Mechanical engineer
Your mechanical engineering skills are sought after in Germany's largest industrial sector, and we help you get there.
The profession
The mechanical engineer designs, calculates and develops machines, systems and components, from concept through to production.
Salary
The starting salary is around 4,540 € per month, and the median salary, across all experience levels, around 6,412 € per month (about 77,000 € per year) (source: Entgeltatlas, Bundesagentur für Arbeit, 2025).
Employers hiring
Bosch, Siemens, ThyssenKrupp, SEW-Eurodrive, Trumpf, GEA, Krones, Voith and ZF Friedrichshafen are hiring, as machine and plant engineering (Maschinen- und Anlagenbau) is the leading industrial sector.
Prospects
Prospects are strong, among the largest pools of open engineering positions.
Career progression
You can progress to project manager, head of the design office, technical expert or management.
Language level
B2 is the level employers expect and it opens the engineering market; English is realistic in some research and development teams and in large international groups. B2 is what we aim for with you.
Diploma recognition
Engineering is not a regulated profession for working: your degree is assessed through the anabin database and, if needed, a ZAB statement of comparability. The title Ingenieur is protected by the laws of the Länder and its use may require authorisation, but this is not required to be employed. We have your degree assessed and guide you.
Visa
As a university graduate, you qualify for the EU Blue Card: the 2025 salary threshold is around 48,300 € gross per year, lowered to about 43,760 € for shortage occupations such as engineering (source: immigration legal frameworks, 2025). The qualified worker visa for an academic degree and the Chancenkarte (opportunity card) are other routes. We check your eligibility and build the application with you.
Your Karriere Fähre support
We train you in German up to the useful level, have your degree assessed, present your profile to German employers, prepare the Blue Card or visa application and support you through to your arrival.
Frequently asked questions
- Is my foreign degree recognised?
- Your degree is assessed through the anabin database and, if needed, a ZAB statement of comparability, which we handle with you.
- Is English enough?
- English is enough in some research and development teams, but it is B2 in German that truly opens the market.
Indicative gross ranges from public German sources (Federal Employment Agency, Entgeltatlas, Gehalt.de, StepStone, VDI). Engineering pay depends on sector, region, company size and experience. Degree-recognition and visa rules change: always check your case with the competent German authorities.