Entry into business or administration
Software developers choose to work in public administration or in a private company. Authorities develop their own software in many areas and often work together in a network of administrations. Software developers are therefore also in demand in the public sector and are often subjected to the same level of performance and success pressure as those working in private companies. Salaries for a software developer in the public service are bindingly specified in the collective agreements for public servants (TVoeD, TV-L)
(Source: oeffentlicher-dienst.info, valid 2015):
- Monthly starting salary with a bachelor's degree or advanced technical college diploma: €3,022–3,129
- Monthly starting salary with a master's degree: €3,489.
According to gehaltsvergleich.com, the average starting salary of a software developer in the private sector is also approximately €3,200 gross per month and is therefore lower than a civil servant's earnings in some cases.
Professional experience and personal responsibility pay off
Professional experience and personal responsibility have a greater impact on salary than graduation. For example, the monthly gross salary for software developers increases in line with professional experience as follows:
According to computerwoche.de, software developers with personal responsibility are categorised in significantly higher salary bands. If they manage their own team, they can earn up to €90,000 per annum.
Software developer in Germany – salaries also industry-specific
Salary differences between the various industries in the private sector are particularly high. According to data from computerwoche.de, software developers receive exceptionally high salaries with annual incomes between €60,000 and €65,000 in major banks, insurance companies and medical technology companies. In education and research institutions, advertising or PR salaries are significantly lower at €43,000 to €46,000 annually. In general, salaries are also generally said to be higher in the metalworking industry due to the collective bargaining policy in the industry compared to, for example, retail or construction.
Company location and company size influence salary
Smaller companies pay software developers a salary that is significantly lower than in large companies. The difference between the salaries paid by a company with up to 500 employees and one with more than 1,000 employees can be as high as €800 gross monthly. The location of the company also plays a crucial role when it comes to salaries, as demonstrated by the following overview at gehaltsvergleich.com.