Hire in Rome
Rome is where the Italian state, the energy and telecom groups and the UN food agencies are. If your customers are public bodies, utilities or defence, a person in Rome is close to the decisions.
Sectors
Public administration and its suppliers, energy and utilities, telecoms, aerospace and defence, film and TV, tourism, and international organisations such as the FAO. Nordic companies in clean energy, public-sector software and maritime services often find their Italian counterparts here.
Where people study
Sapienza, one of the largest universities in Europe; Tor Vergata for engineering and economics; Roma Tre; LUISS for law, business and political science.
Local income tax in Rome
On top of national IRPEF, employees pay a city and a regional surcharge, both withheld through payroll. It changes the employee's net pay, not your cost.
| Item | 2026 value | Status |
|---|---|---|
| City surcharge rate | 0.9% | Source: pmi.it, 730/2026 table, read 27 Oct 2026. secondary source City council resolution for 2026 not yet checked. |
| City exemption threshold | €14,000 | Same source. |
| Regional surcharge (Lazio) | 1.73% up to €15,000; 3.33% above €28,000 | Source: quifinanza.it, read 27 Oct 2026. unverified Higher brackets to confirm on finanze.gov.it. Middle bracket not read. |
Effect on net pay
Above €28,000 Lazio applies one of the highest regional rates in Italy, and the city rate of 0.9% is above Milan and Bologna. Most professional salaries fall in that top regional band. At equal gross, a Rome employee keeps less than one in Milan or Bologna, so a single Italy-wide salary band will feel uneven to Rome staff.
Example: on a gross salary of [€ gross], the city surcharge in Rome is about [€ amount] a year. The net pay calculator shows the full breakdown.
Practical notes
- Cost of living. Rent: [one-bedroom rent, central and outer areas]. [cost of living index vs national average]
- Commuting. The metro is small for a city of this size and traffic is heavy. Choose an office near a metro or regional rail station, and allow hybrid work.
- Travel. Fiumicino is the largest airport in Italy. [confirm direct routes to Nordic capitals]
- Salaries. Typical bands: [€ ranges by role to verify].
- Time zone. Italy runs on the same clock as Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen, and one hour behind Helsinki. Your stand-up, your lunch and your Friday afternoon line up without effort; only Reykjavik is off, by one hour in winter and two in summer.
Next step
Estimate the employer cost, then send us the role.