Pay
Salaries in Germany by occupation
Median gross monthly pay across Germany in April 2025, from the Federal Statistical Office. In software development, half of employees earned more than €5,851 a month.
Pay excludes bonuses and other special payments. These are national figures, so pay in your city and at your level can differ a lot.
Tech roles by level
Levels follow the German classification: skilled worker, specialist and expert, where expert usually means a degree-level role.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| Computer science, skilled workerInformatik (oS) - Fachkraft | €4,904 |
| Computer science, specialistInformatik (oS) - Spezialist | €6,832 |
| Computer science, expertInformatik (oS) - Experte | €6,417 |
| Business informatics, skilled workerWirtschaftsinformatik - Fachkraft | €4,921 |
| Business informatics, specialistWirtschaftsinformatik - Spezialist | €5,400 |
| Business informatics, expertWirtschaftsinformatik - Experte | €6,126 |
| Technical computer science, skilled workerTechnische Informatik - Fachkraft | €4,866 |
| Technical computer science, specialistTechnische Informatik - Spezialist | €4,300 |
| Technical computer science, expertTechnische Informatik - Experte | €6,495 |
| Bioinformatics and medical informatics, expertBio-, Medizininformatik - Experte | €5,983 |
| Geoinformatics, expertGeoinformatik - Experte | €4,967 |
| Media informatics, skilled workerMedieninformatik - Fachkraft | €4,246 |
| Media informatics, specialistMedieninformatik - Spezialist | €4,893 |
| Media informatics, expertMedieninformatik - Experte | €4,833 |
| Computer science team leadFührung - Informatik | €10,000 |
| IT systems analysis, expertIT-Systemanalyse - Experte | €6,500 |
| IT application consulting, specialistIT-Anwendungsberatung - Spezialist | €5,568 |
| IT application consulting, expertIT-Anwendungsberatung - Experte | €5,933 |
| IT sales, skilled workerIT-Vertrieb - Fachkraft | €4,331 |
| IT sales, specialistIT-Vertrieb - Spezialist | €6,745 |
| IT systems, consulting and sales team leadFührung - IT-Systemanalyse, -Anwendung, -Vertrieb | €8,533 |
| IT network engineering, skilled workerIT-Netzwerktechnik - Fachkraft | €4,400 |
| IT network engineering, specialistIT-Netzwerktechnik - Spezialist | €5,667 |
| IT network engineering, expertIT-Netzwerktechnik - Experte | €5,295 |
| IT coordination, specialistIT-Koordination - Spezialist | €5,516 |
| IT organisation, specialistIT-Organisation - Spezialist | €5,959 |
| IT system administration, specialistIT-Systemadministation - Spezialist | €5,179 |
| Database development and administration, specialistDatenbankentwicklung, -administration - Spezialist | €5,796 |
| Web administration, specialistWebadministration - Spezialist | €5,708 |
| Other IT networks and administration, specialistIT-Netzwerk,Koord.,Admin.,Org. (ssT) - Spezialist | €6,129 |
| Other IT networks and administration, expertIT-Netzwerk,Koord.,Admin.,Org. (ssT) - Experte | €6,015 |
| IT networks and administration team leadFührung - IT-Netzwerk,-Koord.,-Admin.,-Org. | €7,647 |
| Software development, skilled workerSoftwareentwicklung - Fachkraft | €4,201 |
| Software development, specialistSoftwareentwicklung - Spezialist | €5,986 |
| Software development, expertSoftwareentwicklung - Experte | €6,000 |
| Programming, specialistProgrammierung - Spezialist | €5,100 |
| Software development team leadFührung - Softwareentwicklung, Programmierung | €8,445 |
Agriculture, animal care and forestry
Group median €2,912 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| FarmingLandwirtschaft | €2,865 |
| Livestock farmingTierwirtschaft | €2,977 |
| Horse husbandryPferdewirtschaft | €2,389 |
| FisheriesFischwirtschaft | €2,900 |
| Animal careTierpflege | €3,021 |
| Wine growingWeinbau | €3,360 |
| Forestry, hunting and landscape careForst- und Jagdwirtschaft, Landschaftspflege | €3,594 |
Horticulture and floristry
Group median €3,055 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| HorticultureGartenbau | €3,105 |
| FloristryFloristik | €2,622 |
Raw materials, glass and ceramics
Group median €3,674 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| Mining and blastingBerg-, Tagebau und Sprengtechnik | €4,881 |
| Stone, mineral and building material productionNaturstein-, Mineral-, Baustoffherstellung | €3,600 |
| Industrial glass makingIndustrielle Glasherstellung und -verarbeitung | €3,392 |
