The Highest-paying Degrees in Germany | expatrio.com (2024)

The decision to pursue a college degree is probably the best one you can make after high school. There are many benefits of continuing your education and maybe the most obvious one is that a university degree will help you to live a better life. Simple as that.

With higher education, you will have more chances to find a great job with a better salary. Even though there is more to happiness than just having money, we can all agree that our general well-being is significantly impacted by our work lives.

It is not a secret that the education system is not equally good in all parts of the world. While many students believe that the best options for international students are in the UK or the USA, there are more great countries to study abroad.

One of the destinations that are becoming more and more popular is Germany.

International students are drawn to Germany because of the excellent education opportunities, exciting and rich urban and cultural life, and reasonable living costs. On average, students can get by on €800 per month.

If you decide to study in Germany it would be wise to learn which degrees are opening the best job opportunities, or in other words what are the highest-paying degrees in Germany. Keep reading and discover some of the best ones.

Medicine and Dentistry

A degree in the medical or dental field can be very rewarding. It’s an important profession with a wide range of high-paying careers. According to Academics, the average salary of a medical or dentistry graduate is around €80,000 per year.

It is important to point out that physicians earn more than any other degree course right from the beginning of the career - with salaries of around €50,000 annually.

Of course, the salary in the field highly depends on people’s experience and expertise and it can go up to six digits numbers. For example, surgeons can earn up to €22,500 per month due to the high demands of the job.

Computer science

It is no secret that developing and improving software today is a skill that is highly valued and marketable. Experts in the field can find jobs in different industries since technology is becoming an essential part of all things.

The digital transformation is changing the business world and job opportunities for computer science graduates are increasing from day to day.

It is no wonder that a computer science degree pays around €65,000 per year!

Law

People who decide to become lawyers or judges in Germany are bound to have a high-paying job. The average salary of lawyers and judges in Germany is around €74,000 per year which puts them in the category of high-earners.

One of the reasons for that is the very demanding process of becoming a lawyer or a judge in Germany. The first step for future legal practitioners is to pursue a university degree in law. After that, the candidate must complete a two-year apprenticeship and take the state exam or the German bar exam.

High standards in German law education can be the reason why Germany is one of the countries with the best justice system in the world.

Business & Economics

Business & Economics is a broad field with a wide variety of job opportunities. If you decide to pursue a bachelor's degree in business & economics you are building a strong foundation that can forward your career in multiple different ways.

Depending on your personal interests and skills there is a whole set of possible job opportunities. You could become a business consultant, financial analyst, sales manager, or start your own business.

Either way, your business skills will be rewarded, and depending on the job position, people with a bachelor’s of business can earn around €70,000 per year in Germany.

Marketing

Getting a bachelor's degree in marketing also brings many job opportunities. In today’s world job opportunities for aspiring marketers are bigger than ever before.

Digital marketing is on the rise and on the job market there is a high demand for skilled professionals. Two decades ago we didn’t know “content marketers”, “SEO specialists” and “Social media managers”. Today companies highly rely on their skills and knowledge.

According to Salary Explorer, a person working as a marketing manager in Germany earns around €6,880 per month. Salaries range from €37,000 per year for entry positions to €130,000 for experienced marketers.

Industrial Engineering

Industrial engineers are focused on determining more efficient production processes in factories.

With a degree in industrial engineering, these professionals are known for maximizing productivity and reducing production issues in factories.

All businesses strive to be as efficient as possible so this is maybe why people with a degree in industrial engineering get paid from €38,400 to €60.960 per year in Germany.

Human resources

A career in human resources could also be very rewarding. It is an area with great earnings potential and creativity.

The profession has dramatically evolved in the last two decades - from a purely administrative role to becoming the driving force in different organizations. HR managers are managing the most valuable capital of every company - their people.

This is why their role is crucial for the overall business success of each company. To gain skills required in such a demanding environment HR managers must pursue formal education.

Getting at least a bachelor's degree in human resource management will be crucial to kickstart a career in the sector. The average yearly salary in the sector is around €63,000 and with years of expertise in the sector that salary can grow up to €120.000 per year.

Final Thoughts

Germany is a large economy offering a lot of opportunities to its citizens but also to international workers.

As one of the biggest EU economies, Germany is struggling to maintain the current number of employed people in Germany due to demographic conditions. So there is a real need to attract international workers. The unemployment rate for graduates is the lowest in Europe and the country employs a lot of international workers in all fields - from healthcare to marketing.

If you plan to study in Germany there is a big possibility you will find a job here. Whatever of the mentioned degrees you choose - there is no question that you will quickly find a stable and well-paid job in your field.

The Highest-paying Degrees in Germany | expatrio.com (2024)

FAQs

The Highest-paying Degrees in Germany | expatrio.com? ›

In Germany, the highest-paid professions are predominantly found in the medical, engineering, and financial fields. To secure these top-paying positions, having a degree relevant to your field is essential, as unskilled jobs generally don't offer competitive salaries.

