Markt&Technik reports exclusively on the new 2020 salary comparison for the electronics industry published by management consultancy Interconsult.

"We expect a stable development at best for 2020, there are currently many reasons that are blocking growth," says Dietrich Graf von Reischach, Managing Director of management consultancy Interconsult, explaining the latest figures.

His team has specialized in the electronics and hi-tech sector since 1978 and compiles a salary comparison for the industry every spring. It is based on data collected in January and February 2020 and on the evaluation of 11,858 existing positions at 149 companies in Germany, with a focus on Hesse, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Of the 149 companies, 134 are manufacturers and 15 are distributors.

But even if the prospects are vague at the moment, engineers are among the high earners in the electronics industry in the field of microprocessor systems (compact PCI systems, VME and multibus boards, board level products, embedded hardware and software as well as industrial PCs).
According to the new report, development engineers fresh out of university start with an annual salary of 60,000 to 72,000 euros, including bonuses as well as Christmas and vacation bonuses. With three years of professional experience, the salary rises to up to 98,000 euros including all bonuses.

If specialist responsibility is added as a development group leader for more than two engineers or technicians, the income range is already between 118,000 and 135,000 euros.

Finally, development managers (with personnel responsibility for at least six engineers and technicians) earn a total of between 136,000 and 185,000 euros.

You can earn similarly well in product marketing. Product marketing engineers with up to 3 years of professional experience start at 75,000 to 107,000 euros and increase over the years to up to 145,000 euros. Product marketing managers with more than 4 years of experience and personnel responsibility earn between 145,000 and 185,000 euros.

Field service positions are even better paid

Field Application Engineers earn between 62,000 and 70,000 euros as a job starter, with up to three years of experience the salary increases to up to 111,000 euros, from three years of professional experience there is up to 144,000 euros.

Sales engineers with up to 3 years of field sales experience receive 94,000 to 121,000 euros including all bonuses and payments. Experienced area sales managers with personnel responsibility for at least one engineer or technician earn between 165,000 and 186,000 euros. Overall sales managers with more than six years' experience and responsibility for more than three engineers and technicians earn up to 225,000 euros.

Managing Directors earn between 233,000 and 297,000 euros, Managing Director Europe 275,000 to 359,000 euros.