Mechanical Engineer

Salary band

Base salary, gross annual

25th percentile

€52,000

Median

€65,000

75th percentile

€85,000

For reference: the statutory minimum wage in Germany has stood at €13.90 gross per hour since January 1, 2026 — roughly €2,410 gross a month for a full-time role at 40 hours/week. (BMAS: Mindestlohn steigt zum 1. Januar 2026 auf 13,90 Euro)

Gross fixed salary per year for a Mechanical Engineer with 3-8 years of experience at a German SMB (50-500 employees). Southern Germany (Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria) and the greater Stuttgart area pull the range up by 8-12 %; structurally weaker regions and eastern Germany pull it down by 5-10 %. Profiles bound by an IG Metall Tarifvertrag (collective agreement, especially ERA grades EG 10 to EG 12) sit at the top of the range and enjoy regulated special payments (Urlaubsgeld vacation pay, Weihnachtsgeld Christmas bonus, T-Zug). Profiles specialized in FEM simulation, lightweight design, drive or gearbox technology also sit at the top. The role has no structural variable component; some companies pay a project-completion bonus of 3-5 % on achieved design or production-launch milestones.

Sources: Destatis Verdiensterhebung Ingenieurberufe (April 2025); StepStone Gehaltsreport Maschinenbauingenieur Deutschland 2026; VDI Ingenieurmonitor und VDI-Gehaltstest 2026; IG Metall ERA-Entgelttabelle Baden-Württemberg 2026