How much are wages increasing in Germany?

Whether you're looking for a job in Germany or happily settled in your career, it is always a good idea to keep an eye on salary developments. 

Now, figures released by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) reveal how much full-time employees typically earn.

What's the median and average salary in Germany?

The median gross salary (before tax) for 2025, including bonuses, was €54,066 – which amounts to around €4,500 per month.

This means that half of all employees earned more than or exactly this amount, while the other half earned less. Compared to the previous year, median gross annual earnings increased by €1,907. 

Destatis further reported that the top 10 percent of full-time workers in Germany earned a gross annual income of €100,719 or more in 2025, while the bottom 10 percent earned €33,828 gross or less. The top one percent of employees earned a gross annual income of €219,110 or more in 2025.

The average (or mean) gross annual income of all full-time employees was €64,441 – up from €62,235 the year before. The gap between the average and the median figure of €54,066 highlights how higher incomes pull the overall average upwards.

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Researchers also looked at how earnings are distributed across the workforce.

They found that 70 percent of full-time employees earned €44,215 or more last year, meaning that someone earning around €44,000 would fall into the bottom 30 percent.

At the other end of the scale, earning around €80,000 would place someone in the top 20 percent of earners in Germany.

READ ALSO: Why is the gender pay gap so big in German-speaking countries?

Major differences between regions and job sectors

In 2025, full-time employees in eastern Germany (excluding Berlin) earned significantly less on average than their western counterparts. The median gross annual salary stood at €46,013 in the east, compared with €55,435 in the west – a gap of €9,422.

Typically, the highest earners in Germany tend to live on the outskirts of Munich and Frankfurt.

Pay also varies widely depending on the industry.

The highest median salaries were recorded in the 'energy' sector, where workers earned €77,522 per year before tax, according to research. Close behind were jobs in 'financial and insurance services', with median earnings of €76,594.

Meanwhile, workers in 'hospitality' and in 'agriculture, forestry and fishing' earned the least. Median annual wages in these sectors was €35,545 and €35,689 respectively. 

READ ALSO: The jobs where employees earn the most (and least) in Germany