Salaries in Germany: How Much Germans and Migrants Earn

Germany is a major destination for many foreigners looking for work in Europe. It has the strongest economy among all European countries. Migrants arrive not only from Central and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, but also from EU member states such as Poland and Romania. In addition, there are many workers from European countries outside the EU, like Moldova.

What primarily attracts foreign workers is the high level of wages. As of May 2025, Germany ranks third in salary levels among EU countries (after Liechtenstein and Denmark). However, unlike these countries, Germany offers a relatively high number of job vacancies for migrants.

In this article, we explain the average salary in Germany in 2025, explore how much different professions earn, what the minimum wage is, and what net income residents and non-residents can expect after taxes.

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According to the job platform Layboard.com, the average gross salary in Germany as of May 2025 is €4,200 per month.

Gross salary refers to income before taxes, insurance, and other mandatory contributions. After all deductions, the remaining net salary is the amount the employee actually receives.

Who can expect the highest salaries:

  • Highly qualified professionals (doctors, engineers, managers, and IT specialists typically earn €7,000–€8,000);
  • Residents of major cities, especially in western states (e.g., Hamburg, Munich);
  • Employees of large companies with over 5,000 staff.

The lowest salaries in Germany are typically earned by workers in the hospitality industry (€2,500–€2,700/month), employees in agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors (€2,600–€2,800/month), staff in small companies with fewer than 50 employees.

Salary levels depend heavily on work experience. A specialist with more than 6 years of experience typically earns about 40% more than an entry-level employee (or one with up to 3 years of experience).

Collective bargaining agreements may also include individual salary bonuses. For example, HR staff in many companies receive a special supplement, the size of which depends on the company’s industry and internal policies. These bonuses can amount to 70–80% of the base salary.

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Here’s a look at the average annual salaries in Germany (based on analytical platforms):

YearAnnual Salary (€)
199137,044
200042,086
201547,075
202049,394
202149,513
202248,376
202348,301
202449,200

These average figures are not always fully representative. In most cases, when calculating average salaries, the figures tend to be skewed upward (that is, in reality, the average values are lower than those shown in the table). That’s why experts often use the median salary for a more accurate assessment.

The median is the value exactly in the middle of a sorted list of numbers. When calculating the median salary, all values are arranged in order, and the one in the center is taken. For example: 1000, 1500, 1800, 2500, 2600, 3000, 3500. The median in this case is 2500.

In Germany, the median salary is around €3,800, which is almost €400 less than the average value.

In 2015, Germany introduced a statutory minimum wage, which applies to all able-bodied individuals, except for the following categories:

  • Minors who have not completed vocational training
  • Interns undergoing mandatory internships as part of school or university education, or voluntary internships lasting no more than 3 months
  • Employees who were long-term unemployed (within the first 6 months of employment)
  • Entry-level workers attending introductory courses as part of vocational preparation
  • Self-employed individuals
  • Volunteers

The minimum wage in Germany also applies to foreign nationals. If an employer pays less than the legal minimum, the company may face a fine.

As of January 1, 2025, the minimum wage in Germany is €12.82 per hour. Some sectors have their own minimum wages, set by collective agreements, but they cannot be lower than the federal rate.

SectorMinimum wage (€ per hour)
Construction16–20
Agriculture17–20
Truck and bus drivers17,5–20
Childcare15,5–18
Public transport16–20
Delivery and courier services18–21

Employees working part-time are also entitled to the minimum wage (€12.82). These workers are called mini-jobbers. However, to maintain mini-job status, certain conditions must be met:

  • No more than 10 hours per week
  • Monthly salary must not exceed €556

Mini-jobbers may earn more only through unplanned overtime. Otherwise, working hours must be reduced.

In Germany, both residents and non-residents usually state their gross salary on pay slips. This includes the base income, taxes, and mandatory contributions. Social insurance contributions are shared proportionally between the employee and the employer.

Taxes and contributions for employed workers:

TypeDetails
Income taxProgressive tax rate: depends on income and family status; ranges from 0% to 45%.
Unemployment insuranceAutomatically deducted from gross salary: 1.3%.
Long-term care insuranceMandatory regardless of private or public health insurance. Covers long-term care needs (>6 months). Rate: 1.5–2% depending on family status.
Health insuranceEmployees choose between public and private providers. Public insurance costs ~8% per month; private varies.
Pension contributions9.3% of salary withheld for future pension.
Church taxApplies if a person is a registered member of a religious community. Amount: 8–9% of income, depending on the federal state.
Solidarity surchargeOnly applies to high earners (since 2021). In 2025, applies to those paying over €18,000/year in income tax.

In 2025, average deductions from gross salary in Germany range from 35–40%. For example, with a gross annual salary of €45,000, a full-time employee receives a net income of approximately €30,000. To calculate net income more precisely, it’s recommended to use a salary calculator that accounts for all applicable taxes and contributions.

Note: All employed individuals in Germany are eligible for tax deductions, meaning part of the taxes paid can be refunded.

Among the highest-paid professions in Germany are doctors, managers, executives, IT specialists, and engineers. For example, the average salary of doctors in Germany is almost twice as high as that of blue-collar workers. A doctor’s income depends on their specialization, region, and the medical facility where they work. Here are the gross annual salaries for doctors:

  • Dentists — €50,000–70,000
  • Neurologists — €52,000–75,000
  • Vascular surgeons — €70,000–100,000

Nurses can expect to earn between €37,000 and €51,000 annually.

Salaries in other fields (according to employment agencies):

  • Teachers — €35,000–52,000
  • Engineers — €51,000–75,000
  • Drivers — €30,000–35,000
  • Painters — €35,000–48,000
  • Packers — €30,000–45,000

Top 5 highest-paying industries in Germany (as of 2025):

IndustryAnnual Salary (€)
Healthcareup to €125,000
Finance and Taxationup to €110,000
IT and Software Devup to €120,000
Architectureup to €100,000
Insuranceup to €90,000

The final salary is determined by the employer based on the candidate’s experience and professional skills.

All officially employed residents and non-residents in Germany are entitled to minimum wage, provided they have a valid work permit. In other words, migrants with legal employment can earn the same salary as German citizens.

The challenge is that many migrants come to Germany with limited work experience and no knowledge of the language, which makes it harder to find high-paying jobs. However, learning German or English significantly increases one’s chances of successful employment. This applies to both blue-collar and highly qualified professionals (doctors, teachers, engineers).

Career advancement opportunities exist in all sectors. In Germany, employers primarily evaluate the employee’s professionalism, not their citizenship.

There is a noticeable salary gap between the eastern and western states of Germany. The eastern regions include Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thuringia. The western regions include Hamburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Hesse. Excluding the capital, Berlin, employees in western Germany earn nearly 15% more on average than those in the east. According to recruitment agencies, the average salary in Berlin is around €4,400 per month.

The closer to the capital, the higher the salaries tend to be. That’s why many migrants aim to settle in large central cities, which offer better job opportunities.

Here are a few examples:

  • A general laborer in Berlin or Hamburg can earn up to €40,000 per year.
  • In Leipzig, the same position offers around €36,000, and in Erfurt — about €34,000.
  • A welder in Bavaria can earn up to €46,000, while in North Rhine-Westphalia — around €38,000.

Keep in mind: this data may change as new job listings are published on recruitment platforms.

Returning to the topic of migrant salaries, it’s worth noting that many foreign workers not only cover living expenses but also regularly send money back home to support their families. As a result, in the first few years in Germany, their disposable income is often significantly lower than that of German citizens. This makes their financial situation quite challenging.

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