In fact, 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 after IT.

So, where in Europe is the best place to build a career in finance, and which roles offer the highest pay?

As searches for “finance jobs near me” soared by 130% over the past month, forex broker experts at BrokerChooser scraped finance job postings on 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.

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 €53,797 - fourth highest in Europe - while Wealth Manager roles reach an impressive £282,918 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 €27,762, 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 (€79,896). 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.

Salary

Salary remains the top motivator for graduates, with 58% citing it as their primary career driver. With an average salary of €65,669, Investment Associate is the highest-earning finance role. This pivotal role typically involves conducting in-depth financial analysis, assessing market trends and evaluating company performance to inform major investment decisions in a high-stakes environment.

Financial controller comes next, earning an average of €54,745. These professionals oversee all accounting functions in a business, ensuring records are accurate and compliant with accounting standards and legislation.

Rounding out the top three is Strategy Analyst, with an average salary of €54,434. Strategy Analysts focus on long-term business growth, identifying business needs and advising companies on key initiatives to boost revenue and drive success.

Brandon Bovey, Senior Broker Analyst from brokerage and forex experts BrokerChooser said: "The finance and investment sector is regularly named among the most attractive career paths due to its earning potential and constant opportunities for advancement - and competition in the industry is set to intensify.

“Still, it’s a favourable moment to build a career in this space, though anyone considering it should take time to understand both the opportunities and the demands involved. Investment management and the capital markets in general remain among the most vibrant and multifaceted areas in finance, offering constant interaction with economics, politics, technology and human behaviour. For those intrigued by the global flow of money, comfortable working with data and energised by fast-moving, high-stakes environments, it can be an exceptionally stimulating and rewarding profession.

“What has evolved most over time is the blend of skills required. Technical know-how that once provided a competitive edge has become more accessible thanks to sophisticated tools and platforms. Today, professionals succeed by combining market insight with coding, data analytics and the intelligent use of AI - while maintaining a broad understanding of the macroeconomic and geopolitical dynamics that drive markets.”