Choosing a major is an investment in the future. And in Germany, this investment pays off: university graduates already earn significantly more at the start of their careers than those without a higher education. According to the job portal Stepstone, the median starting salary with a degree is 47,000 euros gross per year, without a degree — 38,400 euros. The difference is 22%.
But there is also a big gap among graduates. The highest starting salaries are earned by medical professionals, lawyers, IT and specialists and engineers.
Not sure which direction to choose? We will discuss your interests, documents, and chances of admission.
Top 10 professions with the highest starting salary
The median salary of graduates in the first two years of employment, in gross terms per year:
- Assistant physician (Assistenzarzt immediately after six years of education) — 62 000 €
- actuary (economists/mathematicians) — 60 750 €
- Architect PO — 60 000 €
- attorney — 59 750 €
- Managing Consultant — 59 250 €
- machine learning engineer — 59 000 €
- Data Scientist — 58 750 €
- Data Engineer — 57 000 €
- Quality engineer — 56 500 €
- Engineer-developer — 56 250 €
Medicine
Assistant doctors—young doctors undergoing specialty training at a clinic—top the ranking. Medicine combines high starting salaries with long-term stability: Germany’s population is aging, and the need for doctors is growing. The downside is high competition for admission.
What to study: medicine, dentistry, pharmacy.
IT and data
Half of the top 10 are somehow related to AI IT. Software architects, machine learning engineers, data scientists, and data engineers are in demand in all industries—from automotive to banking. Artificial intelligence and digitalization make this field one of the most promising.
What to study: Computer Science, Data Science, Business Informatics (Wirtschaftsinformatik).
Mathematics and Finance
Actuaries—experts in insurance mathematics who assess risks and build financial models—occupy second place in the ranking. This is a good choice for those who are strong in mathematics and statistics.
What to study: mathematics, statistics, economic mathematics (Wirtschaftsmathematik).
Engineering
Technical professions remain a guarantee of good income and a stable career. Quality engineers and development engineers round out the top 10, and demand for skilled engineers in Germany remains high.
What to study: mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, mechatronics, industrial engineering (Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen).
Economy and consulting
Management consultants usually start in consulting firms and help businesses develop strategies. The typical path is economics (VWL), enterprise economics (BWL), or a related program.
What to study: VWL, BWL, management, business analytics.
Right
Lawyers are among the highest-paid professionals, but the path is long: they have to pass two state exams in German law. For foreigners, this is only really possible with unrestricted German language skills.
We will customize programs to suit your profile: with or without a competition, in German or English, via studienkolleg or directly.
Bachelor's or Master's degree?
Graduates with master's degrees are more likely to work in the highest-paid professions. Therefore, continuing your studies after a bachelor's degree often makes sense. Further income growth depends on the industry, experience, and managerial responsibilities.
Why a German diploma works for you
- Education at state universities is free; only the semester fee is paid.
- German diplomas are recognized in the EU and highly valued outside of it
- During studies, you can work and gain experience in your field of study
- After the end of the program, you can obtain a permanent residence permit for 18 months to find a job.
- Graduates of German universities have easier access to a work residence permit and the EU Blue Card
What we help with
- matching specialties and universities to your profile
- submission of applications, including through uni-assist
- verification and preparation of documents, certified translation of the certificate
- resume and motivation letter
- Appeals against refusals uni-assist
- Visa support, blocked account, medical insurance
- Applications to dormitories
- Support after moving
Start with a consultation: we’ll discuss which direction is right for you and how to get there.
Source: Stepstone – Entry salary: Which degree earns the most money?
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