Germany has one of the lowest unemployment rates in Europe, standing at 3.4% (15–74 y/o), according to . It also has the work-life balance everyone dreams about, and Sundays are for rest only.
If you’re wondering which city in Germany would be the perfect fit for your career goals, we’ve created a list of the 10 best cities for work.
Here are the 10 best cities in Germany for work:
- Munich
- Hamburg
- Berlin
- Frankfurt
- Dusseldorf
- Nuremberg
- Cologne
- Stuttgart
- Hanover
- Leipzig
10 Best Cities in Germany for Work [Visualized]
1. Munich
Average Salary: €58,199
Quality of Life Index: 190.7
Total Cost of Living per Month: €2,511
According to the , Munich has the lowest unemployment rate as of December 2024 at 3.8% The city’s strongest sectors are healthcare, ICT, business-support services, and social services.
Demand is high for people with STEM qualifications, and workers in trades sector and construction. Two global players, the BMW Group and commercial vehicle manufacturer MAN, call the Munich Metropolitan Region home.
After work, you can relax with a nice Bavarian meal and a gigantic mug of beer at one of Munich’s beer gardens.
2. Hamburg
Average Salary: €58,158
Quality of Life Index: 187.6
Total Cost of Living per Month: €2,184
Hamburg, as the second largest city in Germany, is a port city and trading center. The city is strong in technology fields, like civil aviation, wind energy, laser and X-ray technology and port logistics.
Over 1,000 companies, 33 of them global market leaders, are based in Hamburg, putting Hamburg in first place in the location ranking of the SME portal “Die Deutsche Wirtschaft” (DDW), with a location score of 2.07.
A must-visit in Hamburg is the largest model railway system in the world, Miniatur Wunderland!
3. Berlin
Average Salary: €56,502
Quality of Life Index: 172.9
Total Cost of Living per Month: €2,260
Berlin is a modern industrial location offering attractive conditions for start-up companies looking to set up production here with a good mix of future technologies.
Berlin’s important industries are chemical and pharmaceutical industry, food industry and tobacco processing, metal industry, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and transport technology. Deutsche Bahn AG and Alstom, global leaders in the rail technology market are based in Berlin.
Just walking around Berlin, seeing buildings and graffiti is a pleasure of its own. You can enjoy a currywurst while you’re at it!
4. Frankfurt
Average Salary: €55,714
Quality of Life Index: 195.7
Total Cost of Living per Month: €2,334
Frankfurt is the center of the German logistics and mobility industries. Home to one of Europe’s largest airports and Germany’s busiest train station, Frankfurt has an ideal transport infrastructure, one that has expanded massively over time.
The positive development of the logistics and mobility industries has led many international research centers and training institutions to establish themselves in FrankfurtRheinMain.
Visit Frankfurt am Main, and attend the world’s biggest trade fair for books, The Frankfurt Book Fair.
5. Dusseldorf
Average Salary: €54,478
Quality of Life Index: 190.0
Total Cost of Living per Month: €2,026
Düsseldorf is the perfect city for the service sector. The Rhine/Ruhr region gives law firms access to important industrial and banking clients. This provides ideal conditions for firms focused on commercial law. Düsseldorf is also a leader in industrial property rights.
Because Düsseldorf’s courts are worldwide known for their efficient rulings, and court cases are way cheaper than in London or the USA, a lot of global companies are going to Düsseldorf for major decisions. Düsseldorf is home to Europe’s main patent court.
Go to Königsallee and enjoy the view! Thank me later.
6. Nuremberg
Average Salary: €54,247
Quality of Life Index: 188.0
Total Cost of Living per Month: €1,865
The Nuremberg Economic Region’s strong points are in IT and medicine, and in developing technological solutions for applications in energy, transport, and medicine.
Its goods and services, 49% of which are intended for export, are brought by two million people at 150,000 companies.
Get your camera and take a few snapshots of the beautiful Nuremberg Castle!
7. Cologne
Average Salary: €52,280
Quality of Life Index: 176.7
Total Cost of Living per Month: €2,076
The financial and professional services sector – insurance/InsurTech, banking, consulting, real estate, and corporate services – is booming in Cologne.
International companies that choose to expand into the Rhenish capital or set up here will be off to a flying start, because of locational advantages: easy access to professional talent, important customers, and low commercial rents.
Visit Cologne Cathedral, a World Heritage Site, and be speechless by its beauty.
8. Stuttgart
Average Salary: €55,000
Quality of Life Index: 191.1
Total Cost of Living per Month: €2,126
The mechanical engineering companies and automotive suppliers work at a world level in Stuttgart. Many of them are world market leaders.
The IT industry in the region, also very strong, focuses on virtual reality, and software development. The Stuttgart Stock Exchange and over 100 local banking institutions make Stuttgart a prime location for the financial industry. Aerospace also has a promising future.
If you’re a car lover, don’t miss the Mercedes-Benz and Porsche Museums!
9. Hannover
Average Salary: €48,249
Quality of Life Index: 188.85
Total Cost of Living per Month: €1,900
Hannover is an internationally known trade show and conference location. It is state capital of Lower Saxony and hometown of universal genius Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz.
Lately, Hannover has created potential for entrepreneurship, helping conventional industrial and service sectors. Hannover has also been named a UNESCO City of Music.
Visit Herrenhäuser Gärten for breathtaking sights!
10. Leipzig
Average Salary: €42,090
Quality of Life Index: 193.89
Total Cost of Living per Month: €1,695
Leipzig is an important industrial center. It’s a magnet for young creatives. International industry giants from many sectors continue to invest and set up their headquarters in Leipzig.
From automotive brands like Porsche and BMW, manufacturers including Siemens and DB Schenker, and logistics companies such as DHL and Amazon– each are contributing to the city’s economy.
The five main industries in Leipzig are: Automotive and Suppliers, Healthcare and Biotech, Energy and Environment, Logistics, and IT.
Go back in time by visiting the Monument to the Battle of the Nations.
Methodology for Ranking the 10 Best Cities in Germany for Work in 2025
In our 2025 ranking of the 10 Best Cities in Germany for Work, we took into consideration the average salaries based on Salary Expert data, the Quality of Life Index from Numbeo, and a summary of each city’s economic strength, job opportunities, and location.