Disclosed is a method for producing an at least partly surface-compressed metallic gear element that comprises a compressed sintered material in order to improve a strength curve. A blank of the gear element is produced with a locally selective oversize (701) relative to a final size of the gear element and is rolled by means of at least one rolling tool so as to obtain the final size. The gear element is compressed in a locally varied manner at least in the area of at least one flank (705; 706) and/or one root (704) of a tooth of the gear element in order to create a compressed surface layer.