| Industrial ceramicsIndustrielle Keramikherstellung und -verarbeitung | €3,559 |
Plastics and wood
Group median €3,285 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| Plastics and rubber manufacturingKunststoff-, Kautschukherstellung u. -verarbeitung | €3,265 |
| Paint and varnish technologyFarb- und Lacktechnik | €3,570 |
| WoodworkingHolzbe- und -verarbeitung | €3,244 |
Paper, printing and media technology
Group median €3,620 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| Paper and packaging technologyPapier- und Verpackungstechnik | €3,755 |
| Technical media designTechnische Mediengestaltung | €3,724 |
| Photo technology and photographyFototechnik und Fotografie | €3,336 |
| Printing and bookbindingDrucktechnik und -weiterverarbeitung, Buchbinderei | €3,421 |
Metal production and metalworking
Group median €3,723 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| Metal productionMetallerzeugung | €4,086 |
| MetalworkingMetallbearbeitung | €3,644 |
| Metal surface treatmentMetalloberflächenbehandlung | €3,578 |
| Metal construction and weldingMetallbau und Schweißtechnik | €3,653 |
| Precision and tool engineeringFeinwerk- und Werkzeugtechnik | €4,056 |
Mechanical and automotive engineering
Group median €4,100 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| Mechanical and plant engineeringMaschinenbau- und Betriebstechnik | €4,202 |
| Vehicle, aerospace and ship engineeringFahrzeug-, Luft-, Raumfahrt- und Schiffbautechnik | €3,822 |
Mechatronics, energy and electrical engineering
Group median €4,210 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| Mechatronics and automationMechatronik und Automatisierungstechnik | €4,220 |
| Energy technologyEnergietechnik | €4,027 |
| Electrical engineeringElektrotechnik | €4,458 |
Technical development, design and production control
Group median €5,528 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| Technical research and developmentTechnische Forschung und Entwicklung | €6,675 |
| Technical drawing, design and modellingTechnisches Zeichnen, Konstruktion und Modellbau | €4,513 |
| Production planning and controlTechnische Produktionsplanung und -steuerung | €5,311 |
Textiles and leather
Group median €2,959 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| Textile productionTextiltechnik und -produktion | €3,022 |
| Textile processingTextilverarbeitung | €2,930 |
| Leather and fur productionLeder-, Pelzherstellung und -verarbeitung | €2,927 |
Food production
Group median €3,095 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| Beverage productionGetränkeherstellung | €4,176 |
| Food and luxury food productionLebensmittel- und Genussmittelherstellung | €3,230 |
| CookingSpeisenzubereitung | €2,950 |
Construction planning, architecture and surveying
Group median €5,094 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| Construction planning, supervision and architectureBauplanung und -überwachung, Architektur | €5,182 |
| Surveying and cartographyVermessung und Kartografie | €4,274 |
Building and civil engineering trades
Group median €3,777 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| Building constructionHochbau | €3,639 |
| Civil engineering worksTiefbau | €4,051 |
Interior construction trades
Group median €3,344 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| Floor layingBodenverlegung | €3,416 |
| Painting, plastering and building protectionMaler, Stuckateur, Bauwerksabdicht., Bautenschutz | €3,251 |
| Drywall, insulation, carpentry and glazingAus-,Trockenbau,Isolierung,Zimmerei,Glaserei,Roll. | €3,433 |
Building services and utilities
Group median €3,712 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| Building technologyGebäudetechnik | €3,400 |
| Plumbing, heating and air conditioningKlempnerei, Sanitär-, Heizungs- und Klimatechnik | €3,861 |
| Utilities and waste managementVer- und Entsorgung | €3,961 |
Mathematics, biology, chemistry and physics
Group median €4,716 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| Mathematics and statisticsMathematik und Statistik | €6,228 |
| BiologyBiologie | €4,749 |
| ChemistryChemie | €4,633 |
| PhysicsPhysik | €4,913 |
Geology, geography and environmental protection
Group median €4,546 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| Geology, geography and meteorologyGeologie, Geografie und Meteorologie | €5,262 |
