[tiatia]

Germany's real secret is that they don't pay their engineers.

An engineer, even with a PhD from a world class university, makes around 55k. Even in cities like Munich they will laugh about you if you request 60k.

Sure, if you have tons of experience, industry contacts etc., maybe more SOMETIMES. But let's get back to the 55k. A short internet search (www.nettolohn.de) tells us this is approximately 2600 Euro net pay per month. And this is for a full time job that is likely very stressful and comes with tons of responsibility. An English teacher in China (Shanghai, Beijing) can make 3000 Euro net a month.

Even if you claim my numbers are a bit off. It gives you an idea.

[quonn]

First of all, you have to adjust this for the cost of living and the fact that employers have to pay about half of the health insurance and retirement savings cost on top of the salary as well as three or four weeks of payed holidays etc. 55k Euros in Munich is easily worth more than $100k in the US.

Second, a CS graduate can certainly get 60k in Munich and a PhD will likely have 70k or more. At BMW this may be 80k or more.

[taway_1212]

From what I can tell, the pay in UK, France, Spain, Italy is similar or worse. I guess that's how we roll in Europe.

[s3nnyy]

This is why I moved to Switzerland.