How much do you earn? That's how much you belong to the middle class!

How much do you earn? That's how much you belong to the middle class!

What are salaries like in Germany? A recent survey shows that many Germans are not sure whether they earn well or poorly. This is an important topic, especially in times of uncertainty. The remuneration atlas Federal Employment Agency provides information about the median salary in various professions and regions, allowing insights into income levels in Germany.

The median income, i.e. the amount at which the same number of people earn more than less, has undergone an exciting development in recent years. Around 2024, the median salary for full-time employees subject to social security contributions was 4,013 euros per month, which corresponds to an increase of 5.7% compared to the previous year, according to the t-online.de reported.

Regional differences and the middle class

Salaries vary greatly between federal states. In urban areas such as Munich, where the highest median salary is 5,100 euros gross, the situation is significantly better than in rural regions. There, for example, in the Saale-Orla district in Thuringia, the lowest median salary is 3,100 euros gross. People in big cities are already considered part of the middle class with a gross salary of around 4,500 euros, while in rural areas you are well off with a gross salary of 3,800 euros. In East Germany, even salaries below 3,500 euros gross can count as middle class.

A look at the salary structure shows that the average salary in Germany in 2024 will be 50,250 euros gross per year, which corresponds to around 2,741 euros net per month in tax class 1. The gender pay gap is also a relevant issue, with an adjusted gap of 5.5%, while women earn on average €40,000 and men €45,750 annually.

Industry-specific salary differences

Salaries vary not only regionally, but also greatly depending on the industry. The highest earning range can be found in banking with average salaries of 63,250 euros, followed by aerospace at 57,750 euros. In contrast, there are low wages in logistics and retail, where salaries often only start at 30,750 euros. It is obvious that the choice of professional field is crucial for the income situation.

The current salary developments are also supported by increasing collective bargaining agreements. What is particularly striking is the increase in median wages, which have grown regularly in recent years. According to finanz.de The median income was already 43,842 euros gross in 2023, which indicates a trend towards rising wages.

Conclusion

Overall, it shows that the salary situation has positive potential for many employees in Germany, but at the same time there are also challenging differences. The data illustrates how important it is to know your own position in the professional field and the regional conditions in order to develop a good sense of your personal income situation. Anyone who is unsure about their own earnings can use the information from the Federal Employment Agency's (BA) pay atlas to get a clear overview and thus prepare themselves for negotiations or professional reorientation.