How to find a job in Hungary in 2026: Salaries, job sites and what foreigners need to know

Want to find a job in Hungary in 2026? International companies continue to recruit foreign-language speakers, particularly in Budapest, while engineering, technology, logistics, business services and tourism also provide opportunities. The less straightforward part is navigating Hungarian salaries, language requirements and – for non-EU citizens – an immigration system that has changed substantially in recent years.

Hungary employed around 112,900 foreign nationals in July 2026, 6,900 more than a year earlier, according to the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH). At the same time, unemployment remained relatively low, although hiring conditions vary considerably between sectors and regions.

So where should foreigners look for work, which jobs can be found without speaking Hungarian, and what salary can applicants realistically expect?

Where to find a job in Hungary in 2026

For most applicants, the search starts online. Three platforms are particularly useful for people looking for jobs in Hungary: Profession.hu, CVonline.hu and LinkedIn.

Profession.hu

Profession.hu is Hungary’s largest and most established general job portal and should usually be the first stop for anyone searching across a broad range of industries.

It carries vacancies from major multinational companies as well as Hungarian employers, with positions ranging from administration and sales to engineering, finance, manufacturing and IT.

The site is mainly in Hungarian, but many advertisements – particularly those from international employers – are published partly or entirely in English.

CVonline.hu

CVonline.hu is another major Hungarian recruitment platform, listing thousands of jobs across the country.

It can be particularly useful as a second search channel because not every employer advertises on the same platforms. Applicants can search by profession, location and employment type and upload a CV for recruiters to find.

LinkedIn Jobs

LinkedIn is especially important for foreign professionals and anyone looking for English-speaking employment in Hungary.

Multinational companies operating in Budapest frequently use LinkedIn to recruit for technology, finance, business services, sales, HR, marketing and management positions. It can also be more useful than Hungarian-language portals for applicants who do not yet speak Hungarian.

Rather than relying on one platform, jobseekers should monitor all three and set up alerts for relevant positions.

The EU’s EURES employment service also recommends using Hungary’s public employment services, private recruitment agencies, company career pages and professional networks. EURES notes that jobseekers cannot legally be charged for the services of employment agencies in Hungary.

A useful additional tactic is to identify major employers in your sector and check their own career pages regularly. Large international companies often advertise vacancies directly before – or instead of – placing them on general job portals.

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Can you find a job in Hungary without speaking Hungarian?

Yes, particularly in Budapest, but it depends heavily on the profession.

The capital offers by far the widest selection of jobs where English is the main working language. Multinational business service centres regularly recruit employees in customer service, finance, accounting, procurement, IT, HR and sales.

Speaking another European language can be a major advantage. German, French, Dutch, Italian and Nordic languages are frequently sought by multinational employers serving international markets from Hungary.

Technology is another comparatively international sector. Software development, cybersecurity, data analysis, infrastructure and engineering positions are often available in English.

Outside multinational companies, however, Hungarian becomes significantly more important. Jobs involving local customers, public administration, healthcare, education or smaller Hungarian-owned businesses commonly require at least conversational Hungarian.

Which sectors offer the best opportunities in Hungary?

There is no single sector guaranteeing easy employment, but several areas regularly recruit skilled workers.

EURES identifies IT and new technologies, automotive manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, tourism, hospitality, transport and logistics among sectors with longer-term employment potential in Hungary.

Business service centres are particularly relevant for foreigners. Budapest has developed into a major Central European hub for shared-service and business-service operations, with international companies employing workers who communicate with customers or colleagues across Europe.

Engineering and manufacturing also remain important, particularly around major industrial centres such as Győr, Debrecen, Kecskemét and Szeged.

The labour market is not uniformly booming, however. Companies have become more cautious about recruitment following weaker economic growth, and demand varies considerably by profession. Specialised qualifications, technical expertise, digital skills and additional languages can therefore make a substantial difference.

How much can you earn in Hungary in 2026?

Hungarian wages remain considerably lower than those in Austria or Germany, although salaries at multinational companies and in highly skilled professions can be substantially above the national level.