Which degree pays the most in Germany? ›

Highest paid jobs in Germany 2024
DegreeAverage Annual Salary in EURO
1.Medicine and Healthcare€65,000
2.Engineering profession€65,371
3Law€75,000
4.Information Technology€55,914
4 more rows
Feb 1, 2024

Which field has the highest salary in Germany? ›

In Germany, the highest-paid professions are predominantly found in the medical, engineering, and financial fields. To secure these top-paying positions, having a degree relevant to your field is essential, as unskilled jobs generally don't offer competitive salaries.

Which degree is best for future in Germany? ›

The Highest-paying Degrees in Germany
  • Medicine and Dentistry.
  • Computer science.
  • Law.
  • Business & Economics.
  • Marketing.
  • Industrial Engineering.
  • Human resources.
  • Final Thoughts.
Feb 15, 2024

What is the top 1% salary in Germany? ›

To reach the top 1 percent of earners, you would need a monthly take-home salary of 7.190 euros. This is equivalent to an annual net income of almost 86.000 euros, after taxes, or an annual gross salary of around 150.000 euros.

Which field is in high demand in Germany? ›

Germany's rapidly growing STEM sectors include engineering, information technology, biotechnology and life sciences, data science and analytics, as well as robotics and automation. These fields attract top talent, with competitive average salaries ranging from €57,506 to €121,666 per year.

What jobs pay a lot in Germany? ›

Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in Germany
  • Pilot. Average Salary: $70,000 - $120,000. ...
  • Doctor. Average Salary: $60,000 - $90,000. ...
  • Portfolio Manager. Average Salary: $80,000 - $150,000. ...
  • Sales Manager. Average Salary: $55,000 - $110,000. ...
  • Lawyer. Average Salary: $60,000 - $145,000. ...
  • Electrical Engineer. ...
  • Project Manager. ...
  • Software Developer.
Apr 30, 2024

What is a wealthy salary in Germany? ›

In its most recent figures from December 2021, the Institute for German Economy (IW) found that a single person earning €3,700 a month after taxes qualifies as rich, as that puts them in the top ten percent of earners in the country.

What is an excellent salary in Germany? ›

A salary between €64,000 and €70,000 gross a year is considered a good salary in Germany. For a single person, this means roughly €40,000 to €43,000 euros net a year or between €3,300 and €3,600 euros net a month.

Which master's degree is most in demand in Germany? ›

What is the most demanding course in Germany for international students? Engineering is considered as one of the most demanding courses in Germany for international students. Engineering attracts almost 25% of international students to the country which signifies the popularity of the course for international students.

What is the best bachelor's degree in Germany? ›

Bachelor's degrees in Germany
  • Hospitality Management (Online) ...
  • Earth Sciences And Sustainable Management Of Environmental Resources. ...
  • Illustration. ...
  • Software Development (Online) ...
  • International Relations - Politics and History. ...
  • International Business Administration - Focus on Business Psychology. ...
  • Business (Law) (Hons)

Which field of study is Germany best for? ›

Popular Courses in Germany
  • Mechanical Engineering.
  • Automotive Engineering.
  • Electrical Engineering.
  • Mechanical Engineering.
  • Electrical Engineering.
  • Computer Engineering.
  • Aerospace Engineering.

Which degree is free in Germany? ›

Only public universities in Germany offer free tuition. Private universities are significantly more expensive and do not usually offer scholarships. However, this does not mean that your quality of education is low. It can be difficult to get into these universities as you are competing with a wide pool of candidates.

How much do you need to live comfortably in Germany? ›

All told, how high is the cost of living in Germany? According to Destatis, it adds up to €2,507 a month, with 37% of this going towards housing and energy costs and 15% on food, alcohol, and tobacco (as of September 2022). If you calculate this on an annual basis, the average cost of living in Germany is €30,084.

How much is rent in Germany? ›

The general, rough costs of living in Germany per month for a single person are as follows: Rent: from €300 (student halls or room in a shared flat) to €700+ (one-bed flat in city) Utilities: €220 (inc. internet, mobile & TV)

What is the top 5 salary in Germany? ›

Highest paying jobs in Germany
Job titleIndustryAverage Annual Salary (in EUR)
DoctorHealthcare€47,400 – €142,200
PilotAviation€27,600 – €160,900
LawyerLaw€38,000 – €146,000
Management ConsultantManagement & Business€40,200 – €141,700
6 more rows
Mar 27, 2024

What is considered a high salary in Germany? ›

While Germany remains a high-income country, disparities exist between urban and rural areas and among various industries. A salary between €64,000 and €70,000 gross a year is considered a good salary in Germany.

Which degree earns the highest salary? ›

Analysis Uncovers The Degree With The Best Earning Potential

The analysis of degrees across the UK found that medicine and dentistry offer the best earning potential of the 20 sectors studied scoring 533.32 out of 900 points.

Does having a master's degree increase your salary in Germany? ›

How does the sector affect a trainee's salary in Germany? The type of university degree has a strong influence on the salary level. An graduate trainee earns on average 9% less than a graduate with a master's degree.

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