competitive programmers, maximum compensation seekers

Start applying to target companies →

Important Disclaimers

This Blueprint Is NOT for Everyone

Sometimes I get resistance on social networks like Reddit for talking about certain salary levels or saving rates, or achieving coast-FIRE in 3-6 years, or having 15%+ semi-active investments.

All this stuff of course takes effort!

When I say "this is almost guaranteed with 3 years of focused and dedicated work", I am clearly trying to make you aware: there is no point in saying "these numbers are off", "this is just about a tiny minority of people", "this is just about the top 2% of jobs".

The Reality: Smart Work Required

This plan is not all that difficult... But you need to be either smart or hard-working to pull it off (being both wouldn't hurt):

You need to be willing to:

• Sacrifice some weekends or evenings for preparation
• Seek mentorship from people in positions you're trying to reach
• Relocate to follow opportunities
• Keep your CV sharp and modern
• Send many applications consistently
• Go through many interview processes
• Handle rejections and keep pushing

If you're not willing to do these things, chances of success will be lower.

This Isn't Necessarily the Best Life Plan

I am also not saying that this is the best life/career plan ever and everyone should strive for it. Actually, this is not a good plan for many people, so you should evaluate for yourself if it sounds like something that is for you.

My Goals With This Content

I simply want to:

1. Make people aware of such dynamics and show what is possible
2. Give actionable steps to people interested in following this path
3. Provide valuable resources and information to help them succeed

That's it.

Related Resources

This article focused on the salary component. For the complete picture, check out:

• Complete FIRE blueprint for European engineers
• Career paths to €140k+ in Europe
• Best tech companies by city in Europe
• Top 20 cities for software engineers

For comprehensive salary data and job listings, explore our financial data page and job board.

Final Thoughts

Hope this cleared out some doubts and shed light on the first step of achieving financial independence as a software engineer in Europe: getting a good salary.

The path from wherever you are now to €100k+ is achievable. From there, €150k-€250k becomes realistic within 3-5 years through career progression in the right companies and locations.

Key takeaways:

1. Switzerland offers the easiest path (€100k for juniors)
2. Big tech offers the best career growth (€100k-€300k progression)
3. Trading firms offer maximum compensation (€150k+ for juniors)
4. 3 years of focused effort should get you to €100k+ anywhere in Europe
5. Location arbitrage lets you save more in LCOL areas

Which path resonates with you? The important thing is to choose and commit.

Start your €100k+ journey today →

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I really make €100k as a junior software engineer in Europe?

Yes! Junior engineers in Switzerland at regular companies earn €100k-€120k total compensation. Junior engineers at big tech (Google, Meta, Amazon) earn €85k-€120k depending on location (Zurich highest, Eastern Europe lowest). Trading firms pay juniors €120k-€200k. It's absolutely achievable with the right strategy.

How long does it take to reach €100k salary in Europe?

Fastest path (0-1 year): Move to Switzerland, get any software job Fast path (1-2 years): Join big tech in high-paying city (Zurich, London, Amsterdam) Standard path (2-3 years): Prepare for big tech interviews, join company, get promoted to mid-level Long path (3-5 years): Work at regular company, switch companies for raises, eventually hit €100k

With focused effort, 3 years is a reasonable timeline for most engineers starting from €50k-€60k.

What's better: Switzerland or big tech?

Choose Switzerland if:

• You want the fastest, easiest path
• You're risk-averse
• You have EU citizenship
• You don't want intense interview prep

Choose big tech if:

• You want career growth to €200k-€300k+
• You want brand recognition on CV
• You're willing to prepare 3-6 months
• You want cutting-edge tech experience

Both work—Switzerland is faster and easier, big tech offers more long-term upside.

Is €100k gross or net (after tax)?

All figures in this article are gross (before tax) total compensation. After-tax varies by country:

• Switzerland: €100k → €80k after tax (~20% effective rate)
• UK: €100k → €70k after tax (~30% effective rate)
• Netherlands: €100k → €65k after tax (~35% effective rate)
• Germany: €100k → €60k after tax (~40% effective rate)

This is why location matters so much—not just for salary, but for taxes and savings potential. See our detailed financial data for complete breakdowns.

Do I need a Computer Science degree to make €100k+ in Europe?

No, but it helps. What actually matters:

• Provable skills: Can you pass technical interviews?
• Experience: 2-4 years of relevant work
• Portfolio: Projects demonstrating your abilities
• Communication: Can you explain technical decisions?

Many self-taught engineers and bootcamp grads earn €100k+ at big tech and trading firms. Focus on building skills and interview performance rather than credentials.

What technologies should I learn to reach €100k?

The specific technology matters less than depth of expertise and interview performance. That said:

Most marketable:

• Backend: Java, Python, Go, Node.js with strong system design
• Frontend: React/Vue with performance optimization skills
• Data: Python, Spark, SQL for data engineering roles
• Infrastructure: Kubernetes, AWS/GCP, Terraform for platform engineering

For trading firms: C++, low-latency systems, algorithms

Reality: Interview preparation (algorithms, system design) matters more than specific tech stack for landing €100k+ offers.

Can I reach €100k with remote work while staying in LCOL countries?

Yes, but it's harder than relocating. Strategies:

1. Join high-paying company on-site, build track record, negotiate remote (1-2 years)
2. Target remote-first companies that pay globally competitive rates (GitLab, Automattic)
3. Freelance/consulting for international clients at premium rates

Reality: €100k remote jobs are competitive. Most people find it easier to relocate initially, then transition to remote after proving value. See our €140k compensation strategies guide for detailed remote work paths.

Should I prioritize €100k salary or career growth?

Prioritize salary if:

• You're pursuing FIRE and want to save aggressively
• You're in your 30s+ and want to maximize earnings now
• You have specific financial goals (house, family)

Prioritize career growth if:

• You're early in your career (20s)
• You want to reach €200k-€300k+ eventually
• You're interested in cutting-edge technology
• You value learning and development

Best approach: Join big tech which offers both €100k+ salaries AND career growth to €200k-€300k+ over 5-10 years. This compounds better than optimizing purely for short-term salary.