Despite the delicious food and sunny weather, Portugal is not all rainbows and butterflies. A downside to living in Portugal is the low salaries. The average gross monthly salary in 2020 in Portugal was around €1,300 a month.

However, a few in Portugal make good money, with some top roles making over six figures a year. The best paid job in Portugal right now is a general director in the private health sector. 

Let’s take a look at the 10 best paid jobs in Portugal.

Keep in mind that these yearly salaries amount to 14 months. In Portugal, the 13th and 14th salaries are mandatory, representing extra summer and Christmas pays.

Therefore, a €120,000 yearly salary does not amount to €10,000 a month, but instead, around €8,500 a month. 

Expat Guide to Working in Portugal  

1. General Director in the Private Health Sector

€120,000 – €150,000 per year

A general director in the private health sector is the best paid job in Portugal. A general director of a hospital oversees the general administration of a private hospital with the health of patients in mind. 

These professionals make anywhere between €120,000 and €150,000 per year before tax. This is around €8,500 to €10,500 a month. 

2. Chief Information Officer (CIO)

€110,000 – €140,000 per year

A Chief Information Officer supervises a company’s IT organization, managing and implementing computer technologies. 

These professionals make anywhere between €110,000 and €140,000 per year before tax. This is around €7,800 to €10,000 a month. 

3. Commercial Director

€100,000 – €150,000 per year

Commercial directors are well paid in Portugal. These professionals are responsible for planning, developing, and implementing commercial strategies to generate revenue for a company.

These professionals make anywhere between €100,000 and €150,000 per year before tax. This is around €7,100 to €10,700 a month. 

4. Shared Service Center Director

€95,000 – €120,000 per year

A shared service center director is primarily responsible for planning and controlling the functions within a shared service center and organizing the performance of the available services.

These professionals make anywhere between €95,000 and €120,000 per year before tax. This is around €6,700 to €8,500 a month. 

5. E-Commerce Manager

€50,000 – €75,000 per year

An e-commerce manager grows an e-commerce business. They are responsible for managing orders, improving the customer experience, and evaluating the needs of customers. 

These professionals make anywhere between €50,000 and €75,000 per year before tax. This is around €3,500 to €5,300 a month. 

6. Software Engineer

€45,000+ per year

A software engineer designs, creates, and maintains computer systems and applications. Sometimes addressed as software developers, the salaries in Portugal vary.

However, the salary of a software engineer tends to start at €45,000 per year before tax, so around €3,200 a month. Nevertheless, it can reach six figures, depending on various factors such as experience, the company they work for, whether they are freelancing, etc. 

7. Cybersecurity Specialist

€45,000 – €60,000 per year

A cybersecurity specialist monitors, detects, and responds to cybersecurity risks and threats. They look for any potential attacks and solve these, keeping systems safe. 

These professionals make anywhere between €45,000 and €60,000 per year before tax. This is around €3,200 to €4,200 a month. 

8. Machine Learning Specialist

€40,000+ per year

A machine learning specialist is specialized in developing machine learning, a niche in computer science that focuses on developing algorithms that “learn” from data to make predictions. 

Similarly to a software engineer, salaries tend to start at €40,000 a year but can go higher. This is around €2,800 a month before tax.

9. Big Data Specialist

€35,000 – €50,000 per year

A big data specialist reviews, analyzes, and reports on big data stored and maintained by an organization. 

These professionals make anywhere between €35,000 and €50,000 per year before tax. This is around €2,500 to €3,500 a month. 

10. Digital Marketer

€35,000 – €45,000 per year

A digital marketer uses digital channels such as company websites and social networks to generate leads and build brand awareness. 

A digital marketer in Portugal makes between €35,000 and €45,000 a year. This is around €2,500 to €3,200 a month before tax.