Train tool

Estimate your Ausbildung salary

Profession, year of training, and German state set your typical Ausbildung wage and the entry salary you'll earn after.

12 most common Ausbildung professions covered. Federal floor still applies to others.

Program length: 3 years.

Berlin and federally binding tariffs (Pflegefachmann, MFA) sit at the baseline.

Most German Ausbildung positions sit on a chamber tariff (IHK, IG Metall, TVöD, AAA, DEHOGA). The figure is the negotiated tariff rate.

2026 figures from BIBB, IHK SH, IG Metall, DEHOGA, Ärztekammer BW.

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Frequently asked questions

Why does my Ausbildung salary depend on the Bundesland?

Most Ausbildung tariffs are negotiated at the chamber or sector level, and the resulting hourly rates differ by region. West Germany typically sits about 5 percent above the national baseline, East Germany about 10 percent below. There are exceptions: Pflegefachmann/-frau (nursing) sits on the federally binding TVöD-Pflege tariff, and Medizinische/r Fachangestellte (MFA) sits on the AAA/Bundesärztekammer tariff. Both are state-invariant. Berlin and Hamburg generally track the national baseline.

What is the Mindestausbildungsvergütung and does it apply to me?

The Mindestausbildungsvergütung is the federal statutory floor for all Ausbildung wages, set in BBiG §17. For 2026, the floor is 724 EUR in year 1, 854 EUR in year 2, 977 EUR in year 3, and 1,014 EUR in year 4. It applies to every Ausbildung position regardless of profession or tariff. If a non-tariff employer's offer comes in below the floor, the employer is legally required to pay the floor, not the offer. The calculator surfaces the floor when your inputs would otherwise dip below it.

Tariff-bound vs non-tariff. Which one am I?

Tariff-bound means your employer is bound by a chamber tariff (IHK, IG Metall, IGBCE, TVöD-Pflege, AAA for medical assistants, DEHOGA for hospitality, BAP for staffing). Roughly 70 percent of German Ausbildung positions are tariff-bound. Non-tariff is mostly small family-run Handwerk shops or some private healthcare practices (though MFA pay is federally binding regardless). Non-tariff employers commonly pay 10 to 20 percent under tariff. Always check your Ausbildungsvertrag for the relevant tariff reference.

Why do trades show 4-year programs while nursing is 3?

Standard durations are: 2 years for Verkäufer/-in, 3 years for Pflegefachmann/-frau, MFA, Fachinformatiker, retail Kaufmann, Büromanagement, and Koch, and 3.5 to 4 years for IG Metall trades (Industriemechaniker, Mechatroniker, Kfz-Mechatroniker), Elektroniker, and Anlagenmechaniker SHK. Programs are sometimes shortened by up to a year for applicants with prior education (Abitur or vocational entry); this calculator assumes the standard duration.

Will the AI give me a custom estimate for my specific profession?

Not yet. The calculator covers the 12 most common Ausbildung professions by international applicant volume. For other professions, the federal floor still applies (724 / 854 / 977 / 1,014 EUR for years 1 to 4) and the tariff for your sector can usually be found via the chamber (IHK/HWK) or the Bundesagentur für Arbeit Entgeltatlas. We plan to expand profession coverage based on demand.

What does the post-Ausbildung entry salary represent?

It is the typical gross annual salary you can expect immediately after completing the Ausbildung and signing your first full-time contract. Skilled trades and IT roles typically earn 2.6 to 2.9 times the final-year apprentice rate. Healthcare and gastronomy track closer to 2.0 to 2.4 times. The figure assumes a 38 to 40 hour week on the same chamber tariff, before bonuses and shift differentials. Real outcomes vary with location, employer, and any specialisation.