Spain if you need a local job, salary and language reality first

Key rules

• Work authorisation: If you are not from the EU or Switzerland, you need residence and work authorisation before you start working.
• Median pay: Plan around the median wage, which is lower than the average.
• Fijo discontinuo: A permanent seasonal contract can mean months without pay.
• Spanish: Most local jobs need Spanish, and some regions also value or require the regional language.

The short answer

Spain can work if you have Spanish, a skill in demand and realistic pay expectations. Wages are lower than in northern Europe, and some regions have far fewer jobs than others. If you plan to move before you have an offer, test your numbers first.

How hard is it to find work?

Unemployment has been falling and was in the low double digits in 2025. That is still high for Europe. Under-25s face roughly double the overall rate or more.

Regions differ a lot. Andalusia and the Canary Islands have higher unemployment. Seasonal work in agriculture and construction-related jobs is hit hardest. Industry and services, including public administration, do better. Look up the latest quarterly figures for your region and age group before you commit.

What will you earn?

The minimum wage is set each year. For 2025 it was €1,184 a month in 14 payments (€16,576 a year). A higher figure applies for 2026, so check the current one.

The average gross annual wage is roughly €29,000 to €30,000. The median is lower, around €24,000 to €26,000. Use the median as your realistic guide.

• Best paid: energy, finance, IT and pharma.
• Lowest paid: hospitality, agriculture, retail and domestic work.
• Best regions: Madrid, the Basque Country and Catalonia.
• Lowest-paying regions: Extremadura, Andalusia and the Canaries.

Self-employed income works differently and is not covered by these figures.

What kind of contract will you get?

Since the 2022 labour reform, most new hires are on open-ended contracts. Temporary work has fallen from about 25% of employees to roughly 15 to 16%. The public sector is still higher, around 30%.

Many of the new "permanent" jobs are fijo discontinuo contracts. These are permanent but seasonal: you work and are paid only in certain months. They can make up 15 to 20% or more of new permanent contracts. Ask how many months a year the job runs before you count on its pay.

How much Spanish do you need?

For most local jobs, you need Spanish. It is essential in public-facing work, health, education, law, administration, retail and hospitality. The public sector requires it.

English can be enough in international tech, startups, multinationals, shared-service centres in Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia, resort tourism and English teaching. Even there, daily life and promotion improve a lot with Spanish.

In Catalonia, the Balearics, Valencia, Galicia and the Basque Country, the regional language is an advantage. Some public jobs require it.

Do you need permission to work?

EU and Swiss citizens only need to register. Everyone else needs residence and work authorisation before starting work.

The usual route is a permit for employed work, which your employer applies for through the immigration office (Extranjería) based on a job offer. Normally the national employment situation is checked first. That check is waived for jobs in the shortage occupation list, which is published quarterly by SEPE and lists jobs by province. Examples include seafarers and some health, transport and construction roles.

Other routes exist for highly qualified workers (the EU Blue Card and a startup-law permit), intra-company transfers and digital nomads. Self-employment needs a separate permit. The rules changed in 2025, so check the current procedure with Extranjería before you rely on any route.

Do not resign or move until the employer has confirmed they will apply for your authorisation.

Use the checklist below

The checklist below turns these points into steps for your profession and region. The questions below it cover common worries.

Checklist

• Look up the latest quarterly unemployment release from INE, Spain's statistics office, for your region and age group.

• Compare typical pay in your sector and region with the minimum wage and the average and median gross annual wage.

• Check the contract type in each offer: open-ended, fijo discontinuo (permanent seasonal) or temporary.

• Test whether your job search works in English only, or whether you need Spanish or a regional language.

• Check whether your job is in the shortage occupation list for your province if you are not from the EU, EEA or Switzerland.

• Ask the employer to confirm they will apply for your residence and work authorisation before you resign or move.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a job in Spain without speaking Spanish?

Yes, you can, but only in a narrow set of jobs, such as international tech, startups, multinationals, shared-service centres in Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia, resort tourism and English teaching. Public-facing work, health, education, law, retail and hospitality need Spanish. In Catalonia, the Balearics, Valencia, Galicia and the Basque Country, the regional language also helps and is required for some public jobs.

Which regions and sectors pay the most in Spain?

Madrid, the Basque Country and Catalonia pay the most, while Extremadura, Andalusia and the Canaries pay the least. By sector, energy, finance, IT and pharma pay best, and hospitality, agriculture, retail and domestic work pay least. Andalusia and the Canaries also have higher unemployment, so low pay and scarce jobs can come together.

What does a fijo discontinuo contract mean for my job security?

A fijo discontinuo contract is a permanent seasonal contract, so you are called back each season instead of working all year. It makes up a large share of new permanent contracts, often 15% to 20% or more. Ask how many months a year the job actually runs, because your income depends on that.

Do I need a work permit if I am not an EU citizen?

Yes, if you are not from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you need a residence and work authorisation before you start working. Usually your employer applies for it through the immigration office (Extranjería) based on a job offer. For shortage occupations listed by province in the catálogo de ocupaciones de difícil cobertura, the national employment test is waived.