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Germany’s 2026 Salary Report: Median €53,900, Stark Regional and Gender Gaps

An incoming EU pay-transparency directive in 2026 is set to increase disclosure and scrutiny of disparities.

Overview

  • Based on more than 1.3 million entries, Stepstone reports a national gross median of €53,900 for full-time workers.
  • Medical roles lead the pay table with physicians at a €105,500 median, while sales and HR leaders reach roughly €88,000–€92,000, engineers €75,000 and IT roles €66,750.
  • Western states post a €56,250 median versus €48,750 in the east, with city medians of €64,750 in Munich, €64,000 in Frankfurt, €60,000 in Hamburg and about €51,250 in Leipzig.
  • Women earn a €50,500 median versus €55,900 for men, an unadjusted gap of 9.7%, and women in comparable roles still make about five percent less.
  • Industry and employer size drive large differences, with banks (€70,250), aerospace (€68,000), insurance (€66,500) and pharma/research (~€66,250) high on pay, large firms above €5,000 staff at ~€63,000 versus ~€48,800 in small firms, and degrees plus leadership responsibility lifting medians.