Every number I have earned at Shopware, in the open. Not to brag, but because when I was transitioning into tech I had no idea what to expect, and nobody would tell me.
Total compensation, June 2022 to January 2026. Hover any point for the detail.
Base salary plus bonus or variable pay, in euros per year
All figures in euros, gross, per year. Bonuses are listed separately from base pay.
| Date | Position | Base salary | Bonus or variable | Total | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2022 | Support Specialist | €31,200 | none | €31,200 | starting point |
| Jan 2023 | Support Expert | €40,800 | none | €40,800 | +30.8% |
| Jul 2023 | Support Expert | €40,800 | €2,200 inflation | €43,000 | +5.4% |
| Jan 2024 | Support Expert | €46,200 | €800 one-time | €47,000 | +9.3% |
| Jan 2025 | Sr. Tech Enablement Mgr | €48,600 | €4,000 variable | €52,600 OTE | +11.9% |
| Jun 2025 | Software Engineer | €50,400 | €2,000 variable | €52,400 OTE | -0.4% |
| Jan 2026 | Senior Software Engineer | €58,800 | €3,000 variable | €61,800 OTE | +17.9% |
| June 2022 to January 2026 | €31,200 to €61,800 | +98.1% | |||
Not every step was up. The June 2025 move cost me a little on paper, and seven months later it produced the second largest jump of the whole run.
Percentage change in total compensation versus the previous level
Base salary against the on-target annual bonus
When you are entry-level, especially coming from a career transition, your starting salary will be lower than that of experienced professionals. That is fair. You are being paid while you learn and prove yourself.
My 30.8% raise after eight months was not luck. It was the result of delivering real value and demonstrating expertise faster than expected. Good companies notice and reward that.
Moving from Senior Technical Enablement Manager to Software Engineer came with a slight cut, but it put me on the path I actually wanted. Seven months later that move turned into a promotion to Senior Software Engineer and the largest raise of my career so far. Not every move needs to be up. Sometimes the best move is toward what you love, and the money catches up.
The common advice is to switch companies for a real raise. I nearly doubled my compensation without leaving once. Growth inside one company is possible when you keep delivering and the company keeps paying attention.
Here is everything you need to judge whether any of this applies to you.
Based in Billerbeck, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. I work hybrid at Shopware's Schöppingen office. All figures are gross euros per year, which is how salaries are quoted in Germany.
Shopware is an established e-commerce platform company with more than 200 employees. Benefits beyond salary include health insurance, pension contributions and vacation days, which are not counted in the numbers above.
Apprenticeship in IT system integration from 2020 to 2022, after a career transition from retail at 25. I started at Shopware with zero professional tech experience and grew through consistent performance rather than job hopping.
This is one person's experience at one company in one German region. Your situation will differ based on location, market, company size and negotiation. Use these numbers as a reference point, not a benchmark.
Salary transparency helps level the playing field. When I was transitioning into tech I had no idea what to expect, and every conversation about money was awkward or vague. I am putting my numbers out so somebody in that position has at least one honest data point to work with.
If it helps you negotiate better, understand what is reasonable, or just decide that a career change is worth trying, then publishing it did its job.
I wish I had this kind of information when I was starting out. Sharing openly helps others negotiate better and make informed decisions.