According to the latest KSH earnings figures, the average gross monthly salary for full-time employees reached HUF 745,500 (around EUR 2,060) in July 2026. Average net earnings were HUF 523,300 (around EUR 1,450).

However, the median provides a more realistic picture of what a typical worker earns.

The gross median salary was HUF 618,200 (around EUR 1,710) per month, meaning half of full-time employees earned less than this amount. Median net earnings stood at HUF 437,900, or approximately EUR 1,210.

Hungary’s statutory monthly minimum wage in 2026 is HUF 322,800 (around EUR 890), while the guaranteed minimum for jobs requiring at least secondary-level qualifications or vocational training is HUF 373,200 (around EUR 1,030).

Applicants should always check whether a salary is quoted gross or net. Hungarian job advertisements and employment contracts normally refer to gross salary, before tax and social contributions.

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Budapest or elsewhere in Hungary?

For foreigners without Hungarian language skills, Budapest is generally the easiest place to start.

The capital contains the highest concentration of multinational headquarters, international business centres, financial institutions, technology companies and tourism-related employers.

However, opportunities outside Budapest should not be ignored.

Győr has a major automotive and manufacturing sector, Debrecen has attracted significant international investment in recent years, Kecskemét is another important automotive centre, and Szeged is developing rapidly as new large-scale investments arrive.

Foreigners with engineering or manufacturing experience may therefore find attractive opportunities outside Budapest, where living costs can also be lower.

Do EU citizens need a work permit in Hungary?

Citizens of EU and EEA countries have a comparatively straightforward route into the Hungarian labour market.

They generally do not need a Hungarian work permit to take employment in the country. However, those staying for more than 90 days must comply with Hungarian residence registration and address-registration requirements.

This means that a German, Italian, Polish or other EU citizen can usually apply for Hungarian jobs in much the same way as a Hungarian applicant, although administrative steps still follow after relocation.

What about non-EU citizens?

The situation is considerably more complicated for applicants from outside the EU and EEA.

Hungary operates several residence categories depending on nationality, qualifications and type of employment, including employment-purpose permits, the Hungarian Card, the EU Blue Card, National Card and permits connected with investment or intra-company transfers.

Rules for lower-skilled guest workers became substantially stricter in 2026.

Since 6 June 2026, new applications for Hungary’s guest-worker residence permit cannot currently be submitted, because the relevant government decree no longer designates countries whose nationals can submit new applications under that particular category.

A separate standard employment-purpose permit remains available to nationals of certain countries under specific conditions, while highly qualified employees may qualify through different routes.

Non-EU applicants should therefore establish which residence category applies to them before accepting a job offer or making relocation plans. Official information is available from Hungary’s National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing.

How should you apply for jobs in Hungary?

A one- or two-page CV is generally appropriate for professional vacancies.

For international companies, an English CV is normally sufficient if the advertisement itself is in English. Applicants targeting Hungarian employers may benefit from preparing a Hungarian version as well.

Foreign applicants should clearly state their language skills and, where relevant, their existing right to work in Hungary. If employer-sponsored immigration paperwork will be required, it is better to clarify this early in the recruitment process.

Applications should also be tailored to the position. Sending hundreds of identical CVs is usually less effective than identifying suitable employers and adjusting the application to highlight relevant experience.

LinkedIn can be particularly useful here: following companies, recruiters and managers in your field can reveal vacancies before they reach the largest job portals.

Is it difficult to find a job in Hungary as a foreigner?

The answer depends largely on qualifications, languages and salary expectations.

Foreign professionals with sought-after technical skills, international business experience or multiple languages can have good prospects, particularly in Budapest. Applicants seeking entry-level English-only positions face stronger competition, while Hungarian language skills open up a considerably larger part of the labour market.

Anyone planning to find a job in Hungary in 2026 should therefore start with three questions: Is my profession in demand? Will a Hungarian salary cover the lifestyle I expect? And do I already have the legal right to work in the country?

Once those questions are answered, Profession.hu, CVonline.hu and LinkedIn provide three of the best places to begin the actual search.

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