ChatGPT
Perplexity
Claude
Grok
In today's digitalized world, the profession of software developer is more in demand than ever. But what about the salary for software developers? After all, companies in all sectors need qualified specialists in order to remain competitive and develop innovative solutions. That should be worth something to them.
In this article, we therefore take a detailed look at the current (as of 2025/2026) earning opportunities for software developers in Germany. We look at starting salaries, salary trends, regional differences and various specializations.
We also take a look at the future prospects in this area, particularly with regard to advancing digitalization and the influence of artificial intelligence.
Whether you want to discover your dream job, realign your career or need a basis for your next salary negotiation - here you will find everything you need to make an informed decision.
By the way: thanks to education vouchers, you can even get your further education free of charge under certain conditions.
What does a software developer earn?
To answer this question, we have divided the topic into two areas:
- Factors that influence your career decision but that you cannot change yourself (such as regional and industry differences - for example, you could move and choose a specific industry)
- Factors that you can use to actively support your career decision (a specialized qualification takes longer, but brings a higher starting salary).
Starting salary software developer
Current figures for junior positions
StepStone - Junior Developer / Junior Software Developer
- According to StepStone, the salary for „Junior Developer“ is: Ø €41,200/year.
- Salary range at StepStone: €35,200 to €49,300/year.
- StepStone gives regional averages for „Junior software developer“. This varies depending on the federal state: e.g. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania ~ €36,600, Hesse ~ €46,000.
Glassdoor - Junior Software Engineer
- According to Glassdoor, the typical gross basic salary is €46,000 to €55,250/year.
- According to Glassdoor, the average is around €50,480/year (basic salary).
- Additional remuneration (bonuses, benefits) is typically stated at around €2,000/year.
PayScale - Junior Software Engineer
- According to PayScale, the average annual starting salary is €46,648/year.
- Range according to PayScale: approx. 31,000 € to 56,000 €/year, depending on profile.
GermanTechJobs - Junior Software Developer
- GermanTechJobs states a typical salary of ≈52,500 €/year for Junior Software Engineers.
- According to their data, however, there are strong downward and upward outliers („most of the salaries are between 17,500 € and 65,000 €/year“), which points to very different company sizes, jobs and part-time roles.
Interpretation & conclusion
- Realistic range: For junior software developers in Germany, an annual salary of approx. 41,000 € to ~55,000 € is very typical, depending on the source and region.
- Most favorable cases: In some (smaller or structurally weaker) regions or companies, the starting salary can also be below ~ € 40,000 (StepStone gives € 35,200 as the lower value).
- „Higher entry level“: At good companies, in highly sought-after tech locations or with very good qualifications, the entry level can be closer to ~ €55,000 (Glassdoor).
- Bonuses + additional remuneration: These can increase the salary somewhat, but are still relatively moderate for many junior positions (e.g. ~ €2,000/year according to Glassdoor).
In which industry do you earn the most as a software developer?
A decisive factor is the industry in which you work. In the IT and software sector (traditional tech companies), salaries are often higher across all experience levels than in purely product-oriented industries. According to StepStone, the average annual salary for software developers in the IT industry is currently around €58,000 - €72,000, depending on experience, specialization and location.
For IT software developers in service or tech companies, StepStone quotes a typical salary range of around €43,600 to €61,300/year.
The size of the company also plays a major role in salary. Current data shows that large corporations pay significantly more than small companies. According to the StepStone Salary Report 2025, the median annual salary is €71,250 if the company has more than 5,000 employees, while for companies with only up to 50 employees, the median is €49,250/year.
