Countries with highest experienced expat salaries

When choosing to pursue a career abroad, there is much to consider, from accommodation options and local amenities to social and cultural differences.

However, securing a higher salary is one of the key motivators for people seeking to emigrate. Experienced professionals are often much sought after in sectors such as tech, finance, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare.

Let’s take a look at some of the countries offering the highest professional expat salaries.

Switzerland

Switzerland is famous for being a business hub and boasts one of the world’s best economies. Expats can expect their salaries to as much as double upon working in Switzerland.

Experienced professional expats thrive in Switzerland as the economy is bolstered by professional industries such as finance, banking, electronics, watch-making, and pharmaceuticals, and professionals in these sectors enjoy an average annual salary of CHF 180,000 (158,544.67 GBP).

Japan

Expats in Japan are paid the highest salaries and best benefit packages of anywhere in Asia, with the average expat earning well over 300,000 GBP per year. It is no wonder then, that the number of foreign workers in Japan reached a record 2.4 million.

In 2023, Japan announced plans to allow foreign entrepreneurs to live in the country for up to two years without a place of business or investment, in order to help them get established.

The Japanese IT and software industry, restaurant industry, as well as the education sector all see high numbers of expats employed.

United States

Often seen as the land of opportunity, the United States offers some of the world’s best expat salaries, with 20% of expats earning between 100,000 and 150,000 USD (120,265.50 GBP) annually. Arizona, Maryland, and Florida offer some of the highest expat salaries.

Expats commonly work in IT, finance, and healthcare, while 10% of expats working in the USA owns their own business, while the most common fields worked in by expats include healthcare, IT, and finance.

Iceland

With an average salary of SK 770,000 (approx. 56,680 GPB) Iceland’s workers earn some of the highest wages in Europe.  Salaries are highest in cities such as Reykjavik, Hafnarfjordur, and Akranes.

The tourism and hospitality sector offers some of Iceland’s most significant salaries, with professionals in this industry earning up to ISK 800,000 (approx. 4,556.35 GBP) per month.

Professionals in renewable energy, specifically geothermal and hydropower, see salaries between ISK 700,000 and ISK 900,000 (approx. 5,500 GBP). Iceland is also home to emerging tech hubs, where software engineers and IT professionals earn salaries ranging from ISK 800,000 to ISK 900,000.

Luxembourg

If you’re in the world of banking, telecommunications, tourism, or finance, Luxembourg could be the place for you. With an average annual salary of 75,409 EUR (64,559.38 GBP), Luxembourg offers the European Union’s highest minimum wage at 2,570.93 EUR (2201.03 GBP) as of January 2024.

Some of the highest paid positions in Luxembourg include management positions, IT specialists, bankers, and those working in the education sector, such as teachers and librarians.

How Mauve can help

If you’re considering expanding globally, Mauve Group’s Salary Benchmarking service can help you to maintain your competitive edge in the global marketplace. Our team of experts benchmark remuneration against local averages, ensuring that you are offering competitive salaries in line with local expectation. Contact us today to find out more.