Germany EU Blue Card Salary Thresholds for 2026
21 June 2026 · 4 min read
The EU Blue Card is Germany's main route for university-educated skilled workers. The single thing most applicants get wrong is the salary requirement, because there isn't one number, there are two.
The two thresholds (2026)
- General threshold: €50,700 gross per year, the standard minimum for most occupations.
- Lower threshold: €45,934.20 gross per year, for shortage occupations, recent graduates, and IT specialists, and it needs Federal Employment Agency approval.
Who qualifies for the lower threshold
- Regulated shortage (bottleneck) occupations: IT, engineering, natural sciences, mathematics, architecture, and human, dental and veterinary medicine.
- Recent graduates whose degree was obtained within the last three years.
- IT specialists without a formal degree but with relevant professional experience.
How the figures are set
Both thresholds are tied to Germany's pension-insurance contribution ceiling and reset every year, the general threshold is 50% of that ceiling and the lower one is 45.3%. That's why the numbers move annually, so always check the current year before relying on them.
This article is general information to help you plan, not legal advice. Figures change often, always confirm the current rules on the official government source. For case-specific guidance, consult a licensed immigration professional.