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EU member · Schengen

Working in Italy

Highest wages on this list but also the highest costs and a quota-gated (Decreto Flussi) entry process.

Euro (EUR)Nulla osta + work visa under the Decreto Flussi quotaVisa 8–20 wksNet ≈ 72% of gross
Estimates last reviewedJune 22, 2026Indicative monthly figures in EUR · confirm pay & visa rules with the official source.
Currency
Euro (EUR)
EU / Schengen
Yes
Main language
Italian
Permit type
Nulla osta + work visa under the Decreto Flussi quota
Visa processing
8–20 weeks (typical)
IELTS required
Usually not
Rent (shared)
€420 /mo
Food + transport
€440 /mo

Salary & savings by occupation

10 jobs
OccupationGross /moNet /moSavings (housed)Savings (self-paid)
Truck DriverSkilled · demand Very high€2,400€1,730€1,290€870
HVAC TechnicianSkilled · demand High€2,350€1,690€1,250€830
ElectricianSkilled · demand Very high€2,300€1,660€1,220€800
WelderSkilled · demand Very high€2,300€1,660€1,220€800
PlumberSkilled · demand High€2,250€1,620€1,180€760
CarpenterSkilled · demand High€2,200€1,580€1,140€720
Tiles & Ceramic WorkerSkilled · demand High€2,150€1,550€1,110€690
Machine OperatorSemi-skilled · demand Very high€2,150€1,550€1,110€690
Cook / ChefSkilled · demand High€2,100€1,510€1,070€650
Construction WorkerSemi-skilled · demand Very high€1,950€1,400€960€540

“Housed” savings assume the employer provides accommodation; “self-paid” deducts typical shared rent of €420/mo. Net pay uses Italy's typical take-home rate of about 72% of gross.

Work permit & visa

Nulla osta + work visa under the Decreto Flussi quota. Most non-EU hiring runs through the annual Decreto Flussi quota: the employer applies for a nulla osta (work clearance), then you apply for the work visa. Cooks, drivers and construction are common categories. Typical processing runs about 820 weeks once the employer-side steps are done. A formal English test such as IELTS is usually not required for these trades.

Official reference for Italy: vistoperitalia.esteri.it

Indicative estimates, not a job offer. Salary, cost and savings figures are modelled from each occupation's rough EU average and a per-country wage index, and exclude employer-specific terms, exchange-rate swings and personal tax. Visa rules are summarised for general guidance. Always confirm pay and immigration rules with the official source or embassy, and never pay a fee for a job offer you have not verified.