| Industry | Average salary (all experience levels) |
|---|---|
| IT & Telecommunications | €58.000 - €72.000 |
| Finance & Insurance | €60.000 - €75.000 |
| Automotive industry | €55.000 - €63.000 |
| Management consultancy / Consulting | €57.000 - €66.000 |
| Industry & mechanical engineering | €52.000 - €60.000 |
| Medical technology | €60.000 - €68.000 |
| Energy industry | €50.000 - €58.000 |
| Trade | €45.000 - €52.000 |
| Education & Research | €42.000 - €48.000 |
| Sources: StepStone Salary Report 2025 ([stepstone.de](https://www.stepstone.de/gehalt/Software-Entwickler-in.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)), Absolventa Salary Report 2025 ([absolventa.de](https://www.absolventa.de/jobs/channel/it/thema/gehalt-it?utm_source=chatgpt.com)), Golem.de Summary StepStone data ([golem.de](https://www.golem.de/news/stepstone-welches-bruttogehalt-es-2025-fuer-software-entwickler-gibt-2501-192381.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) | |
Regional salary differences for software developers in Germany
Regional differences in software developer salaries in Germany are still relevant and measurable:
According to StepStone (2025), the average annual salary („median salary“) for software developers nationwide is around €51,200/year.
When broken down by federal state, StepStone shows that software developers in Bavaria earn an average of €55,250/year, while in Berlin it is around €55,000/year.
In comparison, the figures are significantly lower in structurally weaker federal states - e.g. in Saxony-Anhalt, the average salary according to StepStone is €42,480/year.
On the subject of cities: According to StepStone, there is a possible salary range for software developers in Stuttgart of €51,300 to €70,700/year, in Berlin of €46,900 to €65,500/year.
These figures show very clearly that the choice of location has a strong influence on salary - not only because of the cost of living, but also because of the regional demand for IT talent.
Why are there such clear differences within Germany?
The regional differences in salaries for software developers in Germany can be attributed to several factors. One of the main reasons is the cost of living. In metropolitan areas, rents and prices for goods and services are generally higher than in smaller towns or rural areas. To compensate for the higher costs and remain competitive, companies in these regions often offer higher salaries.
The concentration of technology companies also plays a role. Many start-ups and large tech companies have settled in cities such as Berlin, Hamburg and Munich. These companies compete for the best talent and are often willing to pay higher salaries in order to attract and retain qualified software developers.
Again, your choice of industry can influence your career path: Areas with a strong automotive, finance or research industry that rely heavily on software development tend to pay better salaries than regions with other industry focuses.
Another factor is the economic strength of the region. In regions with a strong and diversified economy, such as Baden-Württemberg or Bavaria, the demand for IT specialists is often higher than in structurally weak areas. This high demand leads to competition for talent and therefore to higher salaries. Salaries can also be more attractive near universities with strong IT faculties due to the larger talent pool.
If you are looking for more regional opportunities, it may be worth looking into structural funding: some federal states actively invest in promoting the IT sector, thereby creating incentives for companies and skilled workers. This can have an impact on regional salary dynamics.
Your level of education influences the amount of your salary
Starting salaries for software developers vary greatly depending on qualifications. According to Berufsstart, master's graduates in computer science or related subjects can expect a starting salary of around €54,500/year. For public employers or structures similar to collective agreements (TV-D), a university degree is often a prerequisite for pay grade E13, with a possible starting salary of €55,000 and more.
Bachelor's graduates start slightly lower on average: graduates in software technology start their careers at around €47,652/year, while computer science bachelor's graduates start at around €46,101/year on average.
If you start as an IT specialist straight after training, you can expect significantly lower starting salaries. Depending on the year of training, the trainee salary is between €1,272 and €1,402/month, after which the starting salary is often between €40,000 and €50,000/year, depending on the company, specialization and region.
| Qualification | Average starting salary (2024/2025) |
|---|---|
| Master's degree / university degree | €54.500 - €55.000 |
| Bachelor's degree | €46.000 - €47.650 |
| Apprenticeship (IT specialist) | €40.000 - €50.000 |
| Note: The values are average values and may vary depending on region, company size and specialization. Sources: Master's / university degree - Berufsstart.de, Master's E13 entry - Academics.de, Bachelor's - Berufsstart.de, IT specialist training (trainee salary) - Azubi.de, IT specialist training (starting salary) - Ausbildung.de | |
Even higher qualifications, such as a doctorate, are less common in software development, but can be an advantage in certain areas, such as research and development or academic positions, and can lead to higher salaries.
