Key takeaways
- Large firms ask for B2 German less often than small firms. Among firms with 250 or more employees, 26% generally ask for at least B2. Among firms with fewer than 10, it is 54% (IAB).
- Research institutes, international companies and tech start-ups are where the sources most often report English as the team language.
- Search with English and German phrases, because the job search of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit is only in German.
- Apply in the language of the job ad. If you write your CV in English, keep the German style.
- Even some German helps. 15% of firms hire people with lower German if they are actively taking a German course (IAB).
- On Indeed, 2.7% of ads created in Germany between September 2023 and August 2024 were marked “no German required” (Indeed Hiring Lab, 22 Oct 2024).
- You are far from alone. In October 2025, about 5.9 million of the 35.2 million employees with social insurance in Germany had a foreign nationality (Deutscher Bundestag, hib 461/2026, 10 Jun 2026).
If you already know where you want to apply, start with your documents. A German CV in English uses the German layout and sections, but in the language of the ad. For the full process from search to contract, read our guide on how to find a job in Germany.
Can you work in Germany with only English?
Yes, but it depends a lot on the employer, the sector and whether you talk to customers.
Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg puts it simply. Some firms, especially large international companies and research institutes, may not require German, but they need excellent English. Small and medium sized firms employ most workers in Germany, and there the language at work is usually German (OVGU Magdeburg, retrieved 31 Oct 2026). The same page warns that a lack of German “may become a problem as soon as German-speaking customers are involved”.
Other university career services say the same, sometimes more strongly:
- The University of Konstanz says that in many sectors you have no chance without fluent German, and that German skills keep you from depending on “the few English-speaking positions” (University of Konstanz, retrieved 31 Oct 2026).
- The University of Würzburg calls B2 German essential for the regional job market (University of Würzburg, retrieved 31 Oct 2026).
- TU Chemnitz says most companies and institutions expect graduates to speak with customers in German. Some clients prefer German in negotiations, and some staff, for example in production, speak only German (TU Chemnitz, retrieved 31 Oct 2026).
Key point: English only jobs are real, but they are a minority. Your chances are best where the team is international and the customers are not mainly German speaking.
Where English is the working language
There is no official statistic that counts English speaking jobs in Germany by sector. What we have are surveys about German requirements and statements from universities and research bodies. The table sums up what the sources show.
| Area | What the source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Research institutes and university departments | At many research institutions, especially in the sciences, English is the main language in the team and for academic work | research-in-germany.org |
| Large and international companies | May not require German, but need excellent English | OVGU Magdeburg, Ulm University |
| Tech start-ups | 54% use English as their official company language. 59% say their skilled workers don’t need German (survey of 203 tech start-ups, 2023) | Bitkom |
| Hospitality | 30% of firms ask for B2 German, the lowest share of all sectors in the survey | IAB |
| Transport and storage (logistics) | 37% of firms ask for B2 German, the second lowest share | IAB |
| Finance and insurance, education, health and social care | Highest B2 German demand: 79%, 76% and 74% of firms | IAB |
All sources retrieved 31 Oct 2026.
Read the hospitality and logistics rows with care. A lower German requirement does not mean the job is in English. It means more firms in these sectors accept applicants with less German.
What job ads say: the Indeed data
A second view comes from job ads. Since 2022, employers on Indeed can mark an ad “Keine Deutschkenntnisse erforderlich” (no German required). Indeed’s research team, Hiring Lab, counted how often they do (Indeed Hiring Lab, 22 Oct 2024, retrieved 1 Nov 2026):
| Ads created on Indeed, Sep 2023 to Aug 2024 | Share marked “no German required” |
|---|---|
| All ads in Germany | 2.7% |
| Cleaning | 14.5% |
| Food and hospitality | 8.2% |
| Warehousing | 6.1% |
| Software development | 3.7% |
| Netherlands, for comparison | 7.8% |
Two limits: the study only covers ads created directly on Indeed, and it counts ads that waive German, not ads written in English. Still, it matches the IAB survey. Jobs without German exist, but they are a small part of the market.
Key point: In software development, fewer than 4 in 100 Indeed ads waived German. Even in tech, check every ad for its language line.
Tip: Ulm University suggests checking whether a company exports to your home country or works with firms there.
Research and science
This is the clearest case. The research portal research-in-germany.org says that at work “you should get by perfectly well with English”. It still advises you to learn basic German for daily life (research-in-germany.org, retrieved 31 Oct 2026).
