As the conservation around ChatGPT has so strikingly reminded us: technology is constantly changing the world.
The planet is increasingly reliant on tech innovations, which in turn increases the demand for tech specialists as a result. Roughly 5.5 million people worldwide are employed within the tech sector, a figure that has grown at a rate of 2.2% a year since 2001.
Many of these are being employed directly and indirectly as a result of SAP SE, which, beyond the big five tech companies, is the largest non-American software outlet on the planet. The German company’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) system has become one of the leading solutions of its kind, and is used by over 50,000 businesses globally.
In the process, SAP has become an industry in and of its own accord, offering significant opportunities for tech specialists to work for either SAP itself or the myriad companies employing the company’s technology. With that in mind, which countries are best for careers in SAP?
1. Switzerland
The first country on our list is a great place to work in its own right. Switzerland boasts incredibly high salaries, with the country having the third highest average income in the entire world, according to WorldData.info. Switzerland also has an exceptional standard of living, outperforming the OECD average for things like subjective well-being, health status, social, education, work-life balance and personal security, according to the OECD Better Life Index.
Throw in aspects like the country’s thriving economy, incredible natural beauty and close proximity to the rest of Europe, and it’s easy to see why Switzerland has over 1.7 million foreign workers.
When it comes to starting a SAP career in Switzerland, the opportunities are plentiful, particularly in Zurich. SAP recruitment firm Eursap notes that: “As the largest city in Switzerland, Zurich is a global business hub and home to fifteen companies ranked within the prestigious Fortune 500 list, including the Zurich Insurance Group. As such, there is no shortage of SAP jobs in Zurich” That’s not to say that this is the only place you’ll find such openings in the country, however, with the likes of Geneva, Basel and Bern also ripe with SAP jobs.
2. Germany
Unsurprisingly, the birthplace of SAP is another great country for industry specialists to migrate to. LinkedIn alone lists 72,000 SAP jobs in Germany, while the company itself has topped Glassdoor’s Best Place to Work list in the country. SAP Germany employs around 16,000 people in the company’s global headquarters in Walldorf, while also having staff in its offices and research facilities in Berlin under the ‘SAP Labs’ brand.
Like Switzerland, Germany is a fantastic place to live and work in generally. The country ranks among the top ten in the UN’s Human Development Index, which is used to quantify a country’s “average achievement in three basic dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, knowledge, and a decent standard of living.”
Germany also has the world’s fourth largest economy, boasting political stability, a high number of English speakers, and close proximity to the rest of Europe. There’s lots to see and do in the country too, from the vibrant cities of Berlin and Hamburg and medieval towns of Rothenburg and Bamberg, to Germany’s sprawling countryside delights.
3. The US
If you’re looking to venture outside of Europe, then the US is arguably your best bet. The average salary for a SAP consultant there is $73.38 an hour, with those in cities like Columbus, Miami and Houston typically earning even more than this. This figure is significantly higher than the average tech salary in the US, which is $21.57 an hour.
In addition to the generous pay, there are significant opportunities for SAP specialists in the country, with the likes of Google, Enterprise Peak and New York Technology Partners hiring such individuals, as well as SAP America.
As the so-called land of opportunity and the world’s richest country, the US is naturally a highly desirable destination. With its unparalleled lifestyle and high living standards, it’s little wonder that the country has the highest number of immigrants in the world, with over 50 million foreign-born residents there. Of course, there’s no need to learn another language in order to move to the US either, further increasing its appeal as a destination for SAP workers.
Read more:
Careers in SAP: the 3 top countries that are hiring today
