July 11, 2025, 3:06 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
A 2022 leak revealed that the tech company reportedly pays its employees exceptionally well. However, much has changed since then—TECHBOOK has gathered information on salaries at Google and which positions earn the most.
In Germany, the average full-time employee earns about 4,600 euros (gross) per month. This is shown in a survey by the Federal Statistical Office (as of July 2025). Annually, this amounts to around 55,700 euros—a salary that Google employees in the U.S. likely wouldn’t lift a finger for, as the median income there is nearly three times higher.
Overview
How Much You Can Earn at Google
The average salary of a U.S. Google employee in 2022 was about $280,000 annually, which converts to approximately 255,227 euros. This information comes from internal Google documents made public by “Business Insider.” The figures are based on surveys—12,000 employees voluntarily disclosed how much they earn at Google, as well as details about stock packages and general bonuses from their employer.
While there is no new internal list available, data from the H-1B visa program provides insight into the range of salaries. Google must report these figures for foreign workers to the U.S. Department of Labor. It’s important to note that these figures do not include information on stock equity and bonus payments.
The average salary at Google is thus 179,553 USD (154,000 euros), while the median salary is 182,000 USD (156,000 euros). The top 25 percent of the company earn an average of 192,000 USD (164,000 euros), and the top 10 percent earn 220,000 USD (188,000 euros).
Google Software Developers Earn Especially High Salaries
Software developers at Google can earn up to 340,000 USD (291,000 euros). According to official data, this job position has the most entries. In this role, employees receive at least 109,000 USD (93,000 euros) and an average of 180,000 USD (154,000 euros). The dizzying heights from the 2022 leak are not found in the official data. There, employees reported a salary of around 654,000 euros—more than double. The highest salary currently listed in the database is 550,000 USD (471,000 euros), although no job title is associated with it.
Research scientists are also very well paid, earning up to 324,480 USD (278,000 euros). With a base salary of 155,000 USD (133,000 euros), they start significantly higher.
How Are These Salary Differences Justified?
Software developers in Germany also generally earn quite well. Exactly how much depends, of course, on the nature of their employment and the size and financial strength of the company they work for. According to the Federal Employment Agency, the average annual salary in a managerial position in software development in Germany is about 85,200 euros, far removed from the figures at Google. To some extent, the significantly higher cost of living in the U.S. explains why people there earn more on average than in Germany.
But don’t forget: Google is a mega-corporation. Its CEO, Sundar Pichai, reportedly earned an incredible 226 million USD (about 206 million euros) in 2022—this is according to a statement from Alphabet, Google’s parent company, to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
How much does cash cost?
Demand for European Cloud Alternatives Grows
How Does WhatsApp Actually Earn Money?
What Google Says About Its Salaries
There are certainly internal matters that would be more uncomfortable if they were made public. Google appears as an attractive employer through the now-published reports. In response to inquiries from “Business Insider,” a Google spokesperson described the compensation, which also includes a range of additional benefits, as “market-competitive.” Additionally, Google employees in America reportedly have significantly more vacation time than is typical at other companies.
However, even though the published data provides a unique and likely quite informative insight into the dimensions of U.S. salaries at Google, they should not be overestimated. Remember: Not all Google employees participated in the survey; only volunteers. It’s quite possible that those earning less chose not to participate.