Data Scientist Salary in Dresden (2026)
Data scientists in Dresden earn €47,000–€85,000 per year, with a median around €62,000. Dresden's data science market is uniquely shaped by semiconductor manufacturing — chip fabrication generates enormous process data, and extracting insights directly impacts profitability. A 1% yield improvement at a 40,000 wafer/month fab is worth millions. For data scientists who want to work on problems with tangible industrial impact rather than ad optimization, Dresden offers compelling opportunities.
Key Facts
- Data scientists in Dresden earn €47K–€85K/year with a median of €62K
- Semiconductor yield optimization creates high-value data science demand
- TU Dresden (University of Excellence) and ScaDS.AI produce strong talent pipeline
- Industrial applications — chip manufacturing, robotics, lithography analytics
- Cost-of-living advantage: €62K in Dresden ≈ €78K in Berlin after housing
Salary by Experience Level
- Junior (0–2 years): €47,000–€54,000
- Mid-level (3–5 years): €57,000–€70,000
- Senior (6+ years): €75,000–€85,000
The Semiconductor Data Science Premium
Chip fabrication is one of the most data-intensive manufacturing processes in the world. A single wafer lot generates gigabytes of process data across hundreds of processing steps. Infineon and GlobalFoundries employ data scientists for yield prediction, process optimization, defect pattern analysis, and equipment health monitoring. These aren't theoretical exercises — the insights directly translate to millions in value.
Research University Pipeline
TU Dresden — one of Germany's 11 "Universities of Excellence" — produces strong data science talent through its AI programs, the Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (cfaed), and ScaDS.AI (Competence Center for Scalable Data Services and Solutions). The Barkhausen Institut and Fraunhofer institutes add research depth. This pipeline feeds the local ecosystem with talent at the intersection of AI and semiconductors.
Industrial Applications Beyond Chips
SAP applies data science to enterprise analytics and business intelligence. T-Systems MMS (headquartered in Dresden) serves telecom and industrial clients. Wandelbots uses data science for robotics programming. Zeiss SMT applies it to semiconductor lithography and inspection — combining optics and ML for nanometer-precision measurements.
Top Hiring Companies
Career Advice
Specialize in semiconductor process analytics, yield optimization, or industrial data science to maximize your value in Dresden. Infineon and GlobalFoundries offer the strongest compensation and the most impactful work — a 1% yield improvement generates millions. Build domain expertise in manufacturing data — time-series analysis, sensor data processing, defect detection — these skills are globally scarce and transfer at a premium. TU Dresden's ScaDS.AI ecosystem is excellent for networking and staying current on research.
Data Scientist Insights — Dresden
Data Scientist salaries in Dresden range from €47,000 to €85,000, a 61% spread that reflects significant variation based on experience level, specialization, and company size. The median of €62,000 sits below the midpoint, suggesting more positions cluster toward the entry-to-mid-level end of the range.
Dresden's cost of living index of 66/100 represents moderate living costs. At a median salary of €62,000, data scientist professionals here enjoy solid purchasing power relative to higher-cost tech hubs.
The hiring landscape for data scientist in Dresden is anchored by employers like Infineon, GlobalFoundries, and SAP, along with 2 other notable employers. Larger employers in this market typically offer compensation at the upper end of the range, often supplemented with equity, signing bonuses, and comprehensive benefits.
Demand for data scientist in Dresden centers around expertise in Python, Machine Learning, SQL, plus 2 other core competencies. Candidates with strong proficiency across these areas tend to command offers closer to the €85,000 ceiling, and have natural transition paths into roles like Senior Data Scientist or ML Engineer.
Related Roles in Dresden
Explore salary information for similar positions and compare compensation across different roles.
| Role | Location | Salary Range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Data Engineer | Dresden | €78,000 - €102,000 | €85,000 |
| Senior Data Scientist | Dresden | €75,000 - €98,000 | €83,000 |
| Data Engineer | Dresden | €50,000 - €88,000 | €65,000 |
| ML Engineer | Dresden | €52,000 - €95,000 | €68,000 |
| Senior Software Engineer | Dresden | €78,000 - €100,000 | €86,000 |
| Software Engineer |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average data scientist salary in Dresden?
Data scientists in Dresden earn €47,000–€85,000 per year, with a median of €62,000. Junior roles at university spin-offs and startups start at €47,000–€54,000, mid-level at Infineon or SAP pay €57,000–€70,000, and senior data scientists with semiconductor specialization reach €75,000–€85,000.
What data science skills are most in demand in Dresden?
Python, SQL, and machine learning fundamentals are essential. Dresden-specific skills include semiconductor process analytics (yield prediction, defect detection), time-series analysis for manufacturing data, statistical process control, and computer vision for wafer inspection. Experience with cloud data platforms (AWS, Azure) and big data tools (Spark) add significant value at Infineon and GlobalFoundries.
Is Dresden or Berlin better for data science careers?
Berlin offers 3–5x more data science positions and higher nominal pay (median €72K vs Dresden's €62K). Dresden has fewer roles but less competition, more applied semiconductor/industrial problems, and dramatically lower cost of living. If you want startup/fintech data science, choose Berlin. For semiconductor, manufacturing, or industrial data science with exceptional purchasing power, Dresden is compelling.
Do I need a PhD for data science roles in Dresden?
Not typically. A Master's in a quantitative field is sufficient for most roles. PhDs are valued at research spin-offs, TU Dresden-adjacent positions, and deep R&D roles at Infineon. For most corporate data science positions, strong Python/ML skills plus semiconductor or manufacturing understanding beats academic credentials. Exception: research-heavy roles at Fraunhofer or cfaed.
What industries employ data scientists in Dresden?
Semiconductors (Infineon, GlobalFoundries, Bosch), enterprise software (SAP, T-Systems MMS), optics and lithography (Zeiss SMT), robotics (Wandelbots), sustainable tech (Cloud&Heat, Sunfire), and a growing deep-tech startup ecosystem. The semiconductor focus makes Dresden data science more applied and higher-impact than typical startup markets.
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