Field notes · Thu Apr 02 2026 20:00:00 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
Blue Card salary thresholds and what they mean for offer talks
How IT specialists should read salary numbers against Blue Card requirements before accepting a German employment offer.
When an offer arrives, the gross annual figure is only one number among several. For candidates who need an EU Blue Card, that figure must clear the applicable salary threshold for the year and occupation category. Shortage occupations can sit at a lower threshold; standard thresholds are higher.
We are not immigration lawyers. What we do in employment consulting is help you spot when an offer sits near a threshold so you can ask the employer precise questions — or seek licensed advice — before you resign elsewhere.
Also compare the offer to local bands for your city and seniority. A number that clears a visa threshold may still sit below market for a senior architect in München or Hamburg. Bring both lenses to the conversation: legality of sponsorship and fairness of pay.