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Salary
Arbeitab 5 J.
The monthly pay for your work. Stated as gross (before deductions) or net (what lands in your account). In German, salaried employees receive “Gehalt”, wage earners receive “Lohn”.
A salary (Gehalt) is the regular monthly payment you receive from your employer for your work. The employment contract states the gross salary – what lands in your account after taxes and social security contributions is the net salary.
Average salaries in Germany (2026):
• Career starters: approx. €35,000–45,000 gross/year
• Average of all employees: approx. €50,000 gross/year
• Median salary: approx. €43,000 gross/year (half earn more, half earn less)
Difference between salary and wage: a salary is a fixed monthly amount (regardless of hours worked). A wage is calculated per hour and varies with the hours worked.
Did you know? The German word “Gehalt” comes from Middle High German “gehalt” = “possession, value”. In English it's “salary” – derived from the Latin “salarium” (salt allowance for Roman soldiers).
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