However, it is important to note that a university degree is not a must for a successful career as a software developer. Many companies place more emphasis on practical skills, experience and the ability to quickly familiarize yourself with new technologies.
Through continuous further training, certifications and working on their own projects, software developers without a university degree can also improve their career opportunities and earning potential.
Salary development for software developers
A career change into software development can still be worthwhile in 2025/26 - salaries rise significantly with increasing professional experience. According to the Hays IT Salary Report 2025, the salary of IT specialists with two to five years of experience is around €55,500/year, with more than ten years of professional experience it is around €69,900/year.
For junior developers (less experience), StepStone reports an average salary of €47,200/year for 2025. On the other hand, Glassdoor reports ranges of €68,000-78,000/year for software developers with 4-6 years of experience.
Software engineers with many years of experience (≥ 10 years) earn an average of €64,500/year according to Kununu. This shows that although the increase in salary is slowing down, it is still noticeable with increasing experience.
Salary peaks are possible, especially with specialization: According to Kununu, the average salary of Python developers in Germany is €53,300/year, with entry-level values starting at around €49,200 (less than 3 years of experience) and slight increases with longer experience. According to Kununu, backend developers also earn an average of €59,400/year.
Is it worth specializing as a software developer?
Specialized skills and knowledge in certain areas of software development can have a strong impact on salary. Software developers with expertise in sought-after areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), cyber security, cloud computing or data science are usually in particularly high demand and can earn above-average salaries.
AI specialists are in demand across all industries as companies increasingly rely on AI-based solutions to optimize their processes and develop new business models. Cybersecurity experts are urgently needed given the growing threat of cyberattacks and data breaches. Cloud specialists are important as more and more companies move their IT infrastructure and applications to the cloud. And data scientists play a key role in analyzing and using the enormous amounts of data generated in the digitalized world.
These specializations often require additional training, certifications and practical experience. However, software developers who invest in these sought-after skills can expect a significant salary advantage.
StackFuel offers further training and certificates in all areas. The courses often include practical projects with industry partners and are even free of charge with an education voucher.
Future prospects and effects of digitalization
The demand for software developers in Germany remains high and is expected to continue to rise in the future. The advancing digitalization in all areas of life requires innovative software solutions and qualified specialists who can develop and implement them.
In Germany in particular, there is still a great need for action in the digitalization of administration and public services. In an EU comparison Germany is only in 14th place. The German government has set itself the goal of changing this and driving forward the digitalization of the state and administration. This will require many software developers in the coming years.
The influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on software development will also continue to increase in the future. AI-based tools and automation solutions will make the development process more efficient and open up new possibilities. However, AI will not replace the profession of software developer, but rather complement and support it. Software developers who train and specialize in this area will be in particularly high demand in the future.
Recommendations for action and conclusion
Salaries for software developers in Germany are attractive and offer good prospects for the future.
To enter this exciting and promising profession and be successful, you absolutely need a solid qualification. A degree in computer science or training as an IT specialist is a good basis. Additional skills, for example in programming languages such as Python or Java or in database technologies such as SQL, are an advantage and can have a positive impact on your salary.
StackFuel can provide you with valuable support here. With practice-oriented training courses such as the Python Programmer or you can further your education in a targeted manner and increase your chances of finding a well-paid job in software development.
The high demand for qualified software developers in Germany will continue to rise in view of the advancing digitalization and the influence of AI. Companies in all sectors are desperately looking for specialists who can develop and implement innovative software solutions. The digitalization of government and administration in particular will require many software developers in the coming years.
With the right qualifications, continuous training and a little experience, you can earn a very attractive salary as a software developer in Germany not only today, but also in the future, and work in an exciting and promising profession.
