It's ridiculous how much wages have stagnated here in Germany even with sky high energy prices and inflation. I feel like I am the only one who asks for "more" and hence in many places just after or during HR interview they would flat out reject me. I have had few interviews where HR said I am out of their budget. With 10 years of experience asking anything near 100K makes you look like "greedy" in their eyes.

Don't assume stupidity ;)

A bunch of these employers are paying as much as they can. One I know can't legally offer more, and others are said to be offering enough that their projected profits will be zero in 2023.