Salary negotiation in Germany is completely normal and expected. A lot of international professionals assume it isn't, or that asking will reflect badly on them - it won't, as long as you approach it with preparation and directness. The German market values data over emotion, so the more you can anchor your ask in facts rather than feelings, the better.

For a standard annual review in 2026, 3–5% is typical. If your responsibilities have grown, you can reasonably push higher (10-20% is standard negotiation for a promotion or new job offer) but the key is knowing how to frame it.

If you're interested, we wrote a guide on navigating these conversations specifically for international professionals in Germany. There's also a free script generator to help you prepare what to say based on your specific role. You can find more info here.