Getting hired in tech and multinationals in Spain

Key rules

• Pay level: Expect salaries well below Northern Europe or the US, even in Madrid and Barcelona.
• Main hubs: Madrid suits headquarters and corporate roles, and Barcelona suits startups and tech.
• English: English-only roles exist mainly in startups, international tech firms and multinational hubs, and most Spanish-owned companies require Spanish.
• Pay quotes: Offers are annual gross, usually in 12 or 14 payments.

The short version

Tech and multinational roles exist in a few hubs and can be English-friendly, but salaries are well below Northern Europe or the US. Plan around that before you move, not after.

Where the jobs are

Madrid is the base for many company headquarters and corporate roles. Barcelona is the stronger choice for startups and tech.

Secondary hubs are Valencia, Málaga (with its technology park), Sevilla, Bilbao and Zaragoza. A Coruña, Vigo and Valladolid also host shared-service centres, which are back-office teams that multinationals run for several countries.

Outside the big two, there are fewer roles and fewer employers to choose from. Searching in Madrid and Barcelona first gives you the most options.

Can you work in English?

Yes, in some places. English-only roles are most common in:

• startups and scale-ups
• international tech firms
• shared-service and regional hubs of multinationals

English is the working language in many engineering teams. Barcelona has more English-only roles than smaller cities do.

Spanish is usually required for customer-facing, sales, legal, administrative and public-sector jobs. Most roles at Spanish-owned companies need it too.

Even in an English-speaking team, HR processes, paperwork and local colleagues often use Spanish. Spanish also improves your chances of being hired and promoted, so start learning it early.

What to expect on pay

Salaries for software and corporate roles are generally lower than in Northern Europe. Madrid and Barcelona pay the most, and Barcelona is close to Madrid for tech and multinationals. Valencia, Málaga and Sevilla usually pay somewhat less. Bilbao is often near Madrid levels for engineers.

• Junior developers typically earn in the low-to-mid tens of thousands of euros a year gross.
• Mid-level developers earn noticeably more.
• Senior or lead engineers at US-owned or international firms earn the most.
• Finance, marketing and HR roles follow similar patterns.
• Multinationals pay more than small local firms.

Offers are quoted as annual gross pay, usually split into 12 or 14 payments. Ask which one applies, because it changes your monthly amount. This does not apply to remote roles paid at foreign rates.

Pay bands change every year. Compare current salary surveys with live job postings for your role and city.

How to target employers

1. Pick Madrid or Barcelona as your main search, then add a secondary hub if you want a lower cost of living.
2. Focus on international tech firms, scale-ups and multinational hubs where English is the team language.
3. Check each listing for a Spanish requirement before you apply.
4. Judge offers on gross annual pay and the number of payments, not on the headline figure alone.

The questions below cover jobs outside the two main cities, language and how pay is quoted.

Frequently asked questions

Can I find a tech job in Spain outside Madrid and Barcelona?

Yes, Valencia, Málaga, Sevilla, Bilbao and Zaragoza all have tech and corporate jobs, though fewer than the two main hubs. A Coruña, Vigo and Valladolid host shared-service centres, which are offices that handle back-office work for a multinational. Pay in these cities is usually somewhat lower than in Madrid or Barcelona.

Do I need Spanish to work in a Spanish tech company?

No, not always, because English is the working language in many engineering teams at startups, scale-ups and international firms. Sales, customer-facing, legal, administrative and public-sector roles, and most roles at Spanish-owned companies, do require Spanish. Even in English-speaking teams, paperwork and local colleagues often use Spanish, and it helps your hiring chances and career progression.

Is Barcelona easier than other cities for English-only roles?

Yes, English-only roles are more common in Barcelona than in smaller Spanish cities, and Madrid also has many. Barcelona is strong for startups and tech, while Madrid is stronger for company headquarters.

How is tech pay quoted in Spanish job offers?

Pay is quoted as an annual gross figure, usually paid in 12 or 14 payments. Ask which of the two applies, because it changes what you receive each month. Offers from international firms usually pay the most, and multinationals pay more than small local firms.