Germany · Salaries
Typical salaries by role in Germany — pay ranges, taxes, and cost-of-living context.
AI-drafted, editorially reviewed. Confirm specifics with the official authority.
Germany has a statutory minimum wage (Mindestlohn) reviewed periodically by an independent commission rather than adjusted by direct political decision. Above that floor, some industries have higher collectively-agreed branch minimums, so your sector can lift the applicable rate. For official earnings data, Destatis is authoritative and the Bundesagentur für Arbeit offers a salary checker. Pay is quoted brutto; taxes and social contributions produce a noticeably lower netto.
Germany has a statutory minimum wage (Mindestlohn) — EUR 13.90/hour from 1 January 2026 (rising to EUR 14.60 in 2027) — reviewed periodically by an independent commission; some sectors have higher collectively-agreed minimums. For official earnings data, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) is authoritative, and the Federal Employment Agency offers a salary checker.
- The statutory minimum wage (Mindestlohn) is EUR 13.90/hour from Jan 2026 (EUR 14.60 planned for 2027) — verify the current figure.
- Some industries have higher collectively-agreed (branch) minimum wages.
- Destatis publishes official earnings data; the Bundesagentur für Arbeit offers a salary checker.
- Pay is quoted gross (brutto); taxes and social contributions reduce net (netto) — see this country's tax page.
- 1
Verify the current statutory figure
The statutory minimum wage is reviewed periodically by an independent commission, so the figure moves on its own schedule. Verify the current number rather than relying on a remembered one.
- 2
Check for a higher branch minimum
Some industries have higher collectively-agreed branch minimum wages. If yours does, that rate governs instead of the statutory floor, so check your sector specifically.
- 3
Use Destatis for official earnings
The Federal Statistical Office is authoritative for earnings data. Use it when you need a figure that will stand up rather than an indicative estimate.
- 4
Try the Bundesagentur salary checker
The Bundesagentur für Arbeit offers a salary checker, which is a practical starting point for a role-level comparison before you go to the full statistics.
- 5
Convert brutto to netto before deciding
Pay is quoted brutto, and taxes plus social contributions reduce it to netto. Because the social-insurance side is substantial here, the gap between the two is larger than newcomers expect.
- Current statutory Mindestlohn verified
- Sector checked for a collectively-agreed minimum
- Higher of the two rates applied
- Destatis figures consulted for your occupation
- Salary checker used as a first comparison
- Netto estimated from the brutto offer
- Social-contribution share accounted for in the gap
- Destatis — Minimum wages / Earnings
Federal Statistical Office wage data.
- Bundesagentur für Arbeit (salary checker)
Official salary-comparison tool.
Frequently asked questions
Who sets the German minimum wage?
The statutory minimum wage is reviewed periodically by an independent commission rather than set by direct political decision. Because it moves on its own schedule, verify the current figure instead of relying on one you remember.
Can my German sector pay a higher minimum?
Yes — some industries have higher collectively-agreed branch minimum wages, and where one exists it governs above the statutory floor. So check your sector specifically rather than assuming the national figure is your rate.
Why is my German netto so much lower than the brutto?
Because taxes and social contributions both come off the brutto figure, and the social-insurance side is substantial here. The gap is larger than newcomers usually expect, so convert an offer to netto before judging it.
Government portals
- Federal Government of Germany — Germany's Federal Cabinet official website — policy, legislation, news, and government programs
- Federal Office for Migration (BAMF) — German visas, EU Blue Card, asylum, integration courses, and permanent residency
- Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt) — Tax ID (IdNr) registration, tax identification lookup, withholding tax refunds — the key authority for foreign taxpayers in Germany