Hire in Rome
Rome is the capital and the seat of government. If your customers include public bodies, energy groups, telecoms or defense, a team in Rome puts you next to them.
Main sectors
Public administration and the companies that serve it, energy and utilities, telecoms, aerospace and defense, film and TV production, tourism and international organisations such as the FAO.
Talent pools
Sapienza, one of the largest universities in Europe, Tor Vergata for engineering and economics, Roma Tre, and LUISS for law, business and political science.
Local income tax in Rome
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 | 0.9% | Source: pmi.it, 730/2026 table, read 27 Oct 2026. secondary source City council resolution for 2026 not yet checked. |
| City exemption threshold | €14,000 | Same source. |
| Regional surcharge (Lazio), first bracket | 1.73% up to €15,000; 3.33% above €28,000 | Source: quifinanza.it, read 27 Oct 2026. unverified Higher brackets to confirm on finanze.gov.it. Middle bracket not read. |
What it means for net pay
Lazio has one of the highest regional rates in Italy above €28,000, and the 0.9% city rate is above Milan and Bologna. Most professional salaries sit in the bracket where the 3.33% regional rate applies. For the same gross, a Rome employee usually takes home less than one in Milan or Bologna. If you pay the same salary across cities, Rome staff will notice.
Example: on a gross salary of [€ gross], the city surcharge in Rome 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]. [cost of living index vs national average]
- Commuting. The metro network is small for the size of the city, and traffic is heavy. Office location matters: pick a site near a metro or regional rail station and allow hybrid work.
- Travel. Fiumicino is the largest Italian airport, with direct flights to several US cities.
- 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.
Start hiring in Rome
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