SAP ABAP Salary: What You Could Earn in 2025
Are you wondering if your SAP ABAP salary is competitive? In just three minutes, we'll show you the factors that determine your income and how to maximize your value.
The topic in brief and concise terms
The average SAP ABAP salary is approximately €71,800, with top earners reaching over €90,000.
Professional experience is the strongest factor affecting salary: Juniors start at around €45,000, while seniors can reach over €90,000.
Specializations in S/4HANA, Fiori, or BTP can increase the salary by 10-20%.
<p>The demand for qualified SAP ABAP developers remains exceptionally high, yet salaries vary significantly. Many developers are uncertain whether their compensation aligns with their expertise and the market environment. This article provides you with a transparent analysis of the current salary data for 2025. We break down how work experience, location, company size, and specialisation specifically affect your SAP ABAP salary. This will give you a reliable basis for your next salary negotiation or career planning.</p>
Current salary benchmark for SAP ABAP developers
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Salary development by experience levels
Professional experience is the greatest lever for your SAP ABAP salary. The salary levels are clearly defined and show a significant progression. A well-planned career path pays off directly here. For successful career planning, it is important to regularly review your own positioning, as our guide on Java Developer salaries illustrates.
Here are the typical salary ranges according to experience:
Junior (0–2 years): As an entrant, you can expect an annual salary between €45,000 and €55,000. In this phase, you lay the foundation for your further development.
Professional (3–5 years): With growing experience, your salary increases to €55,000 to €70,000. You take on more responsibility and work independently on complex tasks.
Senior (5+ years): As an experienced developer, you typically earn between €70,000 and €90,000. With sought-after specialisations and personnel responsibility, salaries over €100,000 are also realistic.
In addition to pure experience, the choice of location also plays a decisive role in the level of your salary.
Regional salary differences in Germany
Your place of residence has a direct impact on your potential income. In economically strong federal states and metropolitan regions, salaries for SAP ABAP developers are significantly higher. This is due to the higher concentration of large companies and increased demand. Choosing the right location can considerably improve your career opportunities, similar to SAP S/4HANA jobs.
The top federal states for SAP developers are:
Baden-Württemberg: Here, the average salary is around €75,200 per year.
Bavaria: With approximately €73,400, the Free State is only slightly behind.
Hesse: As a financial hub, Frankfurt am Main drives the average to over €72,000.
Even within a city like Leipzig, the range can vary from €50,500 to €69,600. By contrast, salaries in eastern federal states, such as Brandenburg, average around €63,100, which is lower. However, not only the region but also the size of your employer is an important factor in determining salary.
Influence of Company Size and Industry
Large corporations and specialised consultancy firms often pay higher salaries than small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). An SAP ABAP developer at a company with over 1,000 employees earns on average 15-20% more than at an SME with fewer than 100 employees. This is due to larger budgets and more complex SAP landscapes. Choosing the right company is crucial if you want to find an SAP developer who fits your structure.
In addition to size, the industry is a decisive factor. Certain sectors are willing to pay higher salaries to attract the best talent:
Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals: These industries often pay top salaries due to high regulatory requirements and complex processes.
Automotive: Despite transformations, the automotive industry continues to pay above average, often more than €80,000 for experienced professionals.
Banks and Insurance: The financial sector invests heavily in secure and efficient SAP systems, which is reflected in the salaries.
Switching to a high-paying industry can increase your salary by up to 15%. Aside from these external factors, you can actively enhance your earning potential through targeted specialisation.
Salary Booster: Specialisations and Additional Skills
Standard ABAP skills are the foundation, but sought-after specialisations can boost your salary to the next level. Companies are specifically looking for experts who have mastered modern SAP technologies. Investing in training in these areas often pays off within the first year. A specialised SAP headhunter can help you find the right positions.
The following skills are particularly lucrative:
SAP S/4HANA: Experts in ABAP on HANA, CDS Views, and the ABAP RESTful Application Programming Model (RAP) are in high demand and can expect a salary increase of 10-20%.
SAP Fiori/UI5: The ability to develop modern and user-friendly interfaces is becoming increasingly important and correspondingly rewarded.
Business Technology Platform (BTP): Expertise in cloud development and the integration of BTP services is a strong salary driver.
Module knowledge: A deep understanding of core modules such as FI/CO, EWM, or SD/MM combined with ABAP skills is a rare and valuable combination.
Developers with know-how in ABAP on HANA earn on average 12% more than their colleagues without this knowledge. With these skills, you are ideally positioned for your next salary negotiation or the search for a new challenge.
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More useful links
Wikipedia offers a comprehensive overview of ABAP, a programming language developed by SAP.
Jobvector provides information on ABAP salaries.
Stepstone supplies data on the salaries of SAP-ABAP developers.
Robert Half offers a detailed salary overview for the IT sector.
Hays publishes the IT Salary Report 2023, featuring current data and analyses.
Bundesagentur für Arbeit provides official information on salaries across various professions in its pay atlas.
Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis) provides official statistics and information on earnings by industry and profession.
Gehalt.de offers detailed insights into salaries in the SAP consulting field.
Computerwoche delivers an article on SAP consultant salaries and their development after five years of professional experience.
FAQ
What factors most strongly influence my SAP ABAP salary?
Your professional experience is the most important factor, followed by your location (Southern Germany pays better), the size of the company (corporations > SMEs), the industry (e.g. pharmaceuticals, automotive), and your specialisations (S/4HANA, Fiori).
How can I actively increase my SAP ABAP salary?
Invest in further training in in-demand technologies such as ABAP on HANA, SAP Fiori/UI5, and the Business Technology Platform (BTP). A job change to a high-paying industry or a larger company can also lead to a significant salary increase.
Where do SAP ABAP developers earn the most?
The highest salaries are usually paid in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and Hesse. Metropolitan areas such as Munich, Stuttgart, and Frankfurt am Main are hotspots for well-paid SAP jobs.
What is the salary for a freelance SAP ABAP developer?
As a freelancer, you can expect hourly rates between €90 and €120, depending on your experience and specialisation. This can result in an annual turnover that significantly exceeds the salary of a permanent developer, but it also involves entrepreneurial risks.
Is an SAP certification beneficial for my salary?
Yes, official SAP certifications can demonstrate your expertise and are a good point in salary negotiations. Certificates in new technologies like S/4HANA or the BTP, in particular, can have a positive impact on your salary.
How does Nova Search help me with my career?
Although we specialise in Java, we have a deep understanding of the entire tech market. We can help you understand your market value and connect you with leading tech companies. Book a free strategy call to discuss your options.