Large and international companies
Ulm University’s advice for people who prefer English: focus your search on big companies. It also suggests checking whether a company exports to your home country or works with firms there (Ulm University, retrieved 31 Oct 2026). The IAB data fits this. Large firms are less likely to set a general B2 hurdle, though the researcher Alexander Kubis notes that their room to move depends a lot on the job profile (IAB).
Tech and start-ups
In Bitkom’s 2023 survey of 203 tech start-ups, more than half used English as their company language (Bitkom, 18 Sep 2023, retrieved 31 Oct 2026). Keep in mind that this survey is from 2023 and covers start-ups only, not all IT employers.
Hospitality and logistics
Here, firms are the least strict about German (IAB). That does not tell you the job is in English. As soon as German speaking customers are involved, missing German can become a problem (OVGU Magdeburg).
How to find English speaking jobs
1. Use the job search of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit
The Federal Employment Agency runs a public job search, the Jobsuche. Its own English page says the job search is only in German (Bundesagentur für Arbeit, retrieved 31 Oct 2026). That is not a big problem. You type the kind of work into the first field, add a place and a radius, and then open more filters with “Filter einblenden”, for example for part time work (Bundesagentur für Arbeit, Leichte Sprache, retrieved 31 Oct 2026).
We did not find an official filter for “job ad written in English”. So use search phrases instead (see the table below). Which other job sites have an English filter or list only English-speaking jobs is in our comparison of job sites in Germany.
2. Search with the right phrases
Combine your job title with one of these phrases. The German ones matter because many English speaking teams still post their ads in German.
| Phrase in the ad | What it usually tells you |
|---|---|
| “working language English”, “company language English” | The team works in English |
| “no German required”, “German is a plus” | German is not a must for this role |
| “Arbeitssprache Englisch” | German for “working language English” |
| “Deutschkenntnisse von Vorteil” | German for “German is an advantage”, so not required |
| “Englisch verhandlungssicher”, “sehr gute Englischkenntnisse” | They want very strong English. The rest of the job may still be in German |
| “sehr gute Deutschkenntnisse”, “Deutsch fließend” | They expect fluent German |
[Job title] "working language English" [Job title] "company language English" [Job title] "no German required" [Job title] "German is a plus" [Job title] "Arbeitssprache Englisch" [Job title] "Deutschkenntnisse von Vorteil"
The table is a translation aid, not a rule. Read the full ad. TU Chemnitz points out that a job that requires English does not mean you should apply in English (TU Chemnitz). If an ad mixes both languages, our job ad analyzer shows which German level it asks for and which skills matter most.
3. Go to career pages directly
You usually apply directly to the company, often through its website (Bundesagentur für Arbeit). Make a short list of large and international employers in your field and region, then check their career pages every week. For research jobs, the employer database on research-in-germany.org lists universities and research institutes.
4. Use your university’s career service
If you study or studied in Germany, your career service is free and knows the local market. Several, like Ulm, run their own job search service and point to the Bundesagentur’s list of job portals (Ulm University).
5. Ask a Welcome Center
Several cities and states run Welcome Centers for international professionals, and some advise in English. All sources retrieved 1 Nov 2026:
- Berlin: the Berlin Welcome Center gives free, multilingual advice, including on job search and German courses.
- Hamburg: the Hamburg Welcome Center is a central contact point for working in Hamburg and has a job newsletter.
- Munich: amiga, run by the City of Munich, offers advice, seminars and a digital job fair.
- Hesse, including Frankfurt: WELCOMECENTER Hessen advises in German, English, Spanish or Arabic, including tips for applications and interviews.
6. Meet people in your field
People who already work at a company can tell you how it hires and which teams work in English. On Meetup you can search groups and events by interest and city (retrieved 1 Nov 2026), for example a data, product or engineering group. Pick one or two groups and go regularly.
Try the German layout
Type your jobs. Watch them turn into a Lebenslauf.
How much German helps
Even in an English job, German makes a difference. And it doesn’t have to be perfect.
| CEFR level | What it means (short) | What it does for your job search |
|---|---|---|
| A1 to A2 | Basic user: simple everyday phrases and routine tasks | Shows effort. Helps with daily life and small talk at work |
| B1 | Independent user: handles familiar topics at work and in daily life | TU Chemnitz recommends applying in German from B1 (TU Chemnitz) |
| B2 | Independent user: talks with native speakers without strain for either side | The level 57% of firms expected for their last vacancy (IAB) |
| C1 to C2 | Proficient user: fluent and precise, also in complex work topics | Meets the B2 level that most firms in the IAB survey expect |
Level descriptions summarised from the Council of Europe CEFR global scale, retrieved 31 Oct 2026.
