What Is A Good Salary in Munich, Germany? 2023 Guide (2024)

What salary should you expect when applying for a job in Munich, Germany? Since German companies don’t provide information about the salary, it can be hard to figure out how much you should be making. Don’t worry, Munich has some of the highest wages in the country.

What is a good salary in Munich, Germany? A monthly net salarybetween 2,800 EUR and 3,500 EURis considered a decent wage. This corresponds to an annual gross salary of above 60,000 EUR. Everyone getting between 5,000 EUR and 6,000 EUR gross per month is a good earner.

Don’t forget that Munich is the most expensive place in Germany. Yet, it’s also the magnet for professionals from around the world, thanks to the high wages. Read this article to learn what to expect regarding salaries and costs when moving to Munich, Germany, in 2023.

Must read before moving to Munich: Pros and cons of living in Munich.

What is considered a good salary in Munich?

In Munich, a monthly net income between 3,000 EUR and 3,500 EUR is considered to be a good salary. With that income, you can afford a two-bedroom apartment not far away from the city center, eating out, and traveling around on weekends.

According to the different resources, the average salary in the Bavarian capital Munich is 59,707 EUR. Skilled workers earn an average of 59,707 EUR gross per year, while managers make 119,436 EUR. In the rest of Bavaria, specialists earn an average of 41,403 EUR and managers – 93,420 EUR.

The high cost of living in Munich is reflected in the salaries, which are some of the highest in Germany. The average salary in Munich is 5,430EUR per month before tax.

Even after paying tax, it’s still a good salary for a single person, giving you a decent standard of life. A family will likely need two incomes to have a good standard of living.

Common expenses in Munich for people with different income levels

Munich has some of the best universities in the country. Hence, the number of students living in the city is significant.

Furthermore, not everyone earns an average salary, some people have to live on less. And there are also many people making good money of around 5,000 EUR per month.

Average salary in Munich, Germany in 2022

According to Gehaltsatlas 2022, the average gross salary in Munich was 53,662 EUR. This translates to the 4,471 EUR monthly wage. (Gehaltsatlas 2022).

A working person in Munichtypically earns around4,200 EURper month. Salaries range from1,060 EUR(lowest average) to18,700 EUR(highest average, the actual maximum wage is higher).

This is the average monthly salary, including all benefits and bonuses. Yet, salaries vary drastically between different careers.

According to current statistics, the average salary in Munich increased by a total of 47,4% from 2008 to 2018. Munich is home to some of the biggest international companies across various industries.

Also, corporations like Siemens, Allianz, BMW, and Apple have their headquarters there.

However, small and medium-sized businesses have also been responsible for the great economic growth in Munich in recent years.

In 2020, the average salary among 900,000 Munich employees was stunning 67,425 EUR gross annually. This means that regular employees have 5,618 EUR gross per month at their disposal on average.

Salaries in Munich, Germany

Stats about salaries in Munich, Germany:

1. Salaries range from 1,060 EUR per month (minimum salary) to 18,700 EUR per month (maximum average salary)
2. The median salary in Munich is 3,860 EUR per month, meaning that half (50%) of the population earns less than 3,860 EUR while the other half more than 3,860 EUR.
3. Overall, 25% of Munich residents make less than 2,220 EUR per month and 75% earns more. Also, 75% of people having less than 10,400 EUR monthly salary while 25% are earning more than 10,400 EUR.

In Munich, monthly income is distributed as follows:

• 25% of employees earn less than 2,220 EUR
• 50% of employees earn less than 3,860 EUR
• 75% of employees earn less than 10,400 EUR

As you can see, a significant number of people are earning well above 6 figures per month. Hence, highly educated and skilled professionals with managerial responsibilities have good salary prospects in Munich, Germany.

Average salary for common jobs in Munich

Below you can see some of the common professions in Munich and the median salary for each of them.

Since I spent quite a significant amount of time in Munich and know several people living & working there, I would say that salaries are higher than indicated in the table.

Also, read an in-depth article about how muchpeople earn in Germany.

Highest paying jobs in Munich

The average salary for highest paying jobs in Munich:

1. Key account manager – 89,794 EUR
2. Lawyer – 85,871 EUR
3. General counsel – 81,671 EUR
4. Sales engineer – 79,674 EUR
5. Workers in technical research and development – 78,973 EUR
6. Medical specialist – 79,035 EUR
7. Workers in business development – 78,896 EUR
8. Tax consultant and auditor – 78,608 EUR
9. Workers in production planning and controlling – 78,229 EUR
10. SAP consultant – 72,766 EUR

More stats on high-paying jobs and monthly gross salaries:

• Patent attorney: 9,462 EUR
• Certified public accountant: 8,142 EUR
• Management consultant: 6,297 EUR
• Aviation security officer: 6,086 EUR
• IT manager: 5,659 EUR
• Neurologist: 4,511 EUR
• Engineer construction: 4,825 EUR
• Journalist: 4,680 EUR

Salaries vs cost of living in Munich

Munich is one of the most expensive cities not only in Germany but in Europe. Will your salary be enough to keep good living standards at such high prices? Do wages and cost of living in Munich balance themselves out?

