What is the average salary for an engineering student looking for a job?

In Germany, average salaries for engineering students vary depending on Werkstudent and graduate positions.

#Werkstudent Salaries (Engineering Student)

#Average Hourly Rate

• Mechanical Engineering: 16-22 €
• Electrical Engineering: 18-24 €
• Computer Engineering: 18-28 €
• Automotive Engineering: 17-23 €
• Chemical Engineering: 16-22 €
• Civil Engineering: 14-19 €
• Industrial Engineering: 17-22 €

#Monthly (20 hours/week = 80 hours/month)

#Praktikum (Internship) Salaries

#Mandatory Internship (Pflichtpraktikum)

• Monthly 800-1,200 € (no legal minimum for mandatory internships)
• Varies by sector
• Automotive: 1,000-1,500 €

#Voluntary Internship (Freiwilliges Praktikum)

• Mindestlohn (minimum wage) applies
• 2026: ~12.41 €/hour
• Monthly (40 hours/week) = 1,980 €

#Salary Based on Company Type

#Premium Companies (BMW, Daimler, Bosch, Siemens, SAP)

• Werkstudent: 18-25 €/hour
• Praktikum: 1,200-1,800 €/month
• Graduate (Entry Level): 55-75K €/year

#Mid-sized Companies (Continental, Schaeffler, Mahle)

• Werkstudent: 15-20 €/hour
• Praktikum: 1,000-1,400 €/month
• Graduate: 48-60K €/year

#Small-Medium Sized / Startups

• Werkstudent: 13-18 €/hour
• Praktikum: 800-1,200 €/month
• Graduate: 42-55K €/year

#Public Sector / Universität (Hilfskraft)

• Hourly: 12-18 € (TV-L tariff)
• Monthly (5-10 hours/week): 600-1,200 €

#City-Based Salary Differences

#Premium Cities

• München: 15-20% higher (automotive hub)
• Stuttgart: 10-15% higher (Daimler, Porsche)
• Frankfurt: 10-15% higher (finance + services)
• Hamburg: 5-10% higher

#Mid-range Cities

• Berlin: Medium (startup-heavy)
• Düsseldorf, Köln: Medium

#Low-Cost Cities

• Leipzig, Dresden, Halle: 15-20% lower (aligned with cost of living)
• NRW smaller cities (Bochum, Wuppertal): 10-15% lower

#Post-Graduation Salary (Engineering)

#Sector-Based

#Automotive (BMW, Daimler, Audi, Porsche)

• Bachelor Graduate: 50-60K €/year
• Master Graduate: 55-70K €/year
• 5-10 Years Experience: 75-100K €/year

#Industry / Manufacturing (Siemens, Bosch, Continental)

• Bachelor: 48-58K €/year
• Master: 55-65K €/year
• 5-10 Years: 70-90K €/year

#Computer Engineering / Software

• Bachelor: 50-65K €/year
• Master: 55-75K €/year
• 5-10 Years: 80-110K €/year

#Electrical / Electronics Engineering

• Bachelor: 48-60K €/year
• Master: 55-65K €/year
• 5-10 Years: 70-95K €/year

#Chemical / Process Engineering

• Bachelor: 50-60K €/year
• Master: 55-65K €/year
• 5-10 Years: 75-95K €/year

#Civil Engineering

• Bachelor: 42-55K €/year
• Master: 48-60K €/year
• 5-10 Years: 60-85K €/year

#Engineering for the EU Blue Card

#Blue Card Threshold (2026)

• General: €50,700/year
• Reduced threshold: €45,934.20/year — for the occupational groups listed in § 18g (including engineering) and for graduates whose degree is no more than 3 years old, with Federal Employment Agency approval
• Source: (BMI notice BAnz AT 18.12.2025 B3, checked 15.10.2026)

#Engineering Blue Card Status

• Engineers belong to the occupational groups listed in § 18g for the reduced threshold (ISCO group 21)
• For 2026 the €45,934.20/year threshold can apply
• With a recognised degree and a job offer that matches your qualification you can apply for a Blue Card; it is not granted just because of the salary

#Blue Card Advantages

• 4 years + extension (5+ years)
• Niederlassungserlaubnis after 21 months (with German A1)
• After 33 months (lower language proficiency)
• Family reunification facilitated

#Gender Pay Gap (Germany)

• In Germany, the Gender Pay Gap is around 17% (engineering sector)
• Frauen-MINT programs + mentoring for women engineers
• Companies have targets for 30%+ women

#Salary Negotiation

#Negotiation for Werkstudent Positions

• Standard position: present a competing offer
• Request a salary increase 1-2 times per year
• Salary difference between Master's and Bachelor's students 10-15%

#Negotiation for Graduate Positions

• Use Glassdoor + Kununu salary data
• "10% above" initial offer
• Evaluate the company's total package (bonus, shares, additional leave)

#Practical Advice

#Werkstudent Position Negotiation

• If the initial Werkstudent offer is 18 €/hour → ask for 20 €/hour
• With arguments like experience + language + GPA
• Companies are generally willing to give an additional 5-15%

#Graduate Position Negotiation

• Aim for a salary above the Blue Card threshold
• If you have a Master's, aim for +5K €/year compared to a Bachelor's
• Annual bonus 5-15% (depending on sector)

#Sector Trends (2026)

#Rising Sectors

• E-Mobility + Electric Vehicles (BMW, VW, Mercedes-EQ)
• Artificial Intelligence + Autonomous Driving (Mercedes-Benz AG, BMW Group)
• Industry 4.0 (Siemens, Bosch)
• Green Energy (RWE, Siemens Energy)

#In-demand Positions

• Software Development (in every company)
• Data Scientist (automotive + insurance)
• Embedded Systems (automotive)
• AI/ML Engineer

#Important Notes

• German is not mandatory for the Blue Card — but B1+ is recommended for daily life
• The combination of Master's + Werkstudent + thesis in a company is the strongest graduation profile
• Salaries for non-EU citizens might be lower (visa sponsorship is an added value)

Related: Werkstudent | Job Search Visa.