Mid-level salaries by role and city (€ gross per year)
Mid-level means roughly 3–5 years of relevant experience. Each figure is the middle of a typical range; individual offers commonly sit 10–15% either side, depending on company size, industry and collective agreements (Tarifvertrag).
How to read these numbers
- Gross, not net. German salaries are quoted as gross annual pay (Brutto/Jahr). As a single person in tax class I, take-home is roughly 58–65% of gross. Check yours in the salary calculator.
- Company size matters as much as city. Large companies and those with collective agreements (IG Metall in automotive and engineering, public-sector TV-L/TVöD) often pay more than start-ups, especially for engineers.
- Munich pays more, but costs more. Compare what's left after rent in the city budget simulator before choosing a city for salary alone.
- Blue Card thresholds are separate. €50,700 in general, €45,934.20 for shortage occupations and recent graduates. Many junior roles outside IT and engineering fall below the general threshold. Check yours in the Blue Card checker.
Negotiating as an Indian applicant
- Never convert your Indian CTC; anchor on the German range for the role and city.
- Ask for a figure comfortably above the Blue Card threshold, because thresholds rise every January.
- Ask what's included: 13th month, bonus, company pension (bAV), Jobticket, relocation support and temporary housing.
- Get the salary in the contract as a fixed gross annual amount. Variable pay doesn't count towards the threshold.
Last updated: 11 October 2026. Estimates only. Not official advice. Always verify with official sources. Ranges are DET estimates compiled from public salary surveys, collective-agreement tables and job ads; they are not a guarantee of any offer. Doctors (residents) and research staff follow public-sector pay scales; nursing pay often follows TVöD-P or similar tables.