Security Engineer Salary Munich 2026: What to Expect

Security Engineer Salaries in Munich 2026

Munich is Germany's highest-paying technology market, and cybersecurity is no exception. The city's unique combination of global automotive OEMs, aerospace primes, financial giants, and a growing Big Tech presence creates demand for security engineers across a wider range of specialisms than any other German city. In 2026, total compensation for a senior security engineer in Munich typically falls between €75K and €100K — with specialist roles in OT/ICS and cloud security reaching beyond €110K.

This guide covers salary bands by seniority, the specialisations that command premiums, Munich's top employers, and how Bavaria compares to other major European markets.

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Munich Security Engineer Salary Table 2026

These figures represent base salary. Munich employers — particularly in automotive and aerospace — frequently add 10–20% in bonuses, company car policies, and employer pension contributions, pushing total compensation well above base.

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Munich vs European Cities: Salary Comparison

Munich's market sits at the top of the German table and competes closely with Amsterdam and London on purchasing-power-adjusted terms.

London leads on gross figures, but after UK income tax (40% above ~£50K), National Insurance, and London rents, the Munich net advantage is significant. See Security Engineer Salary London 2026 for a full breakdown. Berlin salaries trail Munich by 10–15%; see Security Engineer Salary Berlin 2026 for the full analysis.

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Specialisation Premiums in Munich

Not all security roles pay equally. Munich's industrial base creates demand patterns distinct from Berlin's startup scene.

OT/ICS and Industrial Security — Largest Premium Munich is the OT/ICS security capital of Germany. Siemens, MAN, Airbus, and Infineon all run large operational technology environments with critical infrastructure obligations. Engineers who can secure PLCs, SCADA systems, and industrial networks using IEC 62443 standards can command 15–25% above equivalent IT security salaries. This specialism is far more lucrative here than in any other German city. Cloud Security BMW, Allianz, and Munich Re are mid-cloud migration. AWS and Azure security architects with relevant certifications (AWS Security Specialty, Azure Security Engineer) earn €85K–€115K at the senior level. Google Munich and Microsoft Germany hire cloud-native security engineers at the top of the market. Application Security (AppSec) As Munich's fintech and SaaS scene grows, AppSec demand has risen sharply. Security engineers embedded in product teams at Allianz Direct, Check24, and enterprise software vendors earn €80K–€105K. Secure code review, SAST/DAST toolchain ownership, and threat modelling skills are the key differentiators. Pentesting and Red Team Boutique consultancies and in-house red teams at financial and automotive firms pay €70K–€100K for senior pentesters with OSCP. Client-facing roles at security consultancies include project bonuses that can add €10K–€20K annually. SIEM / SOC Engineering SOC engineers and SIEM architects (Splunk, Microsoft Sentinel, IBM QRadar) earn €65K–€90K. Large-enterprise SOC roles at BMW and Allianz lean toward the upper end of this range and often include shift allowances.

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Top Munich Employers for Security Engineers

Automotive and Manufacturing

BMW — large in-house security function covering IT, OT, and connected vehicle security; strong benefits, company car, Bavarian bonus

Siemens — Europe's largest industrial company; premier OT/ICS and critical infrastructure security employer

MAN — commercial vehicles; growing OT security team post-Volkswagen Group restructure

Airbus — aerospace security requiring clearance for some roles; excellent pension and relocation packages

Infineon — semiconductor manufacturer; hardware security and supply-chain integrity roles unique to Munich

Financial Services

Allianz — Europe's largest insurer; large GRC, SIEM, and cloud security team in Munich HQ

Munich Re — reinsurance; specialist cyber-risk and threat intelligence roles

Technology

Google Munich — EMEA security engineering hub; top-of-market pay and equity

Microsoft Germany — Munich office covers enterprise security, Azure security product team presence

Rohde & Schwarz — communications and test-and-measurement; cybersecurity division (LANCOM, SIT) is one of Germany's most respected

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Bavarian Employment Benefits

Munich roles typically include benefits that push total compensation significantly above base salary:

Company car policies: Common at BMW, Siemens, MAN, and Airbus. Lease value of €600–€1,200/month represents a significant tax-efficient benefit.

Relocation allowances: Major Munich employers offer €3,000–€8,000 relocation packages plus one to three months of temporary housing for candidates moving from other cities or countries.

Pension schemes: Bavarian industrial employers (Siemens, BMW, MAN) offer supplementary company pension (bAV) with employer contributions of 4–8% of gross salary — substantially above statutory minimums.

Training budget: Security certifications (CISSP, OSCP, AWS) are routinely funded by Munich employers, with annual budgets of €2,000–€5,000 common at larger firms.

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The BSI and Germany's Security Landscape

Germany's federal cybersecurity authority, the Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik (BSI), directly shapes the demand for security engineers in Munich. The BSI's IT-Grundschutz framework is the baseline for public-sector and critical-infrastructure security programmes — and many Munich employers (Siemens, Airbus, Infineon) operate under KRITIS (critical infrastructure) obligations that mandate structured security programmes aligned to BSI standards.

Security engineers who understand IT-Grundschutz, the BSI's technical guidelines, and German data-protection obligations (DSGVO/GDPR) are more competitive for senior and GRC roles at Munich's largest employers. The BSI Grundschutz Practitioner certification is a differentiator for roles at firms with public-sector exposure.

See the Security Engineer Salary Guide 2026 for global context, and Tech Salaries Munich 2026 for Munich salary data across all engineering disciplines.

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Certifications and Salary Impact

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Negotiating Your Munich Security Salary

Munich's market favours candidates who can quantify their impact. Before your final-round interview, prepare: incidents prevented or response time reduced, scope of environments secured, certifications achieved, and any OT/ICS or cloud security breadth. For automotive and aerospace employers, familiarity with their specific compliance environment (TISAX for automotive, DO-326A for aerospace) will differentiate you from generalist applicants.

Munich is one of Europe's strongest markets for security engineers in 2026. The industrial concentration, financial-sector depth, and growing Big Tech presence mean demand consistently outpaces supply — which translates directly into negotiating power for qualified candidates.