Job opportunities in Norway | 7 high-in-demand jobs for you

Job opportunities in Norway | An overview

‘Velkommen til Norge,’ — that means welcome to Norway! This Nordic country is a part of the Scandinavia region and is known as one of the most mountainous countries in Europe. 

Gifted with good resources and one of the most advanced democracies of our time, Norway is one of the premier nations in the world today. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that you would want to partake in the festival of equality and democracy. 

We have prepared a list of the 10 most lucrative jobs that Norway has to offer, and we have devised the 10 on unique criteria, thereby ensuring that at least one will be to your liking. So without further ado, here are the 10 best job opportunities in Norway for you!

 

IT

• IT job opportunities in Norway are extremely lucrative, with positions for developers and all the way to CEO. 
• However, like all job offers for foreigners in Norway, the deciding factor comes down to knowing Norwegian. 
• If you do know the language, then it will be relatively easy for you to secure work in the IT sector of Norway. 
• Due to the IT skills shortage, there is a high demand for IT professionals across different sectors. 
• Some common IT jobs in Norway in demand include developer, programmer, and project manager roles. The average yearly salary you can expect is 715,000 NOK or $90,000.
• Getting an IT job in Norway also carries the additional advantage of being a remote online job as well. So this is ideal if you wish to explore the beautiful country while working!

Biotechnology

• Norway has one of the world’s most developed biotechnology sectors, and these are centered around the beautiful city of Oslo.
• Unlike in the IT field, biotechnology job opportunities do not have a Norwegian language bias, making it an ideal fit for those who love Norway but don’t know Norwegian.
• There is also a relatively high demand for biotech as it is an expanding vertical. 
• The average yearly salary you can expect is between 823,000 NOK and 1,290,000 NOK.

Civil Engineering

• The construction industry in Norway is close to USD 100 billion, and its growth seems all but assured in the foreseeable future.
• Consequently, there is a large demand for qualified civil engineers in the nation, and the pay is lucrative as well.
• You can expect a yearly average salary of nearly 560,000 NOK.
• However, civil engineering in Norway is more hands-on than in other nations and as with the IT sector, there is a requirement to know Norwegian (though not officially). 

Mechanical engineering

• There is a large demand for mechanical engineers in Norway.
• The mechanical engineering job opportunities in Norway are typical for freshers.
• Considering that Norway is one of the most industrialized nations on earth, this demand is far from met.
• Therefore, it is relatively easy to find a job in this field and simultaneously brush up on your Norwegian speaking skills.
• This will improve your prospects in the industry. 
• The average salary you can expect to earn in this job is between 251,000 NOK to 867,000 NOK.

Legal jobs

• Some of the highest-paying jobs in Norway today are those of lawyers and judges.
• The selection criteria for these job opportunities in Norway are straightforward, but they are not a cakewalk.
• An aspirant for a legal job in Norway from a non-EEA country must apply to the Supervisory Council for Legal Practice and only upon meeting certain conditions and criteria will they be granted a working title of ‘Advokat’.
• After earning the working title, the individual is free to practice law in Norway.
• This job pays well and offers a certain amount of dignity.
• However, choosing this profession is usually a long-term commitment, so you need to have long-term plans for residing in Norway.
• Legal jobs in Norway pay nearly 515,000 to 1,780,000 NOK per year.

Chefs

• Believe it or not, chefs are not only high in demand in Norway, but the profession pays quite well too.
• To work as a professional chef in Norway, you don’t need to have any working knowledge of Norwegian as long as your credentials are good.
• Therefore, aspirants from all countries can apply.
• The average yearly salary of a chef in Norway is nearly 115,000 to 536,000 NOK.

Teacher/Professor

• Norway really values teachers, and they are afforded respect and deference within the Norwegian community.
• Moreover, there is a huge demand for teachers in Norway as well. Being a college professor is not only prestigious but also quite well paid.
• School-level teachers earn a little less, but then the requirements for being a teacher are also considerably less than those for being a professor. 
• The average yearly salary for a teacher is between 205,000 NOK to 710,000 NOK.
• However, for a college professor, the pay is nearly 789,000 NOK per year.

Highest paying job opportunities in Norway

• Quite simply, the medical profession pays the best in Norway. A surgeon/doctor in Norway earns between 592,000 NOK to 2,730,000 NOK on an average per year. 
• In fact, even being a dentist or an orthodontist pays extremely well in Norway. In this profession again, there is a less bias for those who do not know Norwegian, but the pressure from the competition is intense. After all, who doesn’t want to practice medicine in one of the safest, richest, and most transparent nations of the world?
• Judges in Norway learn a high salary because of the responsibility they hold. They earn anywhere between 880,000 NOK to 3,040,000 NOK.
• Lawyers are next on this list. They earn anywhere between 712,000 NOK to 2,460,000 NOK. 
• Bank managers are in charge of millions of funds and investments, which is why they earn anywhere between 670,000 NOK to 2,320,000 NOK.

In-demand jobs in Norway

• Nursing is the highest-demand job in Norway today and it pays anywhere between 211,000 NOK to 729,000 NOK.
• Additionally, pharmacists, HVAC engineers, and railway engineers are professions in high demand in Norway.
• These jobs have a very high conversion rate and there is no bias as to who can apply.
• Though certain jobs in Norway require the applicant to know Norwegian.
• This bias is inversely proportional to the demand for the job.
• Thus, for those who have the relevant degrees for the above-mentioned jobs, but do not possess a heavy knowledge of Norwegian, Norway can be a good place to start your career.

Part-time jobs opportunities in Norway

• One way to earn and practice Norwegian is by taking part-time jobs as an international student. 
• Getting a job in Norway may seem difficult, but there is no paucity of part-time jobs in Norway. 
• From being a dog-walker to a taxi driver and to providing elder care, there are multiple part-time professions that Norway has to offer.
• However, students must note that there are restrictions on how much they can work besides being full-time students.  
• Students who have a study permit have permission to work part-time. A student residence permit does not cover the right to take employment in Norway.
• EU/EEA students don’t need a work permit, they can work in Norway after they have registered with the police.
• Non-EU/EEA students can walk 20 hours per week during the first year of their study. 
• To renew the work permit students need to have satisfactory progress in their studies. 

Key takeaways 

• Norway is one of the founding nations of the United Nations in 1945.
• Some jobs require you to speak Norwegian. It’s best to learn the basics to communicate effectively with natives. 
• Always check the minimum work hours and the work permit.
• Choose a job in Norway that best reflects your interest, so you enjoy your stay and work here. 
• Surgeons, doctors, and judges are some of the highest-paying jobs in Norway. 
• In Norway, nursing is the highest in-demand job. 

Explore our blog for more information on living, studying, and working in your dream countries! if you have any doubts, you can reach out to us. Don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments below!

All the best!

Liked this blog? Read Cost of living in Norway | A guide for international students!

FAQs 

Q1. How to apply for jobs in Norway? 

Answer – Applying for a job in Norway is relatively easy. All you have to do is

• See the VISA requirements for the job you are applying for. 
• Tweak your CV to make it more Norwegian Friendly (Short to the point CV, highlight language and communication skills, be as frank as you can be)
• Ensure you have the required qualifications 
• Apply away! 

Q2. What jobs are open for foreigners to apply for? 

Answer – Though all jobs are open for foreigners to apply to, the ones which are particularly easy for foreigners to apply to are- 

• Teaching English 
• Working in fisheries 
• Working in tourism 
• Seasonal agricultural work 

Q3. What is the business culture in Norway like? 

Answer – Quite simply, it is all about equality and transparency. In fact, individualism is not very valued, rather the contribution of a team towards a specific goal is valued. Deadlines are sacred and timings must be adhered to. There is also a prevailing honor culture that makes you solely responsible for the promises you make and the deliverables you undertake. The business culture in Norway rewards integrity and honesty. 

Q4. Are there job opportunities in Norway?

Answer- Yes, there are ample job opportunities in Norway for professionals. However, for newcomers, it may be a challenge because job opportunities aren’t always advertised which is why building a professional network is very important. 

 

Q5. What jobs are common in Norway?

Answer- Many Norwegians work in the public sector, such as health and education. There is a high demand for skills in medicine, engineering, nursing, IT, etc.

Q6. Can I work in Norway speaking English?

Answer- Yes, you can work in Norway speaking English. However, it’s best to learn the basics of a country’s language you plan to settle/study/work. 

Q7. Is Norwegian easy to learn?

Answer- If you’re a native English speaker learning Norwegian may be easy for you. Being a Germanic language, Norwegian is known to be one of the easiest languages to learn.