Average Salary in Germany Increased by 4.1 Percent in 2023
Average salaries in Germany increased by 4.1 percent in 2023, according to recent data from the Bundesagentur für Arbeit (BA).
What is the median salary in Germany?
In 2023, the median net salary for full-time workers in Germany rose by 4.1 percent, or €150, reaching €3,796 per month, as reported by the BA. "Median" indicates that half of employees earn less than this amount, while the other half earn more.
The BA attributes this significant rise partly to wage increases achieved through collective bargaining agreements. However, according to Zeit, despite the increase, it still falls short of keeping pace with inflation, which averaged 5.9 percent in 2023, according to Destatis.
Gender Pay Gap and Regional Disparities
The BA data reveals a persistent wage gap of approximately €367 between men and women working full-time, with the gap widening by €2 compared to 2022. In 2023, men earned a median salary of €3,930 per month, while women earned €3,563.
Regional comparisons show that full-time employees in Hamburg earn the highest median salary at €4,304 per month, followed by Baden-Württemberg (€4,134) and Hesse (€4,087). In contrast, employees in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (€3,098), Thuringia (€3,109), and Saxony-Anhalt (€3,152) earn the lowest wages.
Impact of Academic Qualifications
The data also highlights the strong correlation between academic qualifications and high wages. Workers with a higher education degree earned a median salary of €5,688, compared to €3,658 for those with a vocational qualification and €2,831 for individuals without professional qualifications.