Rents in Munich are notably higher than in other parts of Germany. The competition for apartments doesn’t make it easier.

Cost of living in Munich

Munich is the most expensive city in Germany, where you need to make enough money to pay for rent.

• Family of four will need approximately 4,440 EUR
• Single person’s estimated monthly costs are 2,659 EUR

Moreover,

1. Cost of living inMunichismore expensivethan in58% of citiesinWestern Europe(19 out of 43)
2. Cost of living inMunichismore expensivethan in69% of citiesinthe world(51 out of 162)
3. Munichis32% cheaper thanNew York City
4. Viennais12% cheaper thanMunich

Overall, Munich lands in 26th place in the global ranking in terms of cost of living. At the same time, the cheapest city in Germany is Dresden.

For example, in the Eastern German city of Leipzig, housing is around 134% cheaper than in Munich. Also, food costs 17% less, sports and leisure 19% less, and transportation is 13% more pricey in the Bavarian capital.

Yes, you will also make more money in Munich – 67,404 EUR on average. But Munich isn’t the only city with high salaries. For example, in Frankfurt, people earn an average wage of 70,974 EUR gross and enjoy a much lower cost of living.

In some cases, you will pay twice as much for rent in Munich than in the average German city.

Learn more about cost of living in Germany in this article.

Housing prices in Munich:

The housing market is crazy in Munich. It might take you a very long time to find something decent and not at an obscure price.

Depending on the location, there could be dozens of people visiting the same apartment simultaneously with you. The competitiveness of housing also shows in the pricing.

Food

Food is a little more expensive in Munich when compared to other locations. But eating and drinking out can be more significant, depending on where you go.

For example, going out forlunch in most German cities should cost you around 7-10 EUR, whereas in Munich it will easily be 13-15 EUR.

At the same time,dinner for two at a regular restaurant in Germany is doable for about 35-45 EUR, whereas in Munich you’ll be looking at closer to 55-60 EUR.

Groceries

There isn’t a big difference in groceries prices between Munich and other cities. Discounts like Aldi and Lidl offer the same price range, but regular and high-level supermarkets are more expensive than in other places.

Yet, it mostly shows for the more luxury, branded products. Similarly, beef, chicken breast, and cheese can cost you anywhere from 10-20% more than in other parts of the country.

Transportation

The monthly ticket for public transport can cost you between 56 and 219,50 EUR depending on how many zones you want to be included (how far you need to travel). You can book monthly train ticket here and save a significant amount of money.

Other expenses

Health insurance

Public health insurance is included in your salary and contributes to 14,6% of your gross income.

However, as soon as you earn more than 64,350EUR gross a year (2022), you can switch to a private insurance provider.

It can save you money in the long term. It will decrease the monthly premium, particularly for young and healthy employees.

How much do you need in Munich to have a comfortable life?

To live comfortably as a single in Munich, you need to make at least 45,000 EUR gross annually. This will be enough for rent, food, and some basic leisure activities.

Keep in mind that you will spend at least 30% of your income on rent while living in Munich.

Salaries in Munich vs Berlin

Salaries in Munich are approximately 25% higher than in Berlin, but so is the cost of living. The average salary in Berlin is 3,394 EUR monthly or 40,729 EUR, whereas, in Munich, employees get 53,662 EUR or 4,471 EUR. (According to the Gehaltsatlas 2021).

The unemployment rate is significantly higher in Berlin, so the salaries are lower.

The lower cost of living in Berlin is another reason for lower salaries, the same way high living costs drive salaries up in Munich.

Furthermore, Berlin’s economy is more driven by start-upsthat tend to pay employees less, mechanically reducing the average wage, especially for sales, marketing, and HR.

While Munich gets most of its money from large international corporations with big budgets for salaries.

Despite the statistics, the majority of people earn around 50,000 EUR gross in Berlin, which comes to approximately 30,000 EUR after taxes.

Below you can see average salaries in Berlin in different industries.

Overall, income in Berlin depends on many factors such as profession, experience, education, industry, size, type of company, etc.

Check out the in-depth article about salaries in Berlin.

When you are thinking about moving to Germany and getting a job, Berlin comes first into mind.

The German capital Berlin, the same as Munich, is home to large and globally recognized companies. Hence, Berlin offers various job opportunities and career pathways in different industries.

