Study: Best entry conditions in the food industry
A high starting salary provides a solid basis for earning more overall throughout your career. It's good if you can assess your own qualifications and deal with the usual salaries in the desired position. Because on the one hand it is important not to sell yourself below value and on the other hand not to let yourself be thrown out of the race with too high salary expectations. This is the only way to make the first salary negotiation a stage win for starting a career.
The current results from foodjobs.de provide a detailed insight and show the various starting salaries in the food industry according to the qualifications of the applicant, industry, functional area, company size and region. foodjobs.de has been conducting the online survey for six years, which has so far been answered by 3.777 young professionals (June 2015 to August 2020). The average salary for young professionals has risen slightly compared to the previous year (€38.400) and is currently €39.000 including Christmas and holiday bonuses. In addition to the salary, satisfaction also continues to increase: 75% of young professionals say they are satisfied or very satisfied with their salary. There is particularly good news when it comes to entry requirements: there are currently the best conditions for career starters, as almost all graduates find a job immediately (47%) or within the first six months (45%) after their studies.
A gender comparison shows a positive trend. The issue of the gender pay gap, which is hotly debated in politics and the media, seems to be being taken up more and more by companies in the food industry. The salary gap between men and women in the food industry has fallen from 10% to 8% compared to the previous year.
“All in all, applicants are more self-confident in salary negotiations today. Just five years ago, 29% went home with a starting salary of less than €30.000. Today there are only 13% who accept such a low salary,” says Bianca Burmester, Managing Director of foodjobs.
And something is also happening in the sectors: The meat industry, which brought up the rear in terms of starting salaries in previous years, has worked its way up to €37.100, overtaking both the bakery and fruit and vegetable sectors. The front runner this year, with above-average starting salaries of €41.000, is the milk and dairy industry. Looking at the functional areas, it is noticeable that technology and sales continue to lead the ranking, followed by logistics/SCM. Especially in technology, newcomers can look forward to an above-average salary of €43.200. Quality management and quality assurance take last place again, with below-average salaries of €36.400.
A change of location can pay off for a higher salary: In a comparison of the regions, Hesse takes first place with an average gross annual salary of €42.000, followed by Baden-Württemberg with €40.950. Berlin/Brandenburg in particular has increased: Here the average salary has risen from €33.800 to €36.000.
The study provides excellent support for assessing yourself realistically and thus appearing more self-confident in the interview. But as we all know, money isn't everything when it comes to having a happy start at work. So everyone is free to compare their own values with those of the company. Preferred working hours, the number of vacation days and a collegial working atmosphere must also be taken into account. But above all, a working environment that offers enough variety, challenge and motivation brings lifelong fun at work.
You can find more information on the study "Entry salary in the food industry 2020" and the downloads at:
https://www.foodjobs.de/einstiegsgehalt-in-der-lebensmittelbranche
