How Companies in Germany Play with Salaries and Working Hours 0 19

If you are moving to Germany, you may soon have to start looking for a job in the country. However, as with many other aspects of life abroad, there are numerous cultural differences and peculiarities when searching for a job in Germany, especially regarding salaries.

As of 2026, the minimum wage in Germany is €13.90 per hour before taxes, which amounts to approximately €2,224 per month for full-time employees working a 40-hour week.

According to current plans, the minimum wage will increase to €14.60 in 2027.

In Germany, companies are not required to disclose salary ranges for advertised positions. But this may soon change. The European Parliament has passed a pay transparency law requiring companies to publish annual reports with detailed information on salaries and pay disparities. The rules, which are set to come into effect in 2027, aim to help reduce the gender pay gap.

In the meantime, employees can use online resources to find out industry averages and expectations for various positions:

Gehalt.de provides users with access to salary information for over 800 professions.

The online platform Kununu offers users in the DACH region information about salaries and employer reviews.

Residents of Berlin can take advantage of the REDSOFA salary overview to gain insight into average salaries in the capital.

According to the Federal Statistical Office of Germany, as of April 2025, the average gross monthly salary was €4,784.

Two-thirds of full-time employees earn less than this average monthly salary, while one-third of employees earn more than this average monthly salary.

Although net salaries may be lower than in similar positions in other countries, it is also important to consider other benefits provided alongside the salary. Paid vacation, pension contributions, long notice periods, and annual bonuses can partially offset this difference.

Foreign employees working in Germany can typically expect to be paid once a month. Many German companies prefer to pay salaries on the 1st or 15th of each month. It is also important to note that most employees can expect to receive their first paycheck within 30 or 45 days after starting work.

For positions that include annual bonuses, these payments are included in the 13th salary and are subject to income tax.

How Many Hours a Week Do You Work?

When looking for a job, be sure to check how many hours you can expect to work. Job descriptions usually specify the required number of hours worked.

As the name suggests, mini-jobs are limited in terms of working hours and pay. Employees can expect to earn up to €603 per month. Mini-jobs do not require social security contributions, as they do not mandate contributions to the social security system. Additionally, employees are not automatically insured under health and nursing care programs.

Part-time work (Teilzeit) refers to any job where the number of working hours is less than that of a full-time position.

A common misconception is that part-time work implies working 20 hours or less per week. However, an employee working five days a week for 30 hours in a position that typically requires 40 hours of work per day at full-time can also be classified as a part-time worker.

In Germany, there is a term for employees working between 28 and 36 hours a week. Such positions provide employees with more flexibility to balance work with family or hobbies. The pay for such employees is based on the hours worked.

Depending on their work schedule, part-time employees may receive the same number of vacation days as their full-time colleagues. Vacation days are calculated based on the number of days worked, not hours. If a part-time employee works five days a week, they are entitled to at least 20 days of vacation. If the same part-time employee works three days a week, they are legally entitled to twelve days of vacation, even if they have worked the same number of hours as another employee.

In most companies, a weekly working week of 35 to 40 hours is considered full-time employment.