Berufseinsteiger in Zahlen 2026 means knowing the limits that affect your salary and your health insurance before you sign your first contract. This overview collects the most important official figures for starting your career in Germany. Every number comes with its date and source.
In short: In the 2025 examination year, Destatis counted 527,600 university degrees (as of October 2026). For your start, the most important figures are the statutory minimum wage of €13.90 gross per hour (as of January 2026) and the annual earnings threshold for statutory health insurance of €77,400 (as of January 2026). We do not give an average starting salary, because we could not verify one from a reliable primary source.
The most important points at a glance
- In the 2025 examination year, Destatis recorded 527,600 degrees from higher education institutions, 3 percent more than the year before (as of October 2026).
- The statutory minimum wage is €13.90 gross per hour in 2026 and rises to €14.60 in 2027 (as of January 2026, Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs).
- The annual earnings threshold for compulsory membership in statutory health insurance (Jahresarbeitsentgeltgrenze) is €77,400 in 2026 (as of January 2026).
- The pension insurance contribution is 18.6 percent in 2026, of which your share is 9.3 percent (as of January 2026).
- The average additional contribution of statutory health insurers is 2.9 percent in 2026. The rate your own fund charges is set in its contribution notice.
How many people finish a degree every year?
The number of degrees gives you a sense of the size of the cohort you are competing with. Destatis publishes the figures for the 2025 examination year and the 2025/26 winter semester as press releases. Preliminary figures can be revised later.
| Figure | Value | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degrees from higher education institutions, 2025 examination year | 527,600 | October 2026 | Destatis |
| Completed doctorates, 2025 examination year | 28,800 | October 2026 | Destatis |
| Students, 2025/26 winter semester (preliminary) | 2,876,900 | November 2025 | Destatis |
Do not confuse completed doctorates with doctoral candidates. In 2025, 216,200 people were pursuing a doctorate (Destatis, as of August 2026). That number describes people in progress, not completed doctorates. For the size of the graduating cohort, the number of degrees is the right figure.
Which thresholds shape your salary and your insurance?
Some of the reference values feed directly into your payslip. The table shows the figures for 2026 and, where proposed, for 2027. The 2027 values are a cabinet draft that has not yet passed the Bundesrat, so read them with caution.
| Threshold | 2026 | 2027 (draft) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage per hour, gross | €13.90 | €14.60 | BMAS |
| Annual earnings threshold for statutory health insurance (compulsory membership) | €77,400 | €84,150 | GKV-Spitzenverband |
| Contribution ceiling for health and long-term care insurance per month | €5,812.50 | €6,375 | GKV-Spitzenverband |
| Contribution ceiling for pension and unemployment insurance per month | €8,450 | €8,850 | German Pension Insurance |
The annual earnings threshold and the contribution ceiling are different values. The threshold decides whether you stay compulsorily insured in statutory health insurance at all. The contribution ceiling only caps the income on which contributions are calculated. You can read more in our guide to the compulsory insurance threshold for graduates (in German).
What does the minimum wage mean for a full-time salary?
The minimum wage is the lowest pay a job may offer. A simple calculation shows what it means per month.
- Assumption: 40 hours per week over 52 weeks, which makes 2,080 hours per year.
- Calculation for 2026: 2,080 hours divided by 12 months gives about 173.3 hours per month. Multiplied by €13.90, this comes to about €2,409 gross per month.
- Calculation for 2027: 173.3 hours multiplied by €14.60 gives about €2,531 gross per month, if the minimum wage rises as planned.
This is an arithmetic example, not a collective agreement rate. Real starting salaries depend on sector, region and subject, and are often well above the minimum. The binding figures are in the collective agreements for your sector, such as TV-L or TVöD for public service, and in the earnings statistics of the Federal Statistical Office.
How long does the job search take after graduation?
We did not find a current and reliable figure for the average length of the job search, so we do not state one. It depends heavily on subject, region and how you apply. You can still plan it:
- Start looking in your final semester, not only after you graduate.
- Set a fixed number of applications per week and review the results after two months.
- Check whether compulsory internships, working student jobs or trainee programmes can bridge the gap.
Why dates matter for your start
Many thresholds do not change on the day you start work. They change on 1 January of each year, so if you start in December, look at the following year as well. This matters most for insurance thresholds, which are adjusted every year.
- The minimum wage rises on 1 January 2027 from €13.90 to €14.60 (as of January 2026).
- The annual earnings threshold for health insurance is set every year. A draft for 2027 is already available.
- Contribution ceilings follow wage growth and are published in the autumn for the following year.
Write down the date of every source you use. A figure that was correct in spring may already be outdated by autumn. When in doubt, check the original notice of the responsible authority.
Common questions
What does a graduate earn on average?
We did not find an official average for graduate starting salaries that we could state as a fact here. Collective agreements and the earnings statistics of the Federal Statistical Office are the reliable sources. The minimum wage only shows the lower limit.
Does the minimum wage also apply to graduates?
In general, the statutory minimum wage applies to all employees. There are exceptions, for example for compulsory internships during a degree. Whether a specific contract falls under an exception is a question for the employment relationship itself.
Why is the annual earnings threshold important?
It determines whether you remain compulsorily insured in statutory health insurance as an employee. If your regular annual earnings exceed the threshold, compulsory membership can end at the end of the calendar year, under the conditions set out in the law.
Where can I find the current figures?
The reference values are published by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the GKV umbrella organisation and the German Pension Insurance. Always check the date of the source before making an important decision, because figures for the following year are often only decided in autumn.
What to do now
- Write down your figures: gross annual salary, employer, start date and type of health insurance.
- Compare your salary with the earnings threshold and the contribution ceilings in this guide.
- Check your first payslip line by line before you file it away.
- Clarify open questions about health insurance before you sign or terminate a contract.
Related reading
- Health Insurance Income Limit 2026: What It Means
- Health Insurance After the Trainee Period: What Comes Next
- Berufseinstieg nach dem Studium: So gelingt dir der Start (in German)
- Finanzen und Absicherung: So startest du ins Berufsleben (in German)
Sources: Destatis, press release on degrees 2025 (as of October 2026) · GKV umbrella organisation, fact sheet on 2026 reference values (as of January 2026) · Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, minimum wage adjustment (as of 2026) · Section 6 SGB V, exemption from compulsory insurance (gesetze-im-internet.de) · Contribution rate notice 2026 (as of January 2026)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