| Environmental technologyUmweltschutztechnik | €4,101 |
| Environmental management and consultingUmweltmanagement und -beratung | €5,092 |
Computer science, IT and communications
Group median €5,790 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| Computer scienceInformatik | €5,646 |
| IT systems analysis, consulting and salesIT-Systemanalyse, -Anwendungsberatung, -Vertrieb | €5,922 |
| IT networks, coordination and administrationIT-Netzwerktechnik, -Koord., -Admin., -Organis. | €5,713 |
| Software development and programmingSoftwareentwicklung und Programmierung | €5,851 |
Transport and logistics, excluding drivers
Group median €3,210 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| Rail, air and ship technical operationsTechn. Betrieb Eisenbahn-, Luft-, Schiffsverkehr | €4,461 |
| Transport infrastructure monitoring and maintenanceÜberwachung und Wartung der Verkehrsinfrastruktur | €4,065 |
| Warehousing, postal services and cargo handlingLagerwirtschaft, Post u. Zustellung, Güterumschlag | €3,072 |
| Passenger transport service staffServicekräfte im Personenverkehr | €3,526 |
| Traffic control and supervisionÜberwachung und Steuerung des Verkehrsbetriebs | €4,292 |
| Transport and logistics clerksKaufleute - Verkehr und Logistik | €4,075 |
Drivers and transport equipment operators
Group median €3,306 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| Road vehicle driversFahrzeugführung im Straßenverkehr | €3,229 |
| Train driversFahrzeugführung im Eisenbahnverkehr | €4,322 |
| Aircraft pilotsFahrzeugführung im Flugverkehr | €11,591 |
| Ship officers and crewFahrzeugführung im Schiffsverkehr | €4,853 |
| Construction and transport equipment operatorsBau- und Transportgeräteführung | €3,590 |
Protection, security and surveillance
Group median €4,277 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| Property, personal and fire protection, workplace safetyObjekt-, Personen-, Brandschutz, Arbeitssicherheit | €3,948 |
| Police, criminal investigation, court and prison servicesPolizeivollzugs-,Kriminaldienst,Gerichts-,Justizv. | €4,599 |
| Trade and health inspection, disinfectionGewerbe- und Gesundheitsaufsicht, Desinfektion | €3,997 |
Cleaning
Group median €2,785 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| CleaningReinigung | €2,785 |
Purchasing, sales and trading
Group median €5,081 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| Purchasing and salesEinkauf und Vertrieb | €5,414 |
| TradingHandel | €3,944 |
| Real estate and facility managementImmobilienwirtschaft und Facility-Management | €4,243 |
Retail sales
Group median €3,126 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| General retail salesVerkauf (ohne Produktspezialisierung) | €3,216 |
| Retail sales of clothing, electronics, cars and hardwareVerkauf von Bekleidung, Elektronik, Kfz, Hartwaren | €3,306 |
| Food retail salesVerkauf von Lebensmitteln | €2,700 |
| Retail sales of drugstore, pharmacy and medical goodsVerkauf v. drogerie- u.apoth. Waren, Medizinbedarf | €3,107 |
Tourism, hotels and restaurants
Group median €2,902 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| Tourism and sportTourismus und Sport | €3,370 |
| HotelsHotellerie | €2,967 |
| Restaurants and cateringGastronomie | €2,796 |
| Event service and managementVeranstaltungsservice und -management | €3,696 |
Business management and organisation
Group median €5,000 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| Managing directors and executive boardsGeschäftsführung und Vorstand | €8,555 |
| Legislators and interest group officialsAngehörige gesetzg. Körperschaften, Interessenorg. | €6,250 |
| Business organisation and strategyUnternehmensorganisation und -strategie | €5,563 |
| Office and secretarial workBüro und Sekretariat | €3,860 |
| Human resourcesPersonalwesen und -dienstleistung | €5,000 |
Finance, accounting and tax consulting
Group median €5,131 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| Insurance and financial servicesVersicherungs- und Finanzdienstleistungen | €5,309 |
| Accounting, controlling and auditingRechnungswesen, Controlling und Revision | €5,021 |
| Tax consultingSteuerberatung | €4,214 |
Law and public administration
Group median €4,800 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| Legal advice, the courts and legal enforcementRechtsberatung, -sprechung und -ordnung | €6,132 |
| Public administrationVerwaltung | €4,766 |
