AI Expertise Now Boosts Salaries by 17% While Translators Lose 30%: German Pay Report
Published on 06/29/2026 at 13:04 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
A new Stepstone salary report covering data from January 2022 to November 2025 reveals sharp divergence in German earnings: workers with artificial-intelligence skills are pulling ahead, while those in roles vulnerable to automation face double-digit declines.
In the technology sector, 76% of IT companies now pay higher wages to employees with AI proficiency. Engineers specializing in AI earn around €77,800, and someone changing jobs with AI expertise can expect an average wage premium of 17.3%. The median salary across the entire IT sector stands at €66,750. By contrast, translators earn roughly 30% less than before the AI boom, and general writing jobs have seen drops of up to 40%.
Top earners and regional leaders
At the top of the pay scale, chief physicians lead with about €200,000. They are followed by specialists in internal medicine (€102,500) and, outside medicine, chief information security officers at €117,250, patent attorneys (€104,750), and auditors (€102,250). The top 1% of all employees earn a median of €139,000, while the top 10% take home at least €87,000.
Managerial responsibility remains a strong driver: among executives with more than 100 direct reports, nearly one-third earn over €100,000. Geographically, Hamburg, Hesse, Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria top the regional rankings. By industry, banks lead with a median of €70,250, followed by aerospace and insurance.
Defence and software: two growth sectors compared
The defence industry, a booming sector, offers competitive pay. At Munich-based KNDS, department heads earn over €112,000, while project managers and development engineers make just under €80,000. Collective-bargaining agreements and large order books also guarantee Christmas and holiday bonuses.
In software development, the average salary is €60,700. Entry-level positions start at around €51,400, and experienced developers with ten years on the job reach about €73,400. Software architects climb to approximately €83,700. The gender pay gap persists: men earn an average of €61,400, women €58,000. Munich and Stuttgart lead among German cities.
Minimum wage climb and political talks
At the lower end of the income scale, changes are coming. The statutory minimum wage is set to rise to €13.90 on 1 January 2026, with a further increase to €14.60 planned for 2027. Up to 6.6 million workers stand to benefit, particularly in eastern Germany and the service sector.
Parallel political negotiations are under way. A coalition committee is scheduled for Wednesday to discuss pensions, health care and taxes. Reforms to stabilise the pension system and adjustments in health-care provision are expected to be settled by mid-July. Chancellor Merz expressed confidence ahead of the talks.
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