Every year, we commission a study to determine what mechanical, software, business, and other engineers earn and the range of their salaries. An electronics engineer, for example, earns between 4,223 and 6,832 euros gross. The median salary is 5,412 euros. You can download the latest report here.
According to the findings, engineers at companies that pay according to collective bargaining agreements earn, on average, nearly 21 percent more than those at companies not bound by such agreements. Economists in the metal and electrical industries, for example, also benefit significantly from collective bargaining agreements.
The rule is: If a company has collective bargaining agreements in place with us, these serve as minimum standards for members and must not be undercut during individual contract negotiations.
Strong Pay Growth
Our collective bargaining agreements generally provide members with significant salary growth. For example, salaries increase by an average of 10 percent in the first year after starting a career, without the need for additional individual negotiations. In addition to increases based on length of service, there are regular raises following successful collective bargaining rounds.
These benefits attract students: In 2018, we welcomed our 50,000th student member. More and more of them rely on earning their own living. We work together with students to ensure fair working conditions and good study conditions that make it possible to balance studies and work.
Check for Collective Bargaining Agreement Coverage
As a general rule, those who work at a company covered by a collective bargaining agreement after graduating from college usually earn significantly more than employees not covered by such an agreement. However, even if a company is bound by a collective bargaining agreement, employees have a legally binding right to the benefits agreed upon in the agreement only if they are members of the union that negotiated the agreement.
For college graduates, it’s worth paying attention to collective bargaining coverage right from the start of your job search. And if a company doesn’t have a collective bargaining agreement, that doesn’t have to be a permanent situation. An active workforce can fight to secure a collective bargaining agreement.