| Media, documentation and information servicesMedien-, Dokumentations- und Informationsdienste | €4,375 |
Medical and health care
Group median €4,260 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| Medical and practice assistantsArzt- und Praxishilfe | €3,162 |
| Medical laboratory workMedizinisches Laboratorium | €4,366 |
| Nursing, emergency medical services and midwiferyGesundheits-,Krankenpflege,Rettungsd.,Geburtshilfe | €4,356 |
| Human medicine and dentistryHuman- und Zahnmedizin | €8,634 |
| Veterinary medicineTiermedizin und Tierheilkunde | €5,352 |
| Psychology and non-medical psychotherapyPsychologie und nicht ärztliche Psychotherapie | €5,189 |
| Non-medical therapy and healingNicht ärztliche Therapie und Heilkunde | €3,550 |
| PharmacyPharmazie | €5,114 |
Non-medical health, body care and medical technology
Group median €3,724 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| Elderly careAltenpflege | €3,999 |
| Nutrition and health advice, wellnessErnährungs- und Gesundheitsberatung, Wellness | €4,352 |
| Body careKörperpflege | €2,414 |
| Funeral servicesBestattungswesen | €3,105 |
| Medical, orthopaedic and rehabilitation technologyMedizin-, Orthopädie- und Rehatechnik | €3,700 |
Education, social work, housekeeping and theology
Group median €4,062 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| Early education, social work and special needs careErziehung, Sozialarbeit, Heilerziehungspflege | €4,103 |
| Housekeeping and consumer adviceHauswirtschaft und Verbraucherberatung | €2,964 |
| Theology and community workTheologie und Gemeindearbeit | €5,618 |
Teaching and training
Group median €5,354 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| School teachingLehrtätigkeit an allgemeinbildenden Schulen | €5,337 |
| Vocational teaching and in-company trainingLehrtät. berufsbild.Fächer,betr.Ausb.,Betriebspäd. | €4,780 |
| University teaching and researchLehr- und Forschungstätigkeit an Hochschulen | €6,142 |
| Teaching outside schoolsLehrtätigkeit an außerschul. Bildungseinrichtungen | €4,315 |
| Driving and sports instructionFahr-, Sportunterricht an außerschul.Bildungseinr. | €3,780 |
Humanities, social sciences and economics
Group median €4,582 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| Linguistics and literary studiesSprach- und Literaturwissenschaften | €5,755 |
| HumanitiesGeisteswissenschaften | €5,174 |
| Social sciencesGesellschaftswissenschaften | €4,357 |
| EconomicsWirtschaftswissenschaften | €6,987 |
Advertising, marketing, commercial and editorial media
Group median €4,893 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| Advertising and marketingWerbung und Marketing | €4,912 |
| Public relationsÖffentlichkeitsarbeit | €5,575 |
| Publishing and media managementVerlags- und Medienwirtschaft | €4,267 |
| Editing and journalismRedaktion und Journalismus | €4,760 |
Product design and crafts
Group median €3,527 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| Product and industrial designProdukt- und Industriedesign | €5,761 |
| Interior design and visual merchandisingInnenarchitektur, vis. Marketing, Raumausstattung | €3,505 |
| Crafts and fine artKunsthandwerk und bildende Kunst | €3,450 |
| Ceramic and glass artKunsthandwerkliche Keramik- und Glasgestaltung | €3,223 |
| Metal artKunsthandwerkliche Metallgestaltung | €3,211 |
| Musical instrument makingMusikinstrumentenbau | €2,800 |
Performing arts and entertainment
Group median €4,364 a month.
| Occupation | Median gross |
|---|---|
| Music, singing and conductingMusik-, Gesangs- und Dirigententätigkeiten | €5,703 |
| Acting, dance and movement artsSchauspiel, Tanz und Bewegungskunst | €4,495 |
| Presenting and entertainmentModeration und Unterhaltung | €4,236 |
| Theatre, film and television productionTheater-, Film- und Fernsehproduktion | €4,400 |
| Event, camera and sound technologyVeranstaltungs-, Kamera- und Tontechnik | €3,988 |
| Stage and costume design, propsBühnen- und Kostümbildnerei, Requisite | €3,925 |
| Museum technology and managementMuseumstechnik und -management | €4,183 |
Source: © Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis), 2026, table 62361-0030, Verdiensterhebung. Data licence Germany attribution 2.0. Data changed: armed forces rows left out, and English occupation names are our own translation. Cells withheld by Destatis are left out. All data sources.