There are many wonderful places to live, and Germany, with its robust economy and low unemployment rates, is a great country to work and live in. It’s renowned for its stability, so why wouldn’t you want to move there?
But which companies are the best? Nobody wants to up and move abroad without knowing all about it beforehand.
So, we’ve looked into the 10 best German companies to work for, along with the salary information, so you can find a job in Germany or start planning your move abroad with one thing checked off your to-do list.
10. SAP
Average salary: €65,000 ($64,140)
Based in Walldorf in Germany, SAP produces enterprise software to manage business operations and customer relations. The German multinational software corporation, founded in 1972, offers the best of both worlds for employees — a competitive compensation package and a great workplace.
Employees are expected to deal with diverse and highly advanced tasks, giving them opportunity to progress and stretch their problem-solving skills. When projects are submitted, management are known to be appreciative, which makes for a great working relationship throughout the company. They’ll support you in furthering your career, as every employee is treated as an entrepreneur.
As of 2021, SAP had 107,000 employees, and they have labs in Germany, the US, India, China, France and many other countries.
9. Continental
Average salary: €65,585 ($64,720)
Continental is an automotive company that specializes in brake systems, interior electronics and tires. If you’re looking for a career in the automobile industry, then Continental is the go-to company, as it regularly hires new talent and currently has over 232,000 employees.
The company is the top destination to gain employment in this sector because it values its employees by offering a versatile working environment, flexible hours and plenty of advancement opportunities. What makes Continental attractive to young jobseekers, meanwhile, is its extensive internship program, which allows you to learn skills and gain experience that will enable you to grow at either Continental or another firm.
8. Deutsche Bank
Average salary: €70,630 ($69,700)
Although its headquarters are in Frankfurt, Deutsche Bank’s network spans across 58 countries. In 2021, it was the 21st largest bank in the world, and today is the largest German banking institution.
Deutsche Bank believe that a healthy, engaged and well-supported workforce is able to do their best work, and they believe strongly in a good work–life balance. There’s a strong focus on professional development, too.
In terms of the employee perks, they offer saving schemes and subsidized public transport so that employees can make the most of their own finances while helping Deutsche Bank customers take care of theirs.
7. Mercedes-Benz Group (formerly Daimler AG)
Average salary: €70,630 ($69,700)
This German multinational automotive corporation has a comprehensive internship program, where interns are offered hands-on experience with many responsibilities. They gain tremendous insights and are provided with a lot of support. Proof that you can make the move to Germany with no experience and make a great career for yourself.
Mercedes-Benz Group offers a good work environment, development opportunities and a creative team spirit with an attractive compensation and benefits package for employees. In 2020, there were an estimated 173,000 employees working for the company throughout the world.
6. Commerzbank
Average salary: €70,630 ($69,700)
In the 2019 financial year, the bank was the second largest in Germany according to their balance sheet, and it operates internationally in more than 50 countries throughout the world. It handles approximately 13 million customers in Germany and around 5 million customers in Europe.
If you’re looking to begin working for the German banking giant, there are different career levels to consider. The company offers roles for school student internships, apprenticeships and dual studies, university interns, graduates, and direct entry into a qualified position.
In terms of perks, if you choose to go for an apprenticeship, Commerzbank will pay all tuition fees, which is a pretty good incentive to join them. They also offer a buddy program for graduates, and a bonus 13th salary for all employees.
5. Bayer AG
Average salary: €70,630 ($69,700)
Bayer AG is a multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company based in Leverkusen. It’s one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, and their areas of business include pharmaceuticals, healthcare products, agricultural chemicals and biotechnology products.
In 2021, there were around 99,600 employees working for the company. Employees have access to Bayer HealthCare Perks at Work program, where employees get 30,000+ employee discounts in categories ranging from electronics to fitness and travel. They also get free online classes with the COA Community Online Academy and access to state-of-the-art technology to develop “high-performance individuals, teams and organizations”.
4. Robert Bosch
Average salary: €75,675 ($74,680)
Robert Bosch is a German multinational engineering and technology company with a workforce topping 410,000. Known for its high retention rate, Robert Bosch makes working for the giant rewarding, thanks to its health insurance coverage, bicycle parking, childcare options and good pay across all hierarchical levels.
It strikes a fine balance between staying competitive and adhering to the needs of the modern-day worker, and perhaps this is why the company remains strong after being founded more than a century ago.
3. BASF
Average salary: €76,684 ($75,670)
BASF is the largest chemical producer in the world and, as of 2021, had around 111,000 employees, with 54,000 of these being based in Germany. Its business is organized into six different segments: chemicals, materials, surface technologies, nutrition and care, industrial solutions, and agricultural solutions. It runs 6 integrated sites (and around 390 other sites) in Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa and Asia.
For employees, BASF offers more than just compensation. They call it you@BASF, and it offers employees comprehensive benefits, professional development opportunities, and a collaborative and reliable work environment — along with competitive compensation.
2. Siemens
Average salary: €80,720 ($79,650)
Siemens, the largest industrial manufacturing company in Europe, is based in Munich, with many branch offices abroad. It’s a German multinational conglomerate — which basically means it’s lots of different sectors meshed together into one business. As such, they have their fingers in many different pies, including industry, energy and healthcare. One of the main areas of focus for the company is creating medical diagnostic equipment.
According to their website, they have around 377,000 employees who benefit from perks such as medical and dental insurance, life insurance, learning and development tools, and a discount on a wide range of goods and services.
1. Roland Berger
Average salary: €80,720 ($79,650)
Roland Berger, formerly known as Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, is a management consultancy based in Munich. It has around 2,400 employees in around 35 countries, meaning their presence is known worldwide despite having the lowest number of employees on this list. The company was founded by its namesake in 1967 and expanded worldwide throughout the 1970s and 1980s, ultimately becoming the market leader in Germany.
The company offers many benefits, including healthcare insurance and an MBA program where the company pays for your tuition fees. When it comes to employee reviews, Nicolas, based in the Zurich office, says: “The free drinks in our weekly office apéros should also be mentioned... Not many after work events beat our culture of Friday drinks in the Zurich office. When you apply for a German office, you'll be able to profit from a very generous mobility package, including a lease car.”
Final thoughts
And there you have it! These are the 10 top companies in Germany, but it’s worth noting that Germany made the list of the highest-paying countries to work in, so if none of these sound like a good fit for you, it’s still worth checking out what other German-based companies could work for you.
If you’re already living in Germany and are currently searching for a job, it’s worth looking more into these companies if they fall into your area of expertise, as they do have great employee benefits and perks.
If you’re considering moving to Germany, there are a few things you’d need to look into and organize first, like applying for a German work and residence permit. You can obtain a permit through a single application with the German Immigration Authority Office (or the Ausländerbehörde). Check which kind of visa you need with the “Visa Navigator” and get the wheels in motion.
There are many well-paying roles in plenty of different industries, and this, along with the high living standards and peaceful environment, makes Germany a great place to further (or begin!) your career.
Got a question about working in Germany? Let us know in the comments section below.
Originally published on October 8, 2014.