ESO’s salary structure for International Staff Members with effect from 01/01/2025
ESO has 7 career paths for its International Staff Members. Each career path enables ESO to determine where a job falls within the organisation in terms of its complexity, accountability, and field of expertise. The career paths cover Engineering, Science, Administration, Technical specialties, Managerial and Project based positions.
Each career path is divided into two or three grades, allowing ESO to recognise, within a field of expertise, different levels of competence and experience, and to allow for the possibility of promotion as careers develop. We also take the matter of equitable pay seriously, and have recently established a gender pay report and benchmarking mechanism.
Allocation to a Career Path and Grade
The career path for a post is based upon the skill and education requirements, tasks and responsibilities of the role at ESO. This is independent of the person occupying the role and is a structural decision based on the requirements of the job. The initial allocation to a grade within the career path reflects the directly relevant qualifications and experience possessed by the prospective staff member. All candidates must have a minimum of three years directly relevant experience for admission to a career path and grade. In some circumstances, where the full requirement has not been met, an offer in a lower career path may be made.
As a guide, each career path and their relevant grades are outlined below. The current minimum and maximum basic salaries (in accordance with the ESO staff regulations) attached to each grade, are further outlined.
Career path I |
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Grade 4 | Minimum Salary €3,465/month | Maximum Salary €4,498/month |
Grade 5 | Minimum Salary €3,765/month | Maximum Salary €5,007/month |
Grade 6 | Minimum Salary €4,281/month | Maximum Salary €5,693/month |
Career path II |
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Grade 5 | Minimum Salary €3,765/month | Maximum Salary €5,007/month |
Grade 6 | Minimum Salary €4,281/month | Maximum Salary €5,693/month |
Grade 7 | Minimum Salary €4,912/month | Maximum Salary €6,528/month |
Career path III |
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Grade 6 | Minimum Salary €4,281/month | Maximum Salary €5,693/month |
Grade 7 | Minimum Salary €4,912/month | Maximum Salary €6,528/month |
Grade 8 | Minimum Salary €5,647/month | Maximum Salary €7,512/month |
Career path IV |
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Grade 7 | Minimum Salary €4,912/month | Maximum Salary €6,528/month |
Grade 8 | Minimum Salary €5,647/month | Maximum Salary €7,512/month |
Grade 9 | Minimum Salary €6,425/month | Maximum Salary €8,585/month |
Career path V |
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Grade 8 | Minimum Salary €5,647/month | Maximum Salary €7,512/month |
Grade 9 | Minimum Salary €6,425/month | Maximum Salary €8,585/month |
Grade 10 | Minimum Salary €7,928/month | Maximum Salary €10,723/month |
Career path VI |
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Grade 10 | Minimum Salary €7,928/month | Maximum Salary €10,723/month |
Grade 11 | Minimum Salary €9,211/month | Maximum Salary €12,215/month |
Career path VII |
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Grade 12 | Minimum Salary €10,670/month | Maximum Salary €14,407/month |
Grade 13 | Minimum Salary €12,609/month | Maximum Salary €15,752/month |
Grade 14 | Minimum Salary €13,805/month | Maximum Salary €16,578/month |
Additional Benefits
Depending upon your personal circumstances an attractive range of other allowances and non-financial benefits may be applied to you, to make up your full remuneration and benefits package. Obligatory deductions are made for social security purposes such as pension, health insurance and long-term care.
Please see further information on our web site.
Please note that salaries and emoluments paid by ESO are exempt from national income tax in Member States by virtue of Article 19 of the Multilateral Protocol on Privileges and Immunities of the European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere. Salaries and emoluments paid by the Organisation are however subject to an internal tax in accordance with the Staff Rules and Regulations.