Software developer in Germany: salary, recognition and route

What you do in this job

For the pay figures, the Entgeltatlas counts employees at expert level (as a rule with a degree). The German vocational training occupation in this field is called Fachinformatiker/in – Anwendungsentwicklung (IT specialist for application development).

Software developer pay – by federal state

The figures come from the Entgeltatlas (pay atlas) of the Federal Employment Agency: median gross monthly pay of employees in full-time work, reference date 31.12.2025, across all age groups and industries. Half earn more than the median, half earn less. Your pay depends on the employer, collective agreement, experience and region; after tax and social insurance, less is left as net pay.

Work out your net pay: income tax calculator of the Federal Ministry of Finance (in German)

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Recognition of your qualification

Software development is not a regulated occupation in Germany; for the training occupation Fachinformatiker/in – Anwendungsentwicklung, the Federal Employment Agency states explicitly “not regulated” (equivalence: Chambers of Industry and Commerce, applications via IHK FOSA). If you come from the EU or the EEA, or already hold a residence permit in Germany, you can work without recognition. To enter from another country, your university degree must be comparable to a German one – the anabin database shows this, otherwise the ZAB certificate assessment.

Your route to Germany – depending on where you come from

• From the EU or the EEA You do not need a visa or a residence permit and may work as an employee in Germany. If you live here, you still register your address.
• From Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia or Serbia Under the Western Balkans rule, any employment is possible with the approval of the Federal Employment Agency, even without a skilled-worker qualification. The approval is given with a priority check (whether Germans or foreigners with priority are available for the job). The number of approvals per year is limited, and the first approval is only given if you apply at the German mission abroad in your country.
• From Andorra, Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, the United Kingdom or the USA The Federal Employment Agency can approve any employment – regardless of where the employer is based – with a priority check.
• From other countries: as a skilled worker with a degree or with the EU Blue Card Your university degree must be recognised or comparable to a German one – the anabin database shows this, otherwise the ZAB certificate assessment. For the EU Blue Card your salary must reach at least the statutory threshold; the German mission abroad can tell you the current value. The job offer must provide for at least six months of employment.
• From other countries: IT without a degree The EU Blue Card is also possible without a university degree if you will work in an IT occupation and have gained at least three years of relevant work experience at a comparable level within the last seven years; in addition there are the lower salary threshold and the approval of the Federal Employment Agency. You do not need professional recognition for this.
• Who applies? You apply for the visa yourself at the German mission abroad. There is no visa application run by the employer, as in some other countries: the company provides the job offer or employment contract and fills in the “Declaration of employment relationship” (Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis).

Which German do you need?

For the EU Blue Card there is no statutory language requirement. For skilled workers with a degree, the law names no fixed level; the German mission abroad checks whether your knowledge fits the job. Which language is spoken in the team is stated in the job ad or settled in the interview.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a software developer earn in Germany?

According to the Entgeltatlas of the Federal Employment Agency, the median gross monthly pay for full-time work is €6,301 (reference date 31.12.2025). The middle half earns between €5,034 and €7,723. Values differ by federal state – the table above shows them.

Can I come to Germany as a software developer without a degree?

Yes, via the EU Blue Card for IT specialists: you will work in an IT occupation and have gained at least three years of relevant work experience at a comparable level within the last seven years; in addition there are the lower salary threshold and the approval of the Federal Employment Agency. In the route for experienced workers, too, the requirement of a vocational qualification does not apply in IT occupations.

Can I work as a software developer in Germany without German?

For skilled workers with vocational training or a degree, the law sets no fixed language level; the German mission abroad checks case by case whether your knowledge fits the job. Whether an employer hires you without German is the employer's own decision.

Related occupations

• Electrical engineer
• Mechanical engineer
• Mechatronics technician

More on this

• Recognition of qualifications
• Arrival & daily life

Sources

• BERUFENET – Softwareentwickler/in
• Entgeltatlas – Softwareentwickler/in
• § 18g AufenthG – Blaue Karte EU (auch IT ohne Studium)
• § 6 BeschV – Berufserfahrung
• ZAB – Zeugnisbewertung
• § 2a FreizügG/EU – EU- und EWR-Bürger
• § 26 BeschV – Westbalkan und weitere Staaten
• Anerkennung in Deutschland – Anerkennungs-Finder

Last checked: 9 October 2026