Software Engineer Salary in Hamburg (2026)
Hamburg is Germany's second-largest city and a tech hub that flies under the radar compared to Berlin and Munich. Software engineers in Hamburg earn €55,000–€95,000 per year, with a median around €72,000. The city's tech market is shaped by e-commerce giants like Otto Group and About You, the XING/New Work SE headquarters, Airbus aerospace engineering, and a thriving logistics-tech and media industry.
Key Facts
- Hamburg software engineers earn €55K–€95K/year, competitive with Frankfurt and above Berlin
- Otto Group and About You make Hamburg Germany's e-commerce engineering capital
- XING/New Work SE HQ employs 1,000+ engineers in the city
- Airbus employs 12,000+ people in Hamburg for aerospace tech
- Strong quality of life — waterfront, culture — with lower costs than Munich
Salary by Experience Level
- Junior (0–2 years): €42,000–€55,000
- Mid-level (3–5 years): €55,000–€75,000
- Senior (6+ years): €75,000–€95,000
How Hamburg Compares
Hamburg pays comparably to Frankfurt for many tech roles and 5–10% more than Berlin in base salary. Munich remains 10–15% higher, but Hamburg's lower cost of living and exceptional quality of life (waterfront, parks, culture) make the purchasing power competitive. Hamburg offers a unique balance of strong tech salaries without the intensity of Frankfurt's finance culture or Munich's cost burden.
Key Employer Landscape
E-commerce dominates: Otto Group is one of the world's largest e-commerce companies and employs thousands of engineers. About You runs a major tech hub. XING (New Work SE), Germany's professional network, is headquartered here with 1,000+ engineers. Airbus employs 12,000+ people in Hamburg for aerospace and defense tech. InnoGames and Goodgame Studios anchor the gaming sector. Media companies like Spiegel, Zeit, and Gruner+Jahr drive digital publishing tech.
Skills That Command Premium
Engineers with e-commerce platform experience (high-traffic systems, recommendation engines), logistics optimization, and cloud-native architecture earn at the top of the range. TypeScript and React dominate the frontend; Java and Python lead backend. Airbus roles favor C++ and systems-level programming.
Top Hiring Companies
Career Advice
Target Otto Group or About You for e-commerce scale experience, or XING/New Work SE for product-driven engineering. Airbus offers exceptional stability and benefits for systems engineers. Hamburg's gaming industry (InnoGames, Goodgame Studios) is an underrated path for engineers who want creative technical challenges. The city's logistics-tech startups are growing fast and offer equity upside.
Software Engineer Insights — Hamburg
Software Engineer salaries in Hamburg range from €55,000 to €95,000, a 56% spread that reflects significant variation based on experience level, specialization, and company size. The median of €72,000 sits below the midpoint, suggesting more positions cluster toward the entry-to-mid-level end of the range.
Hamburg's cost of living index of 77/100 makes it one of the more expensive locations for tech professionals. While the €72,000 median is competitive, housing and daily expenses consume a larger share of income compared to lower-cost cities.
The hiring landscape for software engineer in Hamburg is anchored by employers like Otto Group, XING/New Work SE, and Airbus, 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 software engineer in Hamburg centers around expertise in Java, Python, TypeScript, plus 2 other core competencies. Candidates with strong proficiency across these areas tend to command offers closer to the €95,000 ceiling, and have natural transition paths into roles like Senior Software Engineer or Backend Developer.
Related Roles in Hamburg
Explore salary information for similar positions and compare compensation across different roles.
| Role | Location | Salary Range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Software Engineer | Hamburg | €75,000 - €115,000 | €88,000 |
| Senior ML Engineer | Hamburg | €80,000 - €120,000 | €92,000 |
| Frontend Developer | Hamburg | €48,000 - €85,000 | €65,000 |
| Senior Data Engineer | Hamburg | €72,000 - €108,000 | €83,000 |
| Senior Data Scientist | Hamburg | €75,000 - €110,000 | €85,000 |
| Data Scientist |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average software engineer salary in Hamburg?
Software engineers in Hamburg earn €55,000–€95,000 per year, with a median around €72,000. Junior engineers start at €42,000–€55,000, mid-level roles pay €55,000–€75,000, and senior engineers at companies like Otto Group or Airbus earn €75,000–€95,000.
How does Hamburg compare to Berlin for software engineer salaries?
Hamburg pays 5–10% more than Berlin in base salary (Berlin median: ~€68K vs. Hamburg: ~€72K). Berlin has a larger job market (2–3x more tech postings) and more startup diversity. Hamburg offers better quality of life, a more focused employer landscape (e-commerce, logistics, media), and stronger purchasing power due to slightly lower living costs in many neighborhoods.
Which companies hire the most software engineers in Hamburg?
Otto Group (Germany's e-commerce giant, thousands of tech staff), XING/New Work SE (1,000+ engineers), Airbus (12,000+ employees in Hamburg), About You (fast-growing fashion e-commerce), InnoGames and Goodgame Studios (gaming), FREE NOW (mobility), and media companies like Spiegel and Zeit. Logistics firms Kühne+Nagel and Hapag-Lloyd also have growing tech teams.
Do I need to speak German for tech jobs in Hamburg?
Many international companies and startups operate in English (About You, FREE NOW, some Airbus teams). However, German skills (B2+) open significantly more doors in Hamburg than in Berlin. Traditional employers like Otto Group, media companies, and logistics firms often require German. XING/New Work SE operates primarily in German.
What is the cost of living for software engineers in Hamburg?
Hamburg is more affordable than Munich and comparable to Frankfurt. A one-bedroom apartment costs €1,100–€1,800/month depending on neighborhood. A software engineer earning the median €72,000 takes home ~€4,100/month after taxes. After rent of ~€1,300, roughly €2,800 remains — comfortable, especially given Hamburg's excellent public transport and cultural offerings.
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