Picture yourself in the heart of Europe, building a secure future with a reliable income. While the promise of easy “visa sponsorship” for supermarket roles can be misleading, Austria’s major retail chains genuinely seek dedicated staff. Positions like grocery clerk or cashier offer a stable starting salary of €1,490–€1,800 per month, providing a solid foundation for your new life.
Supermarket roles are particularly attractive for foreigners because they often require little formal education and come with visa support, accommodation assistance, and employee benefits. This guide covers everything you need to know about job details, average salaries, requirements, and where to apply online.
Details of Supermarket Jobs in Austria
Key Points
- Job Title: Supermarket Worker / Supermarket Staff
- Country: Austria
- Knowledge Required: No
- Experience Required: Optional (depends on role)
- Visa Sponsorship: Yes
- Job Type: Full-time / Contract / Permanent
- Minimum Age: 21 years
Common Job Roles in Austrian Supermarkets
Austrian supermarkets hire staff across a wide range of departments. Some positions are unskilled, while others require moderate training or professional experience:
- Grocery Clerk
- Salesperson / Shop Assistant
- Store Manager / Assistant Manager
- Cashier / Checkout Operator
- Stocker / Shelf Organizer
- Cleaner / Janitor
- Butcher / Meat Cutter
- Bakery Assistant
- Food Preparation Worker / Kitchen Helper
- Customer Service Representative
- Loss Prevention Associate
- Delivery Driver / Warehouse Assistant
- Pharmacy Technician (in-store pharmacies)
- Accountant / Inventory Controller
- Shopping Cart Attendant
Average Salaries of Supermarket Workers in Austria
Salaries vary depending on role, location, and experience. Approximate monthly earnings:
- Grocery Clerk: €1,640
- Storekeeper: €1,800
- Cashier: €1,490
- Grocery Packer: €1,770
- Store Manager: €2,200 – €2,800
- Bakery or Meat Department Worker: €1,9
Requirements for Supermarket Jobs in Austria with Visa Sponsorship
Most supermarket jobs are semi-skilled or unskilled, making them accessible to many foreign applicants. Basic eligibility includes:
- Minimum age of 21 years
- Basic understanding of English or German (depending on employer)
- At least one year of experience preferred (not always required)
- Clean criminal record and valid medical fitness
- For skilled roles (e.g., accountant, pharmacist, manager), relevant qualifications are required
- Legal eligibility to work in Austria via work visa or Red-White-Red Card
Benefits of Working in Austrian Supermarkets
Foreign employees in Austrian supermarkets enjoy multiple perks:
- Visa sponsorship and relocation support
- Free or subsidized accommodation for some roles
- Paid overtime and annual bonuses
- Health insurance and social security coverage
- Employee discounts on store products
- Training and career development opportunities
- Equal rights and protections under Austrian labour law
Top Supermarket Chains Hiring in Austria
- Hofer (Aldi Austria) – Over 500 stores nationwide; hires sales assistants, warehouse staff, and managers.
- Spar Austria – Popular across Austria; recruits for customer service, bakery, and logistics roles.
- Lidl Austria – More than 200 stores; offers competitive salaries and benefits for cashiers, stockers, and delivery staff.
How to Apply for Supermarket Jobs in Austria with Visa Sponsorship
Several trusted online platforms list supermarket jobs for foreigners:
REWE Karriere
- Create an account on the REWE career portal
- Browse supermarket job listings
- Review job descriptions and click Apply Now
Apply Now on REWE Karriere
Penny Karriere
- Visit Penny’s official career website
- Register and browse available positions
- Select roles offering visa sponsorship and submit your CV
Apply Now on Penny Karriere
Other platforms such as StepStone Austria, Indeed.at, and LinkedIn Jobs also list verified openings.
Why Austria is a Great Place to Work
Austria consistently ranks high for quality of life, safety, and fair wages. With a strong economy and growing demand for service and retail workers, it is an ideal destination for foreigners seeking employment in Europe.
Whether in bustling Vienna, historic Salzburg, or scenic Graz, motivated candidates will find numerous opportunities with stable income, legal work status, and career growth
Conclusion
Securing a supermarket job in Austria is an achievable goal, but it requires navigating the country’s immigration framework with accurate information. While the demand for retail staff is high, the common promise of “visa sponsorship” for entry-level roles does not align with Austria’s points-based visa system designed for skilled workers.
Your success depends on first securing your legal right to work through alternative means or by qualifying for a skilled position. By targeting reputable chains directly, managing expectations, and focusing on roles where you have a competitive edge, you can turn your ambition of working in Austria into a sustainable and rewarding reality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Austrian supermarkets really sponsor visas for foreign workers
For typical entry-level positions like cashier or stocker, genuine employer-sponsored work visas are extremely rare. Austria’s primary work permit (the Red-White-Red Card) requires meeting a points threshold based on qualifications, skills, and language, which unskilled supermarket jobs usually do not fulfill. Job ads promising easy sponsorship should be approached with caution.
Is knowing German necessary to get a job?
Yes, German is almost always essential. Supermarket work involves constant interaction with customers, colleagues, and suppliers. Even for stocking roles, basic to intermediate German is typically a mandatory requirement for safety and effective teamwork. English alone is very rarely sufficient.
