The best companies to work for in Germany in 2025 | From automotive giants to tech leaders, Germany is home to top employers….
Choosing the right employer is crucial for job satisfaction and career growth. While job titles and locations matter, the company you work for can impact your salary, work-life balance, and professional development.
To help job seekers navigate the German job market, a new Statista survey conducted for Stern magazine identified the most popular employers in the country.
The study gathered insights from 34,000 employees, who rated their companies based on various factors and indicated whether they would recommend their workplace to others.
The top employer might surprise you
Contrary to expectations, a retail chain—not a tech giant or an automotive leader—claimed the top spot.
DM, the well-known drugstore chain, was ranked the best employer in Germany, scoring 88 out of 100 points—significantly above the average of 66.58 points.
While DM performed well in several areas, its commitment to sustainability was a key factor in its popularity.
Who else made it into the top 10?
Although the highest-ranking employer was unexpected, the top 10 list includes automakers, an aerospace company, a global tech brand, and a major sports company.
- Adidas dropped from first to second place, scoring 87.16 points. Employees praised the brand image and company growth.
- Google Germany moved up two spots to third place, receiving high ratings for career opportunities and professional development.
- BMW, Porsche, and Audi secured fourth, fifth, and sixth place, respectively.
- Teekanne, the tea manufacturer, made the biggest jump this year, climbing 50 places to seventh place.
- The German Aerospace Center (DLR) held onto eighth place.
- The pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim ranked ninth.
- The German subsidiary of Swiss chocolate brand Lindt & Sprüngli rounded out the top 10.
Germany’s top 25 employers in 2025
- DM – 88
- Adidas – 87.16
- Google Germany – 85.79
- BMW – 85.46
- Porsche – 84.58
- Audi – 83.34
- Teekanne – 83.05
- German Aerospace Center (DLR) – 82.69
- Boehringer Ingelheim – 82.54
- Lindt & Sprüngli Germany – 82.31
- Deutsche Bundesbank – 82.18
- Melitta – 81.59
- Mercedes-Benz – 81.58
- Techniker Krankenkasse – 81.36
- Airbus – 81.36
- Biontech – 80.91
- Bionorica – 80.90
- Coca-Cola Germany – 80.55
- Frosta – 80.45
- Kärcher – 80.20
- Dr. Oetker – 80.19
- Infineon – 80.15
- Roche – 79.96
- Haribo – 79.76
- Puma – 79.71
Best employers by industry
Beyond the overall rankings, the survey also identified top employers across different industries, including IT, healthcare, and hospitality.
Best employer for women: DM ranked first, followed by Google Germany, Adidas, Deutsche Bundesbank, and Adtran.
Best in IT & telecommunications: Microsoft Germany led the sector, followed by Datev, Atruvia, Bridging-IT, and Adtran.
Best in electronics: Kärcher took the top spot, followed by Infineon, Wago, Zeiss, and Busch-Jaeger.
Best in automotive: BMW, Porsche, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and Coroplast were the top choices.
Best in hospitality & tourism: Munich’s luxury hotel Bayerischer Hof ranked first, followed by TUI, FitX, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and AIDA Cruises.
Best in healthcare: The German Cancer Research Center led the sector, with Klinikum Niederlausitz, Universitätsklinikum Bonn,
Universitätsklinikum Münster, and Klinikum Bielefeld ranking next.
Best employer for career starters: Carglass was ranked the top employer for young professionals, followed by DM, Adidas, Google Germany, and IKEA.
How was the survey conducted?
The Statista research institute compiled the top 50 German employers by surveying over 34,000 employees via online panels.
Respondents rated their own companies and other companies in their sector, resulting in over one million individual evaluations.
The survey included over 50 criteria, such as brand image, job security, and career prospects.
The key metric was whether employees would recommend their employer—considered the “gold standard” by market researchers.
To be eligible for the ranking, companies needed at least 100 employee ratings and 500+ employees in Germany.
With 1,300 companies meeting the criteria, the top 650 were ranked, providing valuable insights for job seekers.
