[Metalab] Metalab General Discussion List <metalab at lists.metalab.at>

[Philip Poten]

Matthew Quirke wrote :

> Hi Guys
> 
> Just wondering if anyone can give any advice or experiences about the
> salary situation here in Austria for IT Jobs, I'm new the work market having
> just moved from New Zealand.
> 
> I have been offered a job testing security appliances by a company here in
> Austria that specialised in this.
> 
> The salary sounds low compared what I am used to in NZ, especially after tax
> and considering high living costs.

Tax is not only tax but also (obligatory) health/dental, accident and
unemployment insurance. 25 days paid vacation by law, 38 hour/week and paid
sick time as needed (as in: can even be endless) complete the offer - that's
how we roll around here ;)

> I  have a lot (12+ years) of experience in networking and a fair (5+ years)
> in security testing.
> 
> Can anyone suggest what sort of range I could expect to earn?

It depends on several factors.

The biggest one, obviously, is how good your portfolio is (20%), how well you
sell yourself (30%) and who you know (50%). 

But I'm really not an expert on where to get well paid pentesting jobs, but I'd
imagine at banks, big telcos etc. But there definetely is a wide range of
companies, from "don't think they need it" (vast majority) to "don't want to
need it" ;)

Are you planning to contract/open your own company? Biggest pay, anything from 60-
XXXX%/hour of what you get being employed (but insurance might be more costly, also 
there is no unemployment insurance)

Generally, well paid employment opportunities for experienced professionals in
the austrian IT usually start at 3200/month (excl tax) for normal positions and
can go well over ~10000/month (excl tax) for good positions, such as "senior"
or "teamleader" in a telco or bank.

As an employee, you get twice the money in June and December.

> Are there differences in salary around Austria?

Vast differences, but stay within the boundaries of Vienna & the surrounding industrial
area and you're good.

> For general testing jobs?

Freelance, contracted or employed?

> For testing security appliances?

Freelance, contracted or employed? ;)

http://english.bmf.gv.at/Ministry/_start.htm should give you an overview over
the financial/tax details, as should http://help.gv.at/Content.Node/HELP-FC.html 
for anything concerning practical things, such as driver's license and starting
a company.

hth,
Philip