7 high-paying jobs you can do in Barcelona without Spanish

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When I first moved to Barcelona, I feared I would never find a job in my industry without learning Spanish or going through a painful career change.

Despite common belief, I found out there are plenty of job opportunities in Barcelona even without speaking Spanish. The good news is the options you have aren't limited to working in bars or being an au pair *unless that´s what you are into, of course*. 

With the boom of the startup scene in Barcelona, many companies are increasingly looking for English-speaking professionals. In 2021, Catalonia-based startups raised €1,479 million, or 246 percent more than 2020. That´s the highest figure on record. In most cases, these companies’ official language might be English rather than Spanish or Catalan. 

Can you work in Barcelona without speaking Spanish?

100% yes! There are many opportunities for professionals to work in Barcelona without speaking Spanish. Targeting tech startups is a good first step to finding offers across a range of sectors.

Job sites like LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, Info Jobs, and many more can give you access to a lot of opportunities at the click of a button. 

Having said that, it is also true that compared to other European countries Spain's unemployment rate continues to rise year over year. That’s a reality you can’t ignore when moving to Barcelona. However, this shouldn’t discourage you to give it a try.

Before I start, let me define what I mean by high paying. As of 2022, the average salary in Spain is €24,009.12 per year, which is arguably quite low. My definition of high-paying in this post is based on the current economic reality of the country, and not a comparison to other places in the world. 

How you live on such salary will greatly depend on your needs and the place you want to live in. But in general terms, you will spend 900 euros to rent your flat on a monthly basis, also between 100-300 euros/month to buy your food, etc. 

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7 high-paying English-speaking jobs you can do in Barcelona 

  1. Digital Marketing 

Digital marketing is a booming industry and every company with a website will need a digital marketing professional to a certain extent. As we speak, there are hundreds of companies in Barcelona advertising marketing roles like: PPC specialist, SEO Specialist, Content Specialist, Copywriter, Social media strategist, etc where you can apply for a job without Spanish. 

What companies usually favor is your experience in the given role over a good command of Spanish unless of course, they operate in this language. This is something I have learnt since I first I got my job back in 2018.

2. IT 

Similar to digital marketing, IT professionals are sought after in the job market. In most cases, what your future employers will be the most interested in when hiring for the role is your skills. Recent data shows that IT has actually become one of the most in-demand jobs in Spain. That´s not surprising considering every business heavily relies on the internet to function.

3. Sales 

With a lot of Spanish companies looking to grow and reach new markets, having an English-speaking sales team has become fundamental. No company that takes expansion seriously would not consider an application only because your Spanish is not up to scratch.

4. Data analyst

The fact that almost every company in every industry relies on data to build, sell, and deliver products to their customers means jobs that require data analysis and data entry skills are in high demand in Spain.

5. Private teacher 

There are many opportunities for expats to teach in private academies if they wish to explore the academic route. These don´t require you to Spanish, in most cases students expect a full emersion anyways, so you would only be expected to speak to them in the language you are teaching them. 

6. Web developer 

Web developers are an essential role for companies looking to create navigable web and mobile sites for their customers. As the shift to e-comm continues to grow throughout Spain and the rest of Europe, these types of jobs will remain in high demand.

7. Work in an international company 

No matter what job you end up going for, if you do it for an international company will likely earn twice as much as in a Spanish company. The best part is that speaking Spanish will certainly not be a prerequisite for the role. These companies tend to have an international workforce to cater to their needs.

Despite the countless opportunities to find a job in Barcelona without Spanish, if you are planning to stay long-term, I would always recommend learning some basic Spanish or Catalan. This will go a long way in improving your overall experience, meeting locals, and creating stronger relationships. 

📜Living in Spain Planning Guide📜

Before Moving to Spain

  • 🔍Research the visa process, residence permits, and other essential documentation early on.

    💡 Did you know it’s mandatory to have official documents translated by a sworn translator?

  • Consider hiring a translation service like Translyt for handling any official documents.

    💡 Important: If you're moving from a non-European country, private health insurance is required for your visa application.

  • 🧑‍⚕️ Finalize your local health insurance plan with Innoinsure for comprehensive coverage, or opt for the digital insurance services of Feather or ASSSA.

  • If you are a digital nomad or need travel insurance, SafetyWing provides flexible coverage for individuals living abroad.

    • 🐕 If your pets have joined you, use Petplan for their health insurance and well-being.

Once in Spain