EU Blue Card Minimum Salary in Germany (2026)
The 2026 EU Blue Card salary thresholds are €45,934.20 for shortage occupations (including all IT and software engineering roles) and €50,700 for all other professions. These figures are legally binding and published annually by the Federal Ministry of the Interior.
2026 thresholds at a glance
IT & shortage occupations
€45,934.20
gross / year · €3,828 / month
All other professions
€50,700
gross / year · €4,225 / month
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Full salary threshold table (2026)
| Category | Annual | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| IT roles (ISCO-08 group 25) | €45,934.20 | €3,828 |
| Other shortage occupations | €45,934.20 | €3,828 |
| IT specialist — no degree (§18g exception) | €45,934.20 | €3,828 |
| All other professions (general) | €50,700 | €4,225 |
| New graduate (degree within last 3 years) | €45,934.20 | €3,828 |
Source: BMI Bekanntmachung, 18 December 2025.
2025 vs. 2026: how much did the threshold change?
IT & shortage occupations
2025
€43,759.80
2026
€45,934.20
Change
+€2,174
General threshold
2025
€49,600
2026
€50,700
Change
+€1,100
The shortage-occupation threshold tracks the average gross salary for ICT professionals as reported in the German earnings survey. It rises roughly in line with wage inflation in the IT sector and is recalculated each December.
Which professions qualify at €45,934.20?
The lower threshold applies to all roles under ISCO-08 group 25(ICT professionals) and other occupations on the Federal Employment Agency's shortage list. For IT workers, every role listed below qualifies:
SAP functional consultants (ISCO-08 group 242) may fall under the general €50,700 threshold depending on role classification. Your employer confirms the ISCO code on the Employment Declaration form.
What counts — and what doesn't
Counts towards the threshold
- Base salary (fixed, contractual)
- Guaranteed contractual allowances
- 13th month salary if contractually guaranteed
Does not count
- Performance or discretionary bonuses
- Overtime pay
- Employer pension contributions
- Relocation allowances
- Stock options or RSUs
The Employment Declaration form completed by your employer states the annual gross salary — this is the figure the consulate checks. Make sure your offer letter and the form show the same number.
What if your salary offer is below the threshold?
Negotiate to meet the threshold
Many German employers are aware of the €45,934.20 threshold and will adjust an offer that comes in slightly below it. Frame it as a legal requirement, not a negotiation.
Consider the §19c(2) IT specialist visa
If your offer is €45,630–€45,933, the §19c(2) IT specialist visa has a lower threshold (€45,630) and requires 2 years of experience rather than a formal degree. The Blue Card gives better long-term rights (faster settlement permit, EU mobility) — but if you need the visa now, §19c(2) is a viable bridge.
Consider the Chancenkarte
If you do not yet have a German job offer, the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) lets you enter Germany to search. Once you have an offer above the threshold, you convert to a Blue Card. No job offer required to apply.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum salary for the EU Blue Card in Germany in 2026?
The minimum gross annual salary for the EU Blue Card in Germany in 2026 is €45,934.20 for shortage occupations (including IT, software engineering, and most ISCO-08 group 25 roles) and €50,700 for all other professions. These figures were published by the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) on 18 December 2025.
What is the EU Blue Card salary threshold for IT professionals in 2026?
IT professionals under ISCO-08 group 25 (software engineers, data engineers, DevOps engineers, ML engineers, cybersecurity engineers, cloud engineers, full stack developers, Java developers, and SAP consultants) qualify at the shortage occupation threshold of €45,934.20 gross per year in 2026.
How much has the EU Blue Card salary threshold changed from 2025 to 2026?
The shortage occupation threshold increased from €43,759.80 (2025) to €45,934.20 (2026) — a rise of approximately €2,174.40 per year (4.97%). The general threshold increased from €49,600 (2025) to €50,700 (2026) — a rise of €1,100 per year (2.22%).
What if my salary offer is below the Blue Card threshold?
If your offer is below €45,934.20 for an IT role, you do not qualify for the Blue Card at the shortage threshold. Options: (1) negotiate the salary to meet the threshold; (2) consider the §19c(2) IT specialist visa which has a €45,630 threshold and requires 2 years of experience rather than a formal degree; (3) check whether the Chancenkarte applies if you do not yet have a German job offer.
Does the EU Blue Card salary threshold include bonuses?
Only guaranteed contractual salary counts towards the threshold. Performance bonuses, discretionary bonuses, and one-time payments do not count. The figure on your employment contract (Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis) must be at or above the threshold.
What is €45,934.20 per month?
€45,934.20 per year is approximately €3,827.85 gross per month. For comparison, a typical mid-level software engineer in Berlin or Munich earns €65,000–€85,000, well above this threshold.
Free · No login required · 90 seconds
Check your eligibility in 90 seconds
GermanyTalent applies the official rules to your actual degree, experience, and points — and gives you a personalised result with exactly what to prepare.
The EU Blue Card is Germany's fastest route to permanent residence — 21 months with B1 German.
No email required to see your result.
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Last updated: 2026-04-26 — Sources: BMI Bekanntmachung December 2025, §18g AufenthG, Make it in Germany