Question
Is it hard to get a job in Spain as an American?
Answers
These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
“I feel you. Given all that is happening in our country, I’m putting in place my exit strategy just in case I need to leave. Horrible.”
“It’s hard to get a job as a Spaniard. If you need to rely on making a living in Spain it’s not a good option. It’s great for people already set financially or can work remotely for a US company.”
“Such people wouldn’t have a visa or residency. Unless they were married, or wealthy enough to buy property, in which case they might be wealthy enough to simply not have to work. Otherwise they would be living in the country and working remotely on undocumented status hoping nothing happened, or would have to periodically travel around to other countries as their tourist visa length expired and renewed.”
“Your question is incredibly broad. It depends what you do for work and if you plan to work remotely for a US-based company or directly for a Spanish company. I made it my life goal to get a job in Spain and I accomplished that, but I know I am lucky due to my career in cybersecurity.”
“As a whole Americans cannot work in Spain. An American company can hire you if you have a trained skill that they don’t have from Spain. Otherwise the answer is no.”
“Spanish people struggle to get a job in Spain. Huge unemployment problem.”
“Yes. Spain has very high unemployment and pay is lower, relatively speaking. That being said, it is not impossible. You need to be on the right visa however. There are many rules and restrictions.”
“Not if you speak perfect Spanish, have the visa and are willing to work for 10 euros an hour.”
“It’s hard for Spaniards, imagine for an American.”
“Either you study at the university a Masters or PhD and then you are allowed to work up to 30 hours per week in something related to your field of study. Or you can apply, like I’m planning to do, for the ‘autónomo’ (freelance) visa.”
“US citizen looking for escape as well. Friends tell me that certain areas, such as Granada, are easier places for English speakers to find work.”
“Teach English.”
“Depends on your industry, luck, Spanish skills if it applies, etc. Hard to say.”
“I’ve seen ample people land meaningful work but they have to be super competitive.”
“Probably not if you’re willing to teach English for relatively low pay. Native-born speakers will always be preferred over fluent non-natives.”
“Spain has the highest unemployment in Europe.”
“I’ve read that it’s usually simply not possible, in the sense you can only get jobs companies think you could do better than a native, or only, as in a native could not do it due to the nature and specific qualifications of the job in question. So that would mean, most jobs, as an American, are out.”
“Those who can, leave Spain because of the economy, government, etc. Especially because there are no good job opportunities and the pay is very low while the prices are high. It is a great place to live if you already have money and you don’t depend on a job or a salary.”
“Start a business.”
“It’s hard to get a job in Spain as a Spanish person — sincerely, an American.”
“It’s hard for the native people—imagine the foreigners. Spain is hard when it comes to career and finance. It’s really heartbreaking because the country is almost perfect to live in.”
“Depends on your qualifications. If you work in IT, engineering, business consulting… I think it will be very easy.”
“Yes, but it’s possible. And the better your Spanish, the easier it will be.”
“It is hard to get a job, even if your first language is Spanish or you speak many languages.”
“The outflow of working-aged Spaniards is skyrocketing, sadly the economic outlook is grim. An aging population is in need of almost 30 million jobs but the pay is not attracting working-aged people.”
Unemployment rate per Region in Spain
“Either you have fluent Spanish and permission to work or you’re facing a very tough job market. Teaching English or remote work are your best bets.”
“It’s hard to get a (decent) job in Spain, period!”
“Spain’s unemployment rate is the lowest in Europe now. The government has just expanded options for people to come here and look for work. The expanded 12-month work exploration visa begins May 20th 2025.
With Spain’s low birth rate they need immigration to fill the gap. So, yes, it is possible if you speak Spanish or are in a profession—like aerospace or green energy exploration—where it isn’t required.”
“You could get a job cleaning houses or washing dishes at a restaurant. UBER driver as well. Don’t come as an illegal worker. Go through the immigration process and if you qualify then you can seek a job.”
“Not as an English teacher…but working at academies can be frustrating or offer weak salaries.”
“You could also consider getting an online job.”
Conclusion
According to the Spainguru community, finding a job in Spain as an American is challenging. Spain has historically struggled with high unemployment, and even locals find it difficult to secure well-paying jobs.
Contributors emphasized that unless you have specialized skills—such as in IT, cybersecurity, or engineering—or the ability to work remotely for a U.S.-based employer, opportunities are limited.
Fluency in Spanish, the right visa, and realistic salary expectations are all key. Some commenters encouraged others to explore freelance options or English teaching, although the pay may be low.
While it’s not impossible, the overall sentiment is that working in Spain requires a solid plan and, ideally, a profession that fills a gap in the local labor market.
