A salary negotiation as a graduate in Germany succeeds when you argue with figures you can check. It is not an interrogation but a conversation about an offer both sides should be able to live with. This guide shows you the numbers you need and phrases that work in the conversation.
Short answer: Negotiate on the basis of a collective agreement if your employer is bound by one. Without one, the pay transparency right under section 10 EntgTranspG helps. It gives you access to the average monthly gross pay of comparable employees. The request must be made in text form and can generally be repeated only every two years (Last updated: October 2026, source: section 10 EntgTranspG).
Key points at a glance
- Formulate your goal as a number, as monthly gross and, if you like, as an hourly rate.
- Check first whether a collective agreement applies. Collective pay figures are more reliable than any job advertisement.
- The pay transparency right under section 10 EntgTranspG lets you ask for the average gross pay of comparable employees.
- Calculate the offer net before you accept it. EUR 300 more gross is clearly less net.
- Negotiate the overall package if the base salary is fixed, for example on leave, training or remote work.
Which figures do you need for your negotiation?
Before you name a sum, you need three values: a comparison value from a collective agreement or a disclosure, your minimum amount and a realistic target salary. Convert everything into monthly gross and, where useful, an hourly rate. This quickly shows whether an offer is reasonable.
| Calculation step | Method (assumption) | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly gross from EUR 48,000 per year | EUR 48,000 divided by 12 | EUR 4,000.00 |
| Hourly rate at 40 hours per week | EUR 48,000 divided by (40 times 52) | EUR 23.08 |
| Statutory minimum wage as a floor (status 1 January 2026) | EUR 13.90 times 40 times 52 weeks | EUR 28,912 gross per year |
These are calculation examples with assumed values. The minimum wage of EUR 13.90 gross per hour applies from 1 January 2026 under the minimum wage ordinance. It is a statutory floor, not a benchmark for graduates with a university degree.
How to prepare the conversation
- Collect comparison values: collective pay figures, a disclosure under section 10 EntgTranspG or publicly available salary ranges with their source.
- Set your floor. Below it, you do not accept the offer.
- Formulate a target salary that you can justify, for example with your degree, practical experience or the demands of the role.
- Note two or three benefits that matter to you, such as training, leave days or flexible working hours.
- Practise the conversation out loud, ideally with someone who challenges your arguments.
What a gross increase means net
A higher gross salary reaches your account only in part. Assumption: social security contributions of 21.15 percent, income tax not yet considered. The table shows what remains of a gross increase before income tax.
| Gross increase per month | Increase before income tax (assumption 21.15 percent contributions) | Increase per year before income tax |
|---|---|---|
| EUR 100 | about EUR 79 | about EUR 950 |
| EUR 300 | about EUR 237 | about EUR 2,840 |
| EUR 500 | about EUR 394 | about EUR 4,730 |
Income tax depends on your tax class and tax table. Check the difference with the BMF calculator before you accept an offer. The result often shows that a small gross increase feels smaller net than it first seems.
Which comparison values are reliable?
Not every figure works as an argument. Collective agreements are the most stable basis because they are publicly available. An individual right to information arises from the Pay Transparency Act (Entgelttransparenzgesetz). Under section 10 (1), you can request information on the average monthly gross pay of comparable employees. You must name a reasonable comparable activity that is equal or equivalent.
Job advertisements are only a rough guide. Salary ranges in them are often broad, and their origin is unclear. If you use such figures, name the source and the date.
Phrases that work in the conversation
Good phrases are concrete and friendly and turn a number into the basis of the conversation. These sentences can be adapted:
- “I am looking forward to the role. I have a gross monthly salary of EUR 4,000 in mind. Is that range realistic for you?”
- “Under the collective agreement, my qualification places me at about EUR 4,760 gross per month. How can we approach that?”
- “I have looked at comparable positions. My expectation is around EUR 3,900 to 4,100. What room do you see?”
- “If the base salary is fixed, further training and additional leave days would matter to me.”
- “I would like to think about the decision. Could you send me the offer in writing?”
After you name a figure, stay quiet for a moment. The silence belongs to the negotiation and is not a sign of uncertainty.
What to do if the answer is no?
A no to your target salary is not automatically a no to the position. Ask what the obstacle is and agree on a review date, for example after six months. Put any agreement in writing as soon as you reach one.
Frequently asked questions
Should I name the figure first or wait?
If you name the figure first, you set the frame. If you wait, you often receive an offer that leaves you some room. If you have a number you can back up, name it first.
How much room do I have as a graduate?
It depends heavily on the employer and the collective agreement. In collectively agreed pay scales the room is often limited by the step. Outside collective agreements it is usually larger. A general percentage would not be reliable, so concrete comparison values help.
May I ask what colleagues earn?
An individual right to information exists under section 10 EntgTranspG. It gives you the average monthly gross pay of comparable employees, not the pay of individual people. The request must be made in text form.
How often can I use the right to information?
Under section 10 (2), you can repeat the request only after two years have passed or if a significant change has occurred. Use it deliberately, for example before a pay review or after a promotion.
Is it worth negotiating for small amounts?
Yes. A difference of EUR 100 gross per month adds up to EUR 1,200 gross per year. Later pay reviews often build on the current salary, so small amounts compound over time.
Can I negotiate the net salary?
No. Employers usually negotiate the gross amount. Net pay results from contributions and taxes. Calculate your gross demand with our net salary guide before you name it.
What to do next
- Find a comparison value from a collective agreement, a disclosure or a reliable source.
- Set your floor, your target and two benefits.
- Convert each number into monthly gross and net.
- Put the result in writing before you leave the meeting.
Related guides
- Calculate net salary 2026
- Starting salary 2026 for graduