He studied Law at Santiago de Compostela University. From 1967 to 1969, he worked as an assistant lecturer of practical classes on Economy and Finance in the Faculty of Law (Santiago University).
Xosé Antonio Orza lived in Madrid, Zamora, Bilbao and A Coruña because of his job as Finance Inspector. In 1982, he became 'Director General de Tributos e Política Financieira' within the 'Consellería de Economía e Facenda' and he was the 'Conselleiro de Economía e Facenda' until 2005.