Full Stack Developer Salary 2025: What You Can Really Earn
Is your Java position vacant for over 60 days? This costs you an average of €25,000 in lost productivity. We show you which salary factors are crucial to attract top talent.
The topic in brief and concise terms
The median salary for a Full Stack Developer in Germany is €69,816, but it is significantly influenced by experience, location, and company size.
Work experience is the biggest driver of salary and can increase remuneration by over 50% from junior to senior positions.
Location is crucial: There is a difference of over €30,000 between Java specialists in Baden-Württemberg (€79,000) and Berlin (€48,000).
<p>Defining the right salary for a Full Stack Developer is one of the biggest challenges in tech recruiting. Pay too little, and you lose the best candidates to the competition. Pay too much, and you break the budget. This article provides you with a data-driven analysis of Full Stack Developer salaries in Germany. We highlight the key factors from professional experience to tech stack and location, giving you a clear foundation for your next hiring decision. This way, you fill open positions not only quickly but also in an economically sensible manner.</p>
Quick Facts: The Salary Structure for Full Stack Developers
Content
Factor 1: Professional experience increases market value by over 50%
Professional experience is the strongest lever for a Full Stack Developer's salary. While a junior with less than three years' experience can expect a salary of around €49,000, this figure increases significantly with more practice. Just after three to six years on the job, the average salary climbs to over €60,000. A senior with more than nine years of experience earns, on average, over €76,000 annually.
The salary progression generally occurs in three stages:
Junior (0–2 years): Focus on learning processes and technologies. The salary here averages €49,000.
Mid-Level (3–8 years): Taking on more responsibility and independent projects. The salary rises to €60,000 to €70,000.
Senior (9+ years): Strategic responsibility, mentoring, and complex architectural decisions justify salaries of over €76,000.
A senior developer can therefore earn over 55% more than a career starter. This significant range highlights why a differentiated salary strategy is essential to encourage young talents and retain experienced experts. A well-considered tech salary comparison aids in internal calibration. Hence, experience is not only an indicator of technical ability but also of strategic value.
Factor 2: Location advantage of up to €30,000
The workplace has a significant impact on the Full Stack Developer salary. There are salary differences of up to €31,000 per year between the federal states. At the top is Baden-Württemberg, where a Java Full Stack Developer earns an average of €79,000. Close behind is Bavaria with €54,300. In contrast, the average salary in Berlin is only €48,000.
This difference of over 60% between Stuttgart and Berlin reflects the economic strength of the respective regions. In metropolises like Munich, salaries are indeed high, but so are the living costs. A software developer’s salary in Munich must take this into account. Companies in high-cost regions need to offer at least 15% more to remain attractive. Therefore, the choice of location directly affects your recruitment costs and the quality of applicants.
Factor 3: Company Size as a Salary Driver
The size of the company is an often underestimated, yet crucial salary factor. A developer in a corporation with over 20,000 employees earns an average of €81,108 per year. In a small company or startup with fewer than 101 employees, the average salary is only €61,920. That's a difference of almost €20,000 for a comparable role.
The gradation is clear:
< 101 employees: €61,920 / year
101 – 1,000 employees: €69,336 / year
1,001 – 20,000 employees: €74,772 / year
> 20,000 employees: €81,108 / year
Large companies pay on average 31% more than small firms. They often also offer more structured career paths and additional benefits. Smaller companies, on the other hand, offer more responsibility and flat hierarchies. These aspects need to be clearly communicated in the offer to succeed in the competition for talent. Especially in the FinTech sector, an attractive salary package can be decisive, as shown by looking at FinTech developer salaries.
Factor 4: The tech stack determines the demand
Not all Full Stack Developers are the same. The tech stack that a developer masters significantly determines their market value. Specialists in in-demand technologies like Java combined with modern frameworks such as Spring Boot command top salaries. An experienced Spring Boot developer can increase their salary by an additional 10-15%. The average salary for a Java Full Stack Developer is €51,600, but it can rise to over €79,000 with the right seniority and location.
Specialising in a niche technology such as blockchain can drive the salary even higher. A blockchain developer's salary often exceeds the €100,000 mark. For you as an employer, this means: The more specific your requirements, the higher the salary offer needs to be. A precise analysis of the required skill set is the first step towards successful recruitment. The right strategy is crucial to finding these experts.
How to fill your vacant position in 5 days
An attractive salary is only half of the equation. A slow recruiting process costs you the best candidates. At Nova Search, we have optimized the process to introduce you to handpicked Java specialists within just five working days. Our approach is based on 120 successful placements and seven years of market experience.
Our proven 3-step process guarantees speed and quality:
Kick-off Call (Day 1): In just 60 minutes, we jointly define the exact requirement profile, technical must-haves, and cultural fit.
Targeted Search (Day 2-4): We activate our exclusive network of over 5,000 German-speaking Java developers and approach suitable candidates directly.
Profile Presentation (Day 5): You receive a shortlist of two to three vetted candidates who fit not only technically but also personally with your team.
This efficient process reduces the time-to-hire by an average of 90% compared to the industry average of 63 days. Stop wasting time with unsuitable applicants. Let’s strengthen your Java team together. Learn more about our services and how we have already helped 45 clients close their vacancies.
More useful links
The Statistische Bundesamt (Destatis) offers a visualised salary comparison.
You can find information on earnings by industry and profession at the Statistische Bundesamt (Destatis).
The salary atlas from the Bundesagentur für Arbeit provides detailed information on salaries in various professions.
A press release from Bitkom addresses the shortage of skilled workers in the IT sector in Germany.
FAQ
What is a realistic salary for a Full Stack Developer with 5 years of experience?
With five years of experience (Mid-Level), a salary between €65,000 and €72,000 is realistic. The exact amount heavily depends on the location, company size, and specific tech stack.
Does it make a salary difference whether you work more in frontend or backend?
Yes, in general, skills closer to the backend, particularly in Java, microservices, and cloud infrastructure, tend to be compensated slightly more than pure frontend skills. However, a true full stack developer who masters both worlds is the most valuable.
How can I, as a company, determine the right salary?
Analyse the market for your region and your company size. Use current salary reports and compare the requirements of your position with the benchmarks. For an accurate assessment, especially for Java positions, we recommend a free strategy consultation with us.
Does the educational qualification (Master vs. Bachelor) play a significant role?
At the entry level, having a master's degree can lead to a salary increase of 5-10%. However, after several years of work experience, practical experience becomes the decisive factor and the formal degree becomes less important.
How quickly does Nova Search find a suitable Full Stack Developer?
Our specialised process allows us to present the first handpicked and vetted candidate profiles for your Java Full Stack position within just five working days.
