Software Engineer Salary in Stuttgart (2026)
Stuttgart is Germany's automotive capital, and that shapes its entire tech market. Software engineers in Stuttgart earn €60,000–€105,000 per year, with a median around €78,000 — placing the city firmly between Berlin and Munich. What makes Stuttgart unique is the automotive premium: Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Bosch employ thousands of engineers, many under IG Metall contracts that add 15–25% in total compensation through 13th-month salaries and profit sharing.
Key Facts
- Stuttgart software engineers earn €60K–€105K/year, 5–10% above Berlin
- IG Metall contracts add 15–25% to total compensation via bonuses and profit sharing
- Best purchasing power of any major German tech city — 18% lower rent than Munich
- Mercedes-Benz invests €3 billion annually in digitalization
- Embedded systems + autonomous driving expertise commands the highest premiums
Salary by Experience Level
- Junior (0–2 years): €48,000–€58,000
- Mid-level (3–5 years): €62,000–€82,000
- Senior (6+ years): €80,000–€105,000
How Stuttgart Compares
Stuttgart pays 5–10% above Berlin in base salary and sits 10–15% below Munich. However, Stuttgart offers the best purchasing power of any major German tech city — rent is 18% lower than Munich. A Stuttgart engineer at €78K keeps roughly €400/month more than a Munich engineer at €92K after housing costs.
Key Employer Landscape
Automotive OEMs dominate: Mercedes-Benz employs thousands of software engineers across autonomous driving, MBUX, and digital services. Porsche's digital engineering team is expanding rapidly. Bosch's AI Center in Renningen is one of Europe's premier industrial AI research labs. HPE's European headquarters in Böblingen and Vector Informatik round out the major employers.
Skills That Command Premium
Engineers with embedded systems (C/C++, Rust), autonomous driving (computer vision, sensor fusion, ROS2), or Industry 4.0 expertise earn at the top of the range. The software-defined vehicle shift means cloud platforms, OTA updates, and vehicle API development are high-demand skills. IG Metall contracts at OEMs add 13th-month salary and profit sharing worth €3,000–€9,000/year.
Top Hiring Companies
Career Advice
Target Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, or Bosch for IG Metall benefits — the 35-hour work week, 13th-month salary, and profit sharing significantly boost total comp. If you can bridge software and automotive domains (embedded, ADAS, vehicle cloud), you command premium pay. Stuttgart rewards specialization: bring modern software skills to an industry that desperately needs them.
Software Engineer Insights — Stuttgart
Software Engineer salaries in Stuttgart range from €60,000 to €105,000, a 58% spread that reflects significant variation based on experience level, specialization, and company size. The median of €78,000 sits below the midpoint, suggesting more positions cluster toward the entry-to-mid-level end of the range.
Stuttgart's cost of living index of 82/100 makes it one of the more expensive locations for tech professionals. While the €78,000 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 Stuttgart is anchored by employers like Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Bosch, 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 Stuttgart centers around expertise in C/C++, Python, Java, plus 2 other core competencies. Candidates with strong proficiency across these areas tend to command offers closer to the €105,000 ceiling, and have natural transition paths into roles like Senior Software Engineer or Backend Developer.
Related Roles in Stuttgart
Explore salary information for similar positions and compare compensation across different roles.
| Role | Location | Salary Range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Software Engineer | Stuttgart | €80,000 - €125,000 | €92,000 |
| Frontend Developer | Stuttgart | €52,000 - €90,000 | €68,000 |
| Data Engineer | Stuttgart | €55,000 - €98,000 | €70,000 |
| Senior Data Scientist | Stuttgart | €78,000 - €120,000 | €88,000 |
| Senior Product Manager | Stuttgart | €82,000 - €125,000 | €95,000 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average software engineer salary in Stuttgart?
Software engineers in Stuttgart earn €60,000–€105,000 per year, with a median around €78,000. Junior engineers start at €48,000–€58,000, mid-level roles pay €62,000–€82,000, and senior engineers at OEMs or in specialized domains earn €80,000–€105,000. IG Metall benefits can add 15–25% in total compensation.
How does Stuttgart compare to Munich for software engineer salaries?
Munich pays 10–15% more in nominal salary (median ~€92K vs Stuttgart's ~€78K). However, Stuttgart's cost of living is 18% lower than Munich when including rent. After housing costs, Stuttgart engineers keep roughly €400/month more than Munich engineers at comparable levels — often making Stuttgart the better deal for purchasing power.
Which companies hire the most software engineers in Stuttgart?
Mercedes-Benz (autonomous driving, MBUX, digital services), Porsche (digital engineering, e-mobility), Bosch (IoT, Industry 4.0, AI), HPE (European HQ in Böblingen), and Vector Informatik (automotive tools). Engineering consultancies like Capgemini Engineering, EDAG, and Bertrandt also have large Stuttgart operations.
Do I need to speak German for tech jobs in Stuttgart?
More so than Berlin. Cross-functional work with manufacturing, quality, and supply chain teams at OEMs often happens in German. English-first teams exist in autonomous driving, AI research, and digital services divisions, but German proficiency (B2+) significantly expands your options. Rule of thumb: international R&D → English works; anything touching manufacturing → German preferred.
What is the cost of living for software engineers in Stuttgart?
Stuttgart is cheaper than Munich but comparable to Berlin. A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre costs €1,000–€1,200/month (vs €1,600–€2,800 in Munich). A software engineer earning €78,000 takes home ~€4,200/month after taxes. After rent of ~€1,100, roughly €3,100 remains — comfortable and significantly more than in Munich at comparable salary levels.
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