Across Austria, most federal states have opted to freeze pay increases for high-ranking political officials in the upcoming year, aligning with the federal government's policy of a zero pay round. However, Upper Austria has diverged from this approach and will implement a 3.3 percent increase in politicians' salaries starting in July. The decision sets Upper Austria apart, as Vienna and Burgenland have yet to reach a conclusion on this issue.

In the majority of Austrian states--including Styria, Vorarlberg, Carinthia, Salzburg, and Tyrol--official announcements have confirmed that the standard adjustment, or valorisation, of political salaries will not take place for 2026. Lower Austria has adopted a similar stance for its regional government, though the fate of pay for state parliament members remains undecided, pending ongoing discussions among legislative factions.

Upper Austria Implements Pay Increase

Upper Austria, governed by a coalition of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and the Freedom Party (FPÖ), will proceed with a salary adjustment for its politicians, mirroring the pay structure of public sector employees. The announced increase will take effect from July, and it is justified by the region's claim that its political salaries have consistently remained five percent below the national threshold stipulated by Austria's remuneration law. Upper Austria's leadership contends that the state does not wish to further diminish the perceived value of political service.

Currently, the national ceiling for a regional governor's gross monthly salary is set at 22,657 euros. This figure, influenced by frequent zero pay rounds at the federal level, now surpasses the monthly earnings of the vice chancellor (20,979 euros), the president of the National Council (20,025 euros), and ministers (19,072 euros). In Upper Austria, the regional governor presently receives 20,623 euros, and following the pay rise, this will rise to 21,304 euros, making him the third-highest paid among Austria's regional leaders.

Salary Rankings Among Austrian Politicians

Vienna's mayor and regional governor currently earns the maximum salary of 22,657 euros per month. Senior city councillors in Vienna, with a monthly income of 20,391 euros, also out-earn their counterparts in other federal states. Among state parliamentarians, those in Vienna (8,610 euros) and Lower Austria (9,063 euros) hold the top positions, though Vienna's own decision regarding next year's salaries remains pending.

In the salary hierarchy of regional governors, Lower Austria's leader ranks second at 21,660 euros, while Burgenland's governor is at the bottom with 17,645 euros per month. The rest of Burgenland's regional government also records the lowest pay nationwide. For parliamentarians, only those in Carinthia (5,808 euros) earn less than their Burgenland colleagues (6,394 euros).

Salary Policies in Burgenland and Other Regions

Burgenland is still finalizing its approach to political salaries for the coming year, with officials emphasizing that the state has implemented zero pay rounds in the previous two years, resulting in the lowest salaries in the Austrian political pay scale. Even if an increase of 2.6 percent, corresponding to the statutory adjustment factor derived from inflation, were applied, Burgenland's governor would continue to earn slightly less than Carinthia's governor, who receives 18,358 euros per month.

The differing policies regarding the adjustment of political salaries across Austria are attributed to varied pay increase decisions in recent years. At the federal level, repeated zero pay rounds and salary adjustments below inflation have significantly eroded the value of politicians' salaries since the federal salary law was enacted in 1997. This trend has led to disparities in the salary structure, drawing criticism from the Austrian Court of Audit, which has pointed out that the current structure no longer reflects the law's original intention of creating a fair and transparent pay hierarchy.

The federal government has indicated plans to introduce a revised system for adjusting political salaries, aiming to address the inconsistencies and restore a more balanced pay framework across the country.