The job search portal StepStone has published its latest salary report in Germany, entitled Gehaltsreport 2025. The company's analysts processed more than one million salary data in Germany in the period from January 2022 to November 2024.
How much do people in Germany earn on average per year?
According to StepStone, the average gross (before tax) annual salary is 52,300 euros, and 45,800 euros is the median (it divides the salary vector into two equal parts). This means that half of those working in Germany earn less than 45,800 euros per year, and the other half earn more.
Less than five percent of those working in Germany are "very satisfied" with their salary, a third of respondents are "satisfied", almost half (46.5%) are dissatisfied, and about 16 percent are "not at all dissatisfied". The conclusion that follows: those dissatisfied with their salaries outnumber those satisfied.
Salary trends for 2025
The highest salaries in Germany are in Munich, which, however, also leads the ranking of German cities with the highest rents, most expensive properties and highest living costs. Thus, according to StepStone calculations, in Munich the salary is 58,000 euros per year (average value before taxes for all employed). For comparison, in Berlin it is almost 10,000 euros less - 48,250 euros, and in Dresden it is 42,000 euros. The wage gap between the east and west of the country still exists today, reaching an average of 16%, according to the 2025 Salary Report.
The following trend is clearly visible: the larger the company, the more its employees earn. In a company with 1 to 50 employees, the average salary is 40,500 euros, while in a large company with over 5,000 employees it exceeds 57,000 euros.
Another conclusion is that specialists with higher education earn more than others. One example: with a university degree in Bavaria, a person earns 65,750 euros before taxes, while those without higher education earn 46,500 euros.
Which sectors pay the best salaries?
The highest salaries in the German economy are in the banking sector - 65,500 euros per year. In second place in the sectoral comparison is the aerospace industry (62,000 euros). In third place is the pharmaceutical sector (60,750 euros). In the insurance industry, which is also among the areas with the highest salaries, the annual remuneration reaches 59,750 euros. And the chemical industry and oil refining complete the top 5: here the salary level before taxes is 58,250 euros.
The sectors with the lowest salaries in Germany are: transport and logistics, culture, sports and entertainment, crafts, agriculture, forestry and fisheries and horticulture.
In which profession do you earn the most?
In the German salary ranking by profession, doctors are the absolute leaders with a large lead over other professions. Their average annual salary before taxes is almost 100,000 euros. Doctors earn the most in the northern part of Germany - in Hamburg (101,500 euros), and the least in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate - 93,500 euros.
Of course, a doctor's salary varies significantly depending on professional experience. A doctor with more than 25 years of experience earns over 128,000 euros. A junior doctor with less than a year of experience receives 62,000 euros. Overall, salaries are higher in the healthcare sector (97,750 euros) than in the medical technology sector (85,750 euros).
Gender and pay
The pay gap between women and men remains one of the negative trends in terms of wages in Germany. The average difference is 12.4%.
In the medical profession, gender inequality looks like this: male doctors earn 27% more than female doctors - this is the largest difference. Next - with a 25% difference in pay - is the field of sales and distribution. In most other sectors of the economy, incomes are almost equal.