DON’T MISS
IamExpat FairIamExpat Job BoardIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Career
German news & articles
How much do skilled workers earn in Germany?
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

How much do skilled workers earn in Germany?

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

[Video] Interview questions you might hear in Germany[Video] Interview questions you might hear in Germany
Germany: How businesses continue to operate during the corona crisisGermany: How businesses continue to operate during the corona crisis
German consumers feel the pinch as real wages fall by 1,8 percentGerman consumers feel the pinch as real wages fall by 1,8 percent
Graduates in Germany earn an average starting salary of 45.000 eurosGraduates in Germany earn an average starting salary of 45.000 euros
German toilet paper manufacturers struggle amid energy crisisGerman toilet paper manufacturers struggle amid energy crisis
Europeans rank Berlin as the fourth best city to work in worldwideEuropeans rank Berlin as the fourth best city to work in worldwide
German employees coping with workplace stress better than mostGerman employees coping with workplace stress better than most
Labour shortage: Thousands of apprenticeships left vacant in GermanyLabour shortage: Thousands of apprenticeships left vacant in Germany
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usImpressumSitemapRSS feeds
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat FairWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Feb 25, 2020
William Nehra
William studied a masters in Classics at the University of Amsterdam. He is a big fan of Ancient History and football, particularly his beloved Watford FC. Read more

There is a huge pay disparity between skilled workers in Germany, with workers in certain professions earning a lot less than others. Conversely, often it is the professions experiencing severe worker shortages that actually offer lower wages.

Skilled worker incomes

The range of incomes for skilled workers in Germany is huge. Depending on the occupation, skilled employees working in Germany can earn a salary of less than 2.000 euros to more than 4.000 euros.

Moreover, following a request from The Left party, the Federal Employment Agency (BA) revealed that in several occupations currently experiencing a shortage of workers, average incomes are actually a few hundreds euros below the average wage of all skilled workers. 

The median income for full-time employees subject to social security contributions is currently 3.052 euros per month. Contrary to what you might expect, 26 out of the 52 sectors suffering from worker shortages are actually paying wages below this average. 

The lowest paid skilled jobs

Podiatrists (foot doctors) command the lowest salary amongst skilled workers, earning an average of 1.826 euros gross per month. Only 25,3 percent of all podiatrists earn more than the “low wage threshold” of 2.203 euros.

Professionals in meat processing receive just 2.123 euros gross, which is again below the low wage threshold. Those working in hearing aid acoustics earn 2.346 euros, while working in physiotherapy can earn you 2.376 euros per month. Floor-layers and specialists in monitoring and maintenance of railway lines both earn over 2.400 euros gross.

Shortage of skilled workers is “homemade”

According to the BA, the shortage of skilled workers is particularly evident in the construction industry and healthcare sector, as well as in some technical occupation sectors. However, the average wage for technical professions is more than 4.000 euros, and more than 5.000 euros for doctors.

Sabine Zimmermann, MP for The Left, suggested that the numbers show that the shortage of skilled workers was a “homemade” issue. “Obviously, an increasing number of people do not want to work in jobs with low wages,” she said, as only occupations offering good wages and working conditions seemed to not have suffered from a shortage in employees.

By William Nehra