Three facts that show why learning German pays off:
- 15% of firms hire people below B2 if they are actively taking a German course. Another 12% would hire people with lower German if the job allows it (IAB). So write your current course and level on your CV.
- The University of Konstanz notes that international workers earn better wages if their German is better (University of Konstanz).
- In interviews, the interviewer may switch to German, even for a job advertised in English (University of Siegen, retrieved 30 Oct 2026).
Practise the questions you will likely get, in English and in German.
Practise in the Mock Interview TrainerNot sure which level you have? The German level test gives you a quick estimate, so you can write a level on your CV that you can defend in an interview.
Where to learn German for work
The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) funds job-related German courses (Berufssprachkurse) at levels A2 to C2. They are open to EU citizens and other immigrants who have finished an integration course or already speak German at B1. You can take them in person or online, full time or part time next to your job. Job seekers ask their employment agency or job centre. People in work ask the BAMF regional office. Some people pay nothing. Otherwise the fee is 2.56 euros per lesson, and you can get half of it back if you pass the exam (BAMF, retrieved 1 Nov 2026). Your employer may also pay the fee (same source), so ask about it once you have an offer.
Tip: Write your current German level on your CV, and add the German class you are taking now if you have one.
How to apply in English, the German way
Pick the language of the ad
LMU Munich’s career service says: apply in English for English language job ads and in German for German language ads (LMU Munich, retrieved 31 Oct 2026). TU Chemnitz adds: if you are not sure, check the ad or ask the company (TU Chemnitz). If the ad is in German, the free CV in German preview shows your profile and latest job in German.
Keep the German format, even in English
The University of Bremen advises that a CV written in English should still follow the German style (University of Bremen, retrieved 31 Oct 2026). What that means in practice:
Write your CV in English and get the German layout and sections.
Build my German CVWrite a short cover letter
Bremen suggests one paragraph on why you want the position, two to three on your key qualifications, and one closing paragraph (University of Bremen). LMU recommends about one page (LMU Munich). For an English speaking team, say in one line how you work with German speaking colleagues or customers, and what German level you have now.
Get a one-page cover letter in German business letter layout, in English or German.
Write my cover letterExample: Maria, a data analyst, applies for a job with “working language English”. She writes her CV in English with the German layout, adds “German: A2, B1 course started in September”, and in her letter names one project where she worked with an international team. (Example, made up.)
To check your CV against German CV rules and applicant software, run the free CV check with the (G)ATS Score. The (G)ATS Score (German ATS Score) is the same for every job: it does not read the job ad.
To see whether your CV matches a specific ad, save the job in the Joblumi app. Job match rates from 0 to 100 how well your CV shows what the ad asks for: must-haves, the words of the ad, German and English level, years of experience and degree.
Foreign degrees and qualifications
In most jobs you can simply list your foreign degree. Recognition is not required to work in non-regulated professions, which include many academic jobs. In regulated professions, mainly in health, safety and social services, you need it (Anerkennung in Deutschland, retrieved 1 Nov 2026). The portal’s Recognition Finder shows which group your profession is in.
What English speaking roles pay
Pay depends on the job, not on the language of the team. Here are the medians for four roles that many internationals in Germany do. The figures are for full-time employees at the level “Experte” (highly complex tasks), from the Entgeltatlas of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit, reference date 31 Dec 2025 (Entgeltatlas, retrieved 1 Nov 2026):
| Role (occupation group in the Entgeltatlas) | Median gross per month, Germany |
|---|---|
| Software developer (software development) | 6,301 € |
| Data scientist (computer science, no specialisation) | 6,702 € |
| Mechanical engineer (mechanical engineering) | 7,084 € |
| Electrical engineer (electrical engineering) | 7,238 € |
For comparison, the median for all full-time employees was 4,217 € (Bundesagentur für Arbeit, 20 Jul 2026). More roles, cities and how to read these numbers are in our guide to the average salary in Germany.
A realistic plan
Joblumi helps you with steps 3 and 4: read the job ad, build the CV in English or German, and, with the Pass, track your applications on one board. Get my job search plan
Put this guide to work
Start free. Build your CV and cover letter for each job ad.
FAQ
Are there many English speaking jobs in Germany?
They are a minority. 57% of firms in an IAB survey expected at least B2 German for their last job ad (IAB). The University of Konstanz speaks of “the few English-speaking positions” (University of Konstanz).
