More than one in three (37%) young people now see finance as the most promising career path – a rise from 30% in 2024 and just 24% in 2023. At the same time, competition in the market is getting stronger, with this year recording 188 applications per graduate finance role, up from 120 in 2024, making finance the second most competitive sector in Europe after IT.
As searches for “finance jobs near me” have climbed by 130% over the past month (according to Fortune), the company BrokerChooser has assessed finance job postings on the recruitment website Indeed, analysing salary levels, remote work opportunities and cost of living to identify the countries offering the most attractive prospects for finance professionals – and the top-paying finance jobs in Europe.
Where in Europe is the best place to build a career in finance?
| Rank | Country | Total no. of finance jobs per 100k pop. | Median Salary (£) | % of remote finance jobs | Remote premium % | Cost of living index | Final score /10 |
| 1 | Netherlands | 32.50 | 46,942 | 13.71 | -8.43 | 47.90 | 7.80 |
| 2 | Portugal | 23.58 | 24,225 | 32.34 | 100.00 | 32.80 | 7.79 |
| 3 | Luxembourg | 253.64 | 69,717 | 8.84 | -3.32 | 54.80 | 7.77 |
| 4 | Ireland | 62.41 | 41,947 | 16.62 | 13.99 | 50.60 | 7.56 |
| 5 | Austria | 7.01 | 44,200 | 26.75 | 7.28 | 43.60 | 7.53 |
| 6 | United Kingdom | 24.63 | 38,000 | 17.42 | 7.15 | 46.30 | 7.47 |
| 7 | Poland | 9.33 | 29,640 | 41.56 | 47.63 | 28.80 | 7.40 |
| 8 | Finland | 4.10 | 59,202 | 16.45 | 35.49 | 41.10 | 7.35 |
| 9 | Belgium | 27.00 | 39,463 | 15.97 | 16.89 | 40.10 | 7.31 |
| 10 | Spain | 6.46 | 25,925 | 28.30 | 62.73 | 33.60 | 7.02 |
UK beats Poland and Finland in Europe’s top 10 countries to work in finance
The UK ranks sixth in Europe for building a career in finance, earning a final score of 7.47/10. With the fifth strongest finance job market – 24.63 finance job postings per 100K people – the UK also offers growing flexibility with 17.42% of roles remote, and remote workers earning 7.15% more than onsite peers. The median salary is £38,000 while the highest-paying role, Auditor, can reach up to £225,000 per year. With competitive pay, the UK remains an attractive destination for finance professionals despite a relatively higher cost of living.
The Netherlands, Portugal and Luxembourg crowned top destinations to work in finance
The Netherlands tops the list with a final score of 7.80/10. Despite just 13.71% of roles being remote, it boasts one of Europe’s strongest finance job markets, with 32 openings per 100K people. Salary transparency is the second highest, with nearly 30% of listings explicitly stating pay. Median salary stands at £46,942 – fourth highest in Europe – while Wealth Manager roles reach an impressive £246,875 per year, the second-highest salary among all finance jobs analysed.
Portugal follows closely in second place with a score of 7.79/10, standing out for its flexible work options and low living costs. Almost a third of finance roles (32.34%) are remote, offering double the pay of onsite positions – the biggest remote premium (+100%) in Europe. While the median salary is relatively modest at £24,225, Portugal’s low cost of living allows finance workers to stretch their earnings further.
Home to more than 120 banks from 25 countries, Luxembourg ranks third (7.77/10). It has the highest concentration of finance jobs in Europe (253 per 100K people) and the highest median salary (£69,717). While the country’s high cost of living and limited remote roles (8.84%) slightly lower its overall score, strong demand and high pay make Luxembourg an attractive destination for finance careers.
