Tech Salary Comparison 2025: How to Pay Fairly and Attract Top Developers
Has your open Java position been unfilled for over 90 days? A gap of just €5,000 in the annual salary could be why your ideal candidate is choosing the competition. This guide shows you how to fill your vacancies in record time with an accurate tech salary comparison.
The topic in brief and concise terms
A precise tech salary comparison is crucial to remain competitive for the 149,000 open IT positions in Germany.
Professional experience, company size, location, and specialization are the four main drivers of salary levels in IT.
A structured recruitment process based on market data can reduce the time-to-hire from months to just a few days.
<p>The German IT market is swept clean – by the end of 2023, there were 149,000 vacancies for IT experts. In this competitive environment, the salary package often determines success or failure in recruitment. An inaccurate tech salary comparison results in slow processes and unsuitable candidates, which significantly strains your projects and budgets. We show you how to use data to define fair salaries, attract the best talent, and complete your Java teams faster than the competition.</p>
Quick Facts: The IT Salary Market in Numbers
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The four drivers for high tech salaries
Four factors predominantly determine the salary level in the tech sector. An accurate tech salary comparison takes each of these variables into account to put together an attractive offer. Your ability to assess these factors determines your recruiting speed.
Professional Experience: This is the decisive lever for salary growth. An experienced Java developer can expect a significantly higher Java developer salary than a graduate.
Company Size: Corporations on average pay higher salaries than start-ups. The difference can be up to 15%.
Location: In metropolises like Munich, Frankfurt, and Hamburg, salaries are up to 25% above the national average. In Baden-Württemberg, the average IT salary is €62,980.
Specialisation: In-demand skills in cybersecurity, cloud computing, or AI lead to above-average salary increases.
These four dimensions form the coordinate system for the right salary strategy.
Salary benchmarks for key roles in IT
Softwareentwickler: The Foundation of Every Tech Team
The salary range for software developers is broad and heavily dependent on experience. Beginners can expect between €45,000 and €55,000. With a few years of professional experience, the salary increases to €55,000 to €75,000. Senior developers with over nine years of experience earn salaries over €81,000. A fair full-stack developer salary must accurately reflect this progression.
Backend-Entwickler: The Architects of the Systems
Specialists in the backend are responsible for the stability and scalability of applications. Their salary reflects this responsibility and is often slightly higher than that of frontend developers. A realistic backend developer salary for an experienced professional in Germany is around €70,000. In-depth knowledge of server-side technologies is crucial here for salary negotiations.
Your 4-step plan for a competitive salary offer
A structured process is the quickest way to fill a vacancy with the right talent. This plan allows you to make a convincing offer in no time. You'll fill your Java position in five days:
Kick-off & Market Analysis: We start with a 30-minute call to understand your requirements. Within 24 hours, we provide a data-driven analysis comparing tech salaries for your specific position.
Targeted Search & Candidate Qualification: Our team uses its specialized network to actively identify suitable Java developers. Each candidate undergoes a three-stage qualification process.
Presentation of Handpicked Profiles: After just five days, you receive a selection of two to three top-qualified candidates. We deliver quality over quantity, accelerating your internal processes by 70%.
Contract Signing & Onboarding Support: We support you and the candidate through the entire negotiation process until the contract is signed. This ensures your offer meets market standards and is accepted.
This efficient process bridges the gap between your needs and the talent market.
The true costs of a vacant position
Every day that a developer position remains unfilled costs you more than just a missing salary. Projects are delayed, deadlines are missed, and the workload for the rest of the team increases by up to 20%. The costs of an idle sprint can quickly exceed €15,000. An inaccurate tech salary comparison is often the cause of weeks-long delays. With a partner like Nova Search, who provides you with the first candidates in five days, you drastically minimize these opportunity costs and secure your project goals. Book your free strategy call now and fill your vacancies.
More useful links
Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis) provides detailed information on earnings by industry and occupation in Germany.
The Entgeltatlas of the Federal Employment Agency offers comprehensive information on salaries for various professions.
Bitkom informs in a press release about the current shortage of skilled workers in the IT sector in Germany.
The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action offers a dossier on the important topic of securing skilled labour.
Kienbaum publishes a remuneration study for executives and professionals in IT functions for the year 2025.
Robert Half provides a detailed salary overview specifically for the IT sector.
The salary report from Stepstone highlights salaries in Germany and focuses on them.
Statista presents an infographic on the median gross annual salary of software developers.
FAQ
How can I determine the appropriate salary for an open IT position?
A comprehensive tech salary comparison is the first step. Analyse current salary reports, consider the four main drivers (experience, location, size, specialisation) and bring in a specialised recruitment partner like Nova Search to obtain an accurate, market-based assessment.
Why do I lose candidates in the final round?
Often, it's due to a salary offer that isn't competitive. Even a small deviation of 5-10% from the market average can lead top candidates to accept another offer. Transparency and a data-driven offer are crucial.
How quickly can Nova Search help fill a Java position?
Our promise is to present you with the first handpicked candidate profiles within just five working days. Our specialised focus on Java developers and our efficient process significantly reduce your time-to-hire.
Does Nova Search offer more than just recruitment?
Yes. We act as strategic partners. This includes comprehensive advice on tech salary comparisons, crafting job descriptions, and optimising your interview process to attract the best talent for your team.
