Hire in Milan
Milan is where most foreign companies open their first Italian seat. Finance, fashion, consulting and tech all compete for the same people, so expect a fast market and firm salary expectations.
Main sectors
Banking and asset management, fashion and luxury, industrial design, consulting, media, pharma and the regional head offices of most multinationals. A growing startup scene around fintech and SaaS.
Talent pools
Politecnico di Milano for engineering and design, Bocconi for economics and management, the Università Statale for law, sciences and medicine, Bicocca for sciences and statistics.
Local income tax in Milan
On top of national IRPEF, employees pay a city surcharge and a regional surcharge. We withhold both through payroll.
| Item | 2026 value | Status |
|---|---|---|
| City surcharge rate | 0.8% | Source: pmi.it, 730/2026 table, read 27 Oct 2026. secondary source City council resolution for 2026 not yet checked. |
| City exemption threshold | €23,000 | Same source. |
| Regional surcharge (Lombardy), first bracket | 1.23% up to €15,000 | Source: quifinanza.it, read 27 Oct 2026. unverified Higher brackets to confirm on finanze.gov.it. A 1.58% rate is quoted for income around €35,000. |
What it means for net pay
Milan has the highest municipal exemption of the five cities. People on lower salaries pay no city surcharge here, which they would pay in Rome or Naples. On mid and senior salaries the 0.8% rate is among the lowest of the large cities, and the Lombardy regional rate starts low too. For the same gross, a Milan employee usually takes home a little more than one in Rome or Naples.
Example: on a gross salary of [€ gross], the city surcharge in Milan is about [€ amount] a year. Check the calculator for the full breakdown.
Practical notes
- Cost of living. Rent: [one-bedroom rent, central and outer areas]. Housing is the main reason candidates ask for more here than in other cities. [cost of living index vs national average]
- Commuting. Five metro lines, suburban rail and trams. Many staff live outside the city and come in by train from Monza, Bergamo, Pavia or Novara.
- Travel. Linate is close to the centre. Malpensa has direct flights to New York and other US hubs.
- Salaries. Typical bands: [€ ranges by role to verify].
- Time zones. Italy is UTC+1, UTC+2 in summer: 6 hours ahead of New York and 9 ahead of San Francisco. A team working 9:00 to 18:00 has three shared hours with the East Coast (9:00 to 12:00 New York time). With the West Coast there is no overlap in a standard day, so plan a late afternoon slot in Italy or async work.
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