Work
Tech jobs in Italy: salaries, cities and how foreigners get hired
Updated September 30, 2026
Local tech pay, why Milan dominates, the language barrier, and why remote US pay usually wins.
Salaries
Software engineers in Italy typically earn €35–65k. Senior roles at multinationals in Milan reach €60–90k. The market is bimodal: senior AI, data and full-stack specialists earn about twice what generalists make.
Where the jobs are
- Milan: multinationals, fintech, consulting. The most English-friendly market
- Turin: automotive, aerospace, engineering
- Bologna: Motor Valley, logistics, a growing startup scene
- Smaller hubs: Rome, Bari (aerospace), Catania ('Etna Valley')
The language reality
Outside multinationals, expect to need fluent Italian. Italy isn't a huge tech market, and community advice is blunt: without Italian, local hiring is hard. Dual citizens skip the visa filter that sinks many foreign applicants; non-EU citizens should look at the EU Blue Card.
The better play for many
Keep a remote US salary, and potentially pair it with the impatriati exemption. Just confirm your employer supports it.
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change often. Verify with official sources, your consulate, a licensed Italian lawyer or a cross-border tax professional.