Gerhard Schmid studied chemistry in Munich and biology in Regensburg. Schmid obtained a doctoral degree and worked as a researcher at the University of Regensburg. He joined the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) and performed several functions in the party.
In 1979 Gerhard Schmid was elected member of the European Parliament and remained an MEP until 2004. During that period he was member of the Socialist Group, member of the Group of the Party of European Socialists, Chair of the Delegation for relations with Malta, Vice-President of the European Parliament, Vice-President of the Parliament's Bureau, member of the Committee on Energy and Research, member of the Committee on Development and Cooperation, member of the Committee on Women's Rights, member of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection, member of the Delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries, member of the Delegation for relations with the Gulf States, member of the Delegation for relations with Malta, member of the Delegation for relations with the United States, member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Security, member of the Committee on Civil Liberties and Internal Affairs, member of the Delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries and the Arab Maghreb Union, member of the Committee on Citizens' Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs, member of the Delegation for relations with South-east Europe, member of the Temporary committee on the Echelon interception system and member of the Delegation to the EU-Czech Republic Joint Parliamentary Committee.
In 2012 Schmid received the Great Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.