Schrott studied singing with Franca Mattiucci. He made his professional debut in Montevideo at the age of 22, singing Roucher in Andrea Chenier. Following a stint at the Teatro Municipal in Santiago, Chile, where he sang Timur in Turandot, Colline in La boheme, Sparafucile in Rigoletto and Ramfis in Aida, he won a scholarship to study in Italy.
After winning First Prize (Male Singer) and the Audience Prize in the 1998 Operalia competition founded by Plácido Domingo, he went on to leading roles in major opera houses in both Europe and the United States. He made his debut at the Vienna State Opera as Banquo in Verdi's Macbeth on 28 March 1999 and returned there to sing Leporello in Don Giovanni and Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro. At La Scala he has sung the title role in Don Giovanni and Pharaon in Moïse et Pharaon. His debut at the New York Metropolitan Opera came on 30 November 2000 when he sang Colline in La boheme. He returned to the company in 2005 as Escamillo in Carmen, in 2006 in the title role in Don Giovanni for the Met's Japan Tour, in 2007 as Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro and in 2008 in the title role in Don Giovanni. Since his debut at the Royal Opera House in September 2003 as Leporello in Don Giovanni, Schrott has sung Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro, and the title role in Don Giovanni with the company.
Erwin Schrott's performances on the concert stage include a joint concert with Anna Netrebko conducted by Placido Domingo in the Centro de Bellas Artes, San Juan, Puerto Rico (9 October 2007), a gala concert for the 5th Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Festival, with Anna Netrebko and Elīna Garanca (29 March 2008), and a solo concert in the Münchner Residenz (9 November 2008).