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Employment guide

Hire and pay employees
in Austria

Employment law, payroll compliance, taxes, benefits, and hiring requirements for Austria — curated and reviewed by Remote&.

Capital
Vienna
Currency
€ Euro (EUR)
Working Hours
40 hours per week
Min. salary
€1,776.00
01 — Country basics

Austria at a glance

Capital
Vienna
Language
German
Currency
€ Euro (EUR)
Working Hours
40 hours per week
Public Holidays
14 per year
Minimum Salary
€1,776.00
Tax Year
Jan 1 – Dec 31
Worker misclassification risk
Misclassifying employees as contractors in Austria can trigger fines, retroactive social security payments, unpaid taxes, back-payment of employee benefits, and legal claims from the affected worker. Austria has 14 statutory public holidays — one of the highest counts in Europe.
02 — Tax obligations

Taxes in Austria

Employer Contributions

Total employer tax: 21%–23%

Contribution TypeRate
Health insurance (sickness)3.78%
Unemployment insurance2.95%
Pension12.55%
Accident insurance1.10%
Miscellaneous0.60%
Employer contributions

Total employer tax: 21%–23%

Contribution TypeRate
Health insurance (sickness)3.78%
Unemployment insurance2.95%
Pension12.55%
Accident insurance1.10%
Miscellaneous0.60%
Employee contributions

Income tax: 0%–55% | Social security: ~18%

Contribution TypeRate
Health insurance (sickness)3.87%
Unemployment insurance2.95%
Pension10.25%
Accident insurance10.00%
Miscellaneous1.00%
Income tax brackets
Gross IncomeTax Rate
€13,539 and below0%
€13,540 – €21,99220%
€21,993 – €36,45830%
€36,459 – €70,36540%
€70,366 – €104,85948%
€104,860 – €1,000,00050%
Over €1,000,00055%
03 — Remote& EOR

Employer of Record in Austria

How Remote& EOR Works

Remote& acts as the legal employer of your Austrian workers, managing all compliance requirements — payroll, tax filings, statutory benefits, and employment contracts — while you run the day-to-day work.

PartyRole
Your CompanyDirects work, manages performance, allocates tasks
Remote&Runs payroll, files taxes, administers benefits, ensures legal compliance
EmployeeWorks for your company under a locally compliant Austrian contract

Ask Remi:

"Hire a UX designer in Austria — €4,500/month, starting September 1" Remi handles everything: contract, compliance, payroll setup, and benefits enrollment.
04 — What employees receive

Benefits in Austria

Statutory

Public Health Insurance: All employees are automatically enrolled in Austria's statutory health insurance system (ÖGK — Österreichische Gesundheitskasse), covering:

  • GP and specialist visits
  • Public hospital stays
  • Prescription medications (with co-pay)
  • Maternity care
  • Mental health services
  • Preventive check-ups

Social Security: Mandatory contributions from both employer and employee cover health, pension, unemployment, and accident insurance.

13th and 14th Month Salary: Austrian employees are typically entitled to two additional salary payments per year (holiday pay and Christmas bonus).

Common additional
  • Private health insurance top-up
  • Meal vouchers or lunch allowance
  • Transport allowance (Pendlerpauschale)
  • Bonuses
  • Supplementary pension plans
  • Flexible and remote working
  • Additional leave
  • Training and professional development
  • Wellness and gym benefits
05 — Time away from work

Leave entitlements

Leave typeEntitlement
Paid Annual Leave25 working days (5 weeks); increases to 30 days after 25 years of service
Sick LeaveUp to 26 weeks
Maternity Leave16 weeks paid (via Austrian health insurance)
Paternity Leave1 month unpaid (until child turns 2)
06 — Contracts & rights

Employment conditions

Probation

Statutory probation is up to 1 month. During probation, either party can end the employment without notice or specific justification.

Employee Rights & Protections

Austrian workers are entitled to: a Dienstzettel (written statement of employment terms), whistleblower protection, GDPR data privacy rights, anti-discrimination and equal treatment, harassment protection, pay equity, paid annual leave, 13th/14th month salary, dismissal protection, and pay transparency.

07 — Payroll cadence

Payments

Payment frequency
Monthly, typically at month-end as specified in the employment contract or applicable collective agreement.
08 — Off-boarding

End of employment in Austria

Employment may be ended by either party subject to statutory notice periods, contractual terms, or applicable collective agreements. Immediate termination without notice is permitted only in cases of serious misconduct. Employees may challenge dismissals they consider unfair through Austrian labour courts.

09 — Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Four paths: run payroll from your HQ for short-term work; engage contractors for project-based multi-client work; establish a local Austrian entity (time and cost intensive); or use Remote& as Employer of Record for fast, compliant hiring without a local company.

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