Ausbildung Salary in Germany: What Apprentices Really Earn (2026)

By the GoGermany Editorial Team · 2026-07-14

From 682 € minimum to 1,500 €+ in top trades — real Ausbildung salaries by profession and year, what is deducted, and whether you can live on it.

The single most-asked question about Ausbildung: "Can I actually live on the salary?" The honest answer: yes in most cities, tightly in Munich — and the difference between professions is huge. Here are the real numbers for 2026.

💡 Shortcut: compare real training salaries for dozens of professions, year by year, in the free Ausbildung Salary Explorer.

The legal minimum — and the reality

Germany sets a legal minimum apprentice salary (Mindestausbildungsvergütung): about 682 € gross per month in the first year (2026), rising each training year. But most trades pay well above it, because collective agreements (Tarifverträge) set higher rates.

Typical first-year gross salaries:

• Nursing (Pflegefachkraft): 1,340–1,490 € — the best-paid classic Ausbildung.
• Industrial mechanic / mechatronics: 1,050–1,250 €.
• Bank clerk / insurance: 1,150–1,250 €.
• Electrician: 900–1,100 €.
• IT specialist (Fachinformatiker): 1,050–1,250 €.
• Truck driver (Berufskraftfahrer): 950–1,150 €.
• Hotel / restaurant: 900–1,100 €.
• Hairdresser: 682–850 € — the tough end.

Salaries rise every year of training — typically +5–10% per year — and the jump after passing your final exam is big: qualified professionals in these trades start at 2,800–3,800 € gross.

Gross is not net

From your gross salary, Germany deducts health insurance, pension, unemployment and care insurance plus wage tax (small at these levels). Rule of thumb: first-year Azubis keep roughly 80–85% net. Run your exact number through the Brutto-Netto Calculator — and see what your city costs with the Living Cost Calculator, because 1,100 € net lives very differently in Leipzig versus Munich.

Can you live on it?

Yes, with the standard Azubi setup: a WG room (shared flat) or company dormitory instead of your own apartment, and the discounted Deutschlandticket for transport. Many Azubis also receive extras: Weihnachtsgeld (Christmas bonus), Urlaubsgeld (holiday pay), and — if the employer is smart about recruiting internationals — free accommodation for the first months. If salary and rent do not add up in your target city, apply for Berufsausbildungsbeihilfe (BAB), the state top-up for apprentices living away from their parents. Many international Azubis qualify once they have their residence permit.

Common mistakes

• Comparing only salaries and ignoring rent: 1,000 € in Chemnitz beats 1,200 € in Munich.
• Not asking about extras in the interview — bonuses, accommodation help, the 13th salary.
• Confusing gross and net when planning your budget.
• Choosing the profession only for money. You will do this job for years — pick the intersection of pay AND interest.

Check what your target trade pays in the free Ausbildung Salary Explorer — then you negotiate and plan from facts, not forum rumors.