Which jobs in Germany need no German?
Most often research roles, roles at large international companies and roles at tech start-ups (research-in-germany.org, OVGU Magdeburg, Bitkom). Roles with German speaking customers usually need German.
Should my CV be in English or German?
In the language of the job ad (LMU Munich). If your German is B1 or better, TU Chemnitz recommends applying in German (TU Chemnitz).
Does the Bundesagentur für Arbeit have English jobs?
Its job search lists jobs of all kinds, but the search itself is in German (Bundesagentur für Arbeit). Search with phrases like “working language English” or “Arbeitssprache Englisch” plus your job title.
Is it worth learning German if my job is in English?
Yes. German helps with customers and colleagues, and 15% of firms hire below B2 if you are actively taking a course (IAB). Würzburg’s career centre adds that German makes everyday life much easier, even in a job where English is the main language (University of Würzburg).
Example CVs
Two example CVs of people who work in English in Germany. All people are made up.
More on German CV examples.
Related
- How to find a job in GermanyHow to get a job in Germany step by step: where to find jobs, German CV and cover letter, job ads, how long hiring takes, interviews, tests, offer.Guide · 21 min read
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- German level testFree German level test: rate what you can do in listening, reading, speaking and writing. Get your CEFR level from A1 to C2 and the line for your CV.Tool
- Job ad analyzerPaste a German job ad and see its must-haves, nice-to-haves, the German and English level it asks for and its key terms. Free, then match it to your CV.Tool
- English speaking jobs in BerlinEnglish speaking jobs in Berlin: the job market in numbers, sectors that work in English, salaries with sources, where to search and how much German helps.Guide · 16 min read
- Job sites in Germany compared13 job sites in Germany compared: who runs them, how many jobs they list, if you can filter for English and what each is good for. Checked 31 Oct 2026.Guide · 14 min read
Sources
- Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB): Die Hälfte der Betriebe fordert im Einstellungsprozess mindestens ein B2-Sprachniveau, press release, 27 Apr 2026, based on IAB-Kurzbericht 7/2026 (IAB-Stellenerhebung, 9,549 firms, Q2 2025), retrieved 31 Oct 2026
- Bitkom: Startup Report 2023, English as company language, 18 Sep 2023, survey of 203 tech start-ups, retrieved 31 Oct 2026
- research-in-germany.org: Language and Potential employers, retrieved 31 Oct 2026
- Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg: Do I need to learn German?, retrieved 31 Oct 2026
- Ulm University: How to find a job or a work placement, retrieved 31 Oct 2026
- University of Konstanz Career Service: Preparing for the German job market, retrieved 31 Oct 2026
- University of Würzburg Career Centre: Information for international students, retrieved 31 Oct 2026
- TU Chemnitz Career Service: Counselling and FAQ, retrieved 31 Oct 2026
- LMU Munich Career Services: Application tips for students, retrieved 31 Oct 2026
- University of Bremen Career Center: Application documents, retrieved 31 Oct 2026
- Bundesagentur für Arbeit: How to find a job, Jobsuche, Jobsuche in Leichter Sprache, retrieved 31 Oct 2026
- Council of Europe: CEFR Global scale, Table 1, retrieved 31 Oct 2026
- University of Siegen, FIT in Siegen blog: Job interview questions and answers in Germany, retrieved 30 Oct 2026
- Indeed Hiring Lab: Sprachanforderungen in Stellenanzeigen (in German), Guillermo Gallacher and Lisa Feist, 22 Oct 2024, ads created on Indeed Sep 2023 to Aug 2024, retrieved 1 Nov 2026
- Deutscher Bundestag: hib 461/2026, Sozialversicherungspflichtige Beschäftigung (in German, answer of the federal government, Drucksache 21/6247), 10 Jun 2026, data October 2025, retrieved 1 Nov 2026
- Bundesagentur für Arbeit: Entgeltatlas, data 2025, reference date 31 Dec 2025, level “Experte”, occupation codes from BERUFENET (software developer 43414, data scientist 43104, mechanical engineer 25104, electrical engineer 26304), retrieved 1 Nov 2026; press release 27/2026, 20 Jul 2026
- BAMF: German for professional purposes, retrieved 1 Nov 2026
- BIBB, Anerkennung in Deutschland: Professional recognition, retrieved 1 Nov 2026
- Welcome Centers: Berlin, Hamburg, amiga Munich, WELCOMECENTER Hessen, retrieved 1 Nov 2026
- Meetup, retrieved 1 Nov 2026