With a rising number of tech start-ups, it’s the best place to work as a software developer.

Munich is also not far behind and maybe ahead in some cases. The city has a strong international focus in the industrial sector, particularly in engineering, car manufacturing, innovative technology, and health industries.

Over 900,000 people are employed in Munich, mostly in trade, communication, science, transportation, government, and entertainment. Also, a significant proportion of salary earners are engaged in the manufacturing industry.

Despite the high cost of living in Munich, salaries are well above the national average thanks to a large supply of highly qualified employees.

Therefore, higher-than-average earnings and unlimited job opportunities make Munich one of Germany’s best cities to work.

The difference in cost of living

Munich is significantly more expensive than Berlin. If you want to live in a big apartment close to the city center, you will have more money left by the end of the month while working in Berlin.

Facts confirm: in Munich, employees spend on average about 30% of their income on rent. It’s a high number. In Berlin, people give away only 23% of their salary.

Going out and dining out is more expensive in Munich than in Berlin.

When looking at earnings and average expenses, the gross annual salary of 65,000 EUR in Munich is comparable to 50,000 EUR in Berlin. Yet, depending on your rent choices, you might be better off in Berlin with that salary.

Rents

In Berlin, you can expect to pay 900 EUR per month for a 2-bedroom apartment. A similar apartment will cost at least 1,500 EUR/month in Munich.

Check out the in-depth article about salaries in Berlin.

Is 60k a good salary in Munich?

A salary of 60,000 EUR is considered to be good in Munich. It’s a little bit above the average salary. 60,000 EUR will leave you35,631 EUR annually or 2,969 EUR monthly after-tax as a single person.

Therefore, 2,900 EUR net is more than enough to live comfortably in Munich but don’t expect to save a lot.

Your budget with this salary in Munich might look like this:

• 1,300 EUR for a small, but nice 2-bedroom apartment located a bit outside the center but still well connected
• 20 EUR for mobile phone
• 75 EUR for electricity
• 25-35 EUR for internet
• 300-500 EUR for food
• Going out for dinner/movie/drinks costs 25-50 EUR each time
• 70 EUR for public transportation
• 50-100 EUR for miscellaneous e.g. household costs

Is 90k a good salary in Munich, Germany?

In Munich, the salary of 90,000 is way above the average. It will leave you around 7,500 EUR gross or 4,150 EUR net per month.

Only a small percentage of people have a similar income level in Munich. You can afford a very decent life, with few luxuries here and there.

Renting a nice apartment in the city center, owning a car, going on vacation, and eating out regularly won’t be a problem for you.

Is 70k a good salary in Munich?

The annualsalary of 70,000 EUR is far above the average. With such income, youwillhaveacomfortablelifeinanypartofGermany.

WhileMunichisrelativelyexpensivecomparedtothe restofthe country,yet it’s still more affordable than some other European cities like London,Paris, or Amsterdam.

70,000 EUR gross per year leaves you with 40,585 EUR or 3,382 EUR monthly as a single person. For a family with kids, it’s still a solid income but doesn’t leave you much room for saving and leisure.

In Munich, the average salary for a professional with experience is around 50,000 EUR – 70,000 EUR. Senior-level executives enjoy a higher income of 65,000 EUR – 100,000 EUR.

How much money does a family need in Munich?

If we are talking about a family of four, rent will cost you a significant amount. A three-bedroom apartment in the city center can cost up to 3,000 EURper month, and utilities will add at least another 200 EURto that.

Adding the cost of groceries of around 600-800 EUR per month and your basic living costs will already top 4,000 EUR.

Consequently, when living as a family in Munich, you need to be careful with housing selection and try to find the best deal with proximity to the city.

The gross salary of 80,000 EUR is recommended as a comfortable budget for a family of four. It can be easily achieved by one full-time and one part-time worker.

With such income, a family can even save around 10% to 15% every year while keeping up good quality of life.

Taxes in Germany

Before you make any conclusions about salaries in Munich, you need to understand how much of it goes to taxes and social security funds.

Germany has a progressive personal income tax rate starting from 0% and ending at 45% (see below).

Personal income tax rates in Germany in 2023:

Total tax and social security contributions deductions for German employees are high. You will pay between 35% and 45% of your monthly income.Where:

1. Income taxes – between 14% to 45%
2. Health insurance – 14,6% of your gross salary in total (paid half by you and half by the employer)
3. Retirement insurance is levied at 19,6% of gross salary, of which half is paid by the employer and half by the employee
4. Church tax – between 8% and 9%
5. Solidarity surcharge – 5,5%
6. Unemployment insurance – 3% (paid half by you and half by the employer)

Read in-depth tax comparison Germany vs the US.