In April 2025, full‑time workers who had completed a recognised vocational training in Germany earned an average gross wage of €4,125. According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), however, wages in many craft occupations were still below this average.
For example, bricklayers on average received €3,910, while hairdressers earned €2,470 – more than €1,500 less than the overall average for employees with a vocational qualification. Tool mechanics, in contrast, earned €4,179, slightly above the average and more than 1½ times the pay of hairdressers. All figures refer to dependent employment, not self‑employed workers.
The choice of occupation is not the sole determinant of earnings. Higher educational levels also tend to translate into higher pay. In the same month, full‑time employees without any vocational training earned an average of €3,432, roughly €693 lower than those with a completed apprenticeship.
Those who held a master’s certificate (Meister), a technical certificate (Techniker), or a Fachschulabschluss earned €5,405 on average – €621 above the overall average for all employees. Employees with a bachelor’s degree earned €5,289. Those with a master’s degree earned €7,019, about €1,730 higher than the bachelor cohort. PhD holders or habilitated academics earned the highest average wage of €9,476.