Indian professionals working in Germany have achieved a remarkable milestone, securing the highest median salary among all foreign nationalities in the country. This news comes from a recent study and has drawn praise from international commentators, highlighting the significant value of the Indian workforce on the global stage.
Praise from Political Analyst and the Numbers Behind It
Right-wing political analyst Richard Hanania, known for his previous defense of H-1B visas and criticism of anti-Indian sentiment in some US conservative circles, publicly applauded this achievement. On social media platform X, he remarked, "Indians win again. How can a group be so beneficial while bringing no harms across so many countries? It’s absolutely awe inspiring." Hanania has previously championed Indian-Americans against figures like Steve Bannon and Ron DeSantis, citing their high earnings in the US.
His comments follow the release of concrete data from the employer-linked Institute of the German Economy (IW). The 2024 report shows that the median gross monthly wage for Indian workers in Germany reached €5,393. This figure surpasses the earnings of workers from Austria (€5,322), the United States (€5,307), and Ireland (€5,233).
Why Indian Professionals Command Premium Salaries
The study provides clear reasons for this salary leadership. A primary factor is the strong concentration of Indian nationals in high-skilled, high-demand sectors. Many are employed in technical and academic jobs, particularly in MINT fields (Mathematics, IT, Natural Sciences, and Engineering).
The data is compelling: the number of Indians working in MINT occupations in Germany has grown almost nine times since 2012, now exceeding 32,800. About one-third of full-time Indian workers aged 25 to 44 are employed in these sectors. This trend is fueled by a substantial rise in Indian students choosing Germany for higher education, many of whom stay on after graduation to contribute to research and innovation.
The impact is visible in innovation metrics as well. Patent applications involving inventors of Indian origin increased twelvefold between 2000 and 2022, underscoring their role in Germany's knowledge economy.
A Deliberate Success Story for Germany
IW expert Axel Plünnecke described skilled immigration from India as "a particular success story." This outcome is no accident. Since 2012, the German government has actively recruited skilled professionals from outside the European Union, focusing on academic and technical roles. This policy push continued in 2024, with then-Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government introducing a range of measures specifically designed to encourage and facilitate immigration from India.
The salary comparison reveals the scale of this success. While the overall median gross income for all foreign workers in Germany was €3,204, and German workers earned €4,177, Indian employees' median pay was about €1,200 higher than that of their German counterparts.
The IW analysis covered nationalities with more than 5,000 full-time employees in Germany, using official data from the Federal Employment Agency, ensuring a robust and representative picture of the employment landscape.
