A person working in Engineering in Germany typically earns around 3,220 EUR per month. Salaries range from 1,020 EUR (lowest average) to 6,800 EUR (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different Engineering careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.
Job Title | Average Salary |
Acoustics Engineer | 3,200 EUR |
Assembly Engineering Technician | 2,610 EUR |
Assistant Chief Engineer | 3,720 EUR |
Associate Engineer | 2,860 EUR |
Autocad Operator | 2,120 EUR |
Automation Engineer | 3,430 EUR |
Avionic System Support Engineer | 3,070 EUR |
Biochemical Engineer | 2,910 EUR |
BMS Engineer | 2,900 EUR |
Bridge and Lock Tender | 1,830 EUR |
Broadcast Engineer | 3,080 EUR |
CAD Design Engineer | 3,220 EUR |
CAD Designer | 2,120 EUR |
CAE Engineer | 3,080 EUR |
Ceramics Engineer | 2,980 EUR |
Civil Engineer | 3,310 EUR |
Commissioning Engineer | 3,110 EUR |
Communications Engineer | 3,680 EUR |
Condition Monitoring Engineer | 2,870 EUR |
Contract Associate Engineer | 2,960 EUR |
Control Systems Engineer | 3,040 EUR |
Controls Engineer | 3,200 EUR |
Controls Software Engineer | 2,950 EUR |
Corrosion Engineer | 3,100 EUR |
Design Engineer | 3,220 EUR |
Drafter | 2,080 EUR |
Drafting Manager | 3,740 EUR |
Drilling Engineer | 3,310 EUR |
Electrical Draughtsman | 1,720 EUR |
Electrical Engineer | 3,680 EUR |
Electrical Engineering Manager | 4,720 EUR |
Electromechanical Engineering Technologist | 3,350 EUR |
Electromechanical Equipment Assembler | 1,770 EUR |
Energy Engineer | 3,400 EUR |
Engine Assembler | 1,450 EUR |
Engineer | 3,410 EUR |
Engineering Account Manager | 3,760 EUR |
Engineering Chief Designer | 3,810 EUR |
Engineering Consultant | 4,210 EUR |
Engineering Key Account Manager | 4,710 EUR |
Engineering Lab Technician | 3,120 EUR |
Engineering Planning Manager | 4,620 EUR |
Engineering Production Manager | 5,990 EUR |
Engineering Project Analyst | 3,620 EUR |
Engineering Project Coordinator | 3,690 EUR |
Engineering Project Director | 6,310 EUR |
Engineering Project Manager | 4,370 EUR |
Engineering Research and Development Manager | 5,190 EUR |
Engineering Safety Coordinator | 2,630 EUR |
Engineering Sales Manager | 4,570 EUR |
Engineering Technician | 2,420 EUR |
Engineering Technologist | 2,590 EUR |
Environmental Engineer | 3,100 EUR |
Equipment Engineer | 2,830 EUR |
Equipment Engineering Manager | 4,440 EUR |
Estimator | 2,780 EUR |
Fabrication Specialist | 2,420 EUR |
Fabricator | 1,530 EUR |
Facade Engineer | 3,260 EUR |
Fiber Analyst | 1,910 EUR |
Field Engineer | 3,430 EUR |
Field Engineering Manager | 5,480 EUR |
Fire Engineer | 3,320 EUR |
Fitter and Turner | 1,040 EUR |
Forestry Strategic Planner | 3,620 EUR |
Generation Engineer | 3,390 EUR |
Genetic Engineer | 3,720 EUR |
Geological Engineer | 3,410 EUR |
Geotechnical Engineer | 3,390 EUR |
Heavy Equipment Mechanic | 1,710 EUR |
Highway Engineer | 3,110 EUR |
HSE Professional | 2,970 EUR |
HVAC Engineer | 3,600 EUR |
HVAC Supervisor | 2,950 EUR |
Industrial Engineer | 3,200 EUR |
Industrial Engineering Technologist | 3,090 EUR |
Instrument Engineer | 3,220 EUR |
Instrumentation and Control Engineer | 3,140 EUR |
Instrumentation Engineer | 3,140 EUR |
Instrumentation Manager | 3,340 EUR |
Irrigation Engineer | 3,170 EUR |
Licensed Aircraft Engineer | 3,600 EUR |
Locomotive Engineer | 3,280 EUR |
Maintenance Engineer | 3,000 EUR |
Maintenance Fitter | 1,140 EUR |
Maintenance Manager | 3,130 EUR |
Manufacturing Engineer | 3,020 EUR |
Marine Engineer | 3,420 EUR |
Materials Engineer | 3,270 EUR |
Materials Researcher | 3,090 EUR |
Materials Technician | 2,400 EUR |
Mechanical and Electrical Engineer | 3,570 EUR |
Mechanical Design Engineer | 3,410 EUR |
Mechanical Designer | 2,710 EUR |
Mechanical Engineer | 3,490 EUR |
Mechanical Engineering Manager | 4,510 EUR |
Mechanical Inspector | 3,140 EUR |
Mechatronics Engineer | 3,410 EUR |
Mining Engineer | 3,160 EUR |
Oil and Petrochemical Engineer | 3,720 EUR |
Optical Engineer | 3,030 EUR |
Optical Instrument Assembler | 1,710 EUR |
PCB Assembler | 1,130 EUR |
Photonics Engineer | 3,560 EUR |
Photonics Technician | 2,850 EUR |
Pipeline Engineer | 2,820 EUR |
Piping Designer | 1,820 EUR |
Piping Engineer | 3,010 EUR |
Planning Engineer | 3,390 EUR |
Pressure Vessel Inspector | 1,530 EUR |
Principal Cost Engineer | 3,220 EUR |
Principal Engineer | 3,300 EUR |
Principal Support Engineer | 3,240 EUR |
Process Engineer | 3,310 EUR |
Process Operator | 1,960 EUR |
Product Development Engineer | 3,420 EUR |
Product Development Technician | 2,310 EUR |
Product Engineer | 3,360 EUR |
Product Safety Engineer | 3,210 EUR |
Production Engineer | 3,340 EUR |
Project Engineer | 3,340 EUR |
Proposal Manager | 4,410 EUR |
Purchasing Engineer | 3,120 EUR |
Quality Assurance Engineer | 3,070 EUR |
Rail Engineer | 3,390 EUR |
Robotics Engineer | 3,560 EUR |
Robotics Technician | 2,800 EUR |
Safety Engineer | 3,300 EUR |
Safety Inspector | 2,490 EUR |
Safety Manager | 3,970 EUR |
Safety Officer | 1,710 EUR |
Sales Engineer | 3,510 EUR |
Scheduling Engineer | 3,050 EUR |
Service Engineer | 3,500 EUR |
Solar Engineer | 3,520 EUR |
Staff Engineer | 3,270 EUR |
Static Equipment Engineer | 3,310 EUR |
Stationary Engineer | 2,860 EUR |
Stress Engineer | 3,170 EUR |
Structural Analysis Engineer | 3,290 EUR |
Structural Designer | 2,790 EUR |
Structural Engineer | 3,230 EUR |
Structural Technician | 2,070 EUR |
Supply Chain Specialist | 3,060 EUR |
Surveyor | 2,560 EUR |
Technical Affairs Officer | 1,600 EUR |
Technical Assistant | 1,670 EUR |
Technical Engineer | 2,810 EUR |
Technical Support Engineer | 2,870 EUR |
Tender Engineer | 2,790 EUR |
Test Development Engineer | 3,090 EUR |
Transportation Engineer | 3,070 EUR |
Validation Engineer | 2,870 EUR |
Verification Engineer | 3,220 EUR |
Wastewater Engineer | 3,230 EUR |
Wind Energy Engineer | 3,230 EUR |
Wind Energy Operations Manager | 4,150 EUR |
Work Planner | 2,390 EUR |
Engineering salaries in Germany range from 1,020 EUR per month (minimum average salary) to 6,800 EUR per month (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher).
The median salary is 3,470 EUR per month, which means that half (50%) of people working in Engineering are earning less than 3,470 EUR while the other half are earning more than 3,470 EUR. The median represents the middle salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the group earning more than the median salary.
Closely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of people working in Engineering are earning less than 2,020 EUR while 75% of them are earning more than 2,020 EUR. Also from the diagram, 75% of people working in Engineering are earning less than 5,550 EUR while 25% are earning more than 5,550 EUR.
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both of the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people are earning more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary
The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher the wage.
Generally speaking, employees having experience from two to five years earn on average 32% more than freshers and juniors across all industries and disciplines.
Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average 36% more than those with five years or less of work experience.
As you hit the ten years mark, the salary increases by 21% and an additional 14% for those who have crossed the 15 years mark.
Those figures are presented as guidelines only. The numbers become more significant if you consider one job title at a time.
It is well known that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We compared the salaries of professionals at the same level but with different college degrees levels across many jobs, below are our findings.
Workers with a certificate or diploma earn on average 17% more than their peers who only reached the high school level.
Employees who earned a Bachelor's Degree earn 24% more than those who only managed to attain a cerificate or diploma.
Professionals who attained a Master's Degree are awarded salaries that are 29% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.
Finally, PhD holders earn 23% more than Master's Degree holders on average while doing the same job.
A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in Germany costs anywhere from 19,100 Euro(s) to 57,200 Euro(s) and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.
You can't really expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming you already have a job. In most cases, a salary review is conducted once education is completed and the degree has been attained.
Many people pursue higher education as a tactic to switch into a higher paying job. The numbers seem to support this tactic. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.
The decision really depends on your situation and experience among many other factors. Putting all variables aside, if you can afford the costs of higher education then the return on investment is definitely worth it. You should be able to recover the costs in roughly a year or so.
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male employees in Germany who work in Engineering earn 6% more than their female counterparts on average.
Male | 3,310 EUR | |
Female | -6% | 3,120 EUR |
Engineering professionals in Germany are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 9% every 15 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 8% granted to employees every 16 months.
The term 'Annual Salary Increase' usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rarely that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 ÷ Increase Frequency
Banking | 9% | |
Energy | 9% | |
Information Technology | 9% | |
Healthcare | 9% | |
Travel | 9% | |
Construction | 9% | |
Education | 9% |
Listed above are the average annual increase rates for each industry in Germany for the year 2022. Companies within thriving industries tend to provide higher and more frequent raises. Exceptions do exist, but generally speaking, the situation of any company is closely related to the economic situation in the country or region. These figures tend to change frequently.
Engineering is considered to be a moderate bonus-based field due to the generally limited involvement in direct revenue generation, with exceptions of course. The people who get the highest bonuses are usually somehow involved in the revenue generation cycle.
41% of surveyed staff in Engineering reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 59% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 2% to 7% of their annual salary.
Received Bonus | 59% | |
No Bonus | 41% |
The most standard form of bonus where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.
Goal-Based BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.
The main two types of jobs | |
Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
Example: | Example: |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fix amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.
The average salary for Engineering is 16% less than that of All Jobs.
City | Average Salary |
Where can you get paid more, working for a private company or for the government? Public sector employees in Germany earn 5% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.
Private Sector | 3,720 EUR | |
Public Sector | +5% | 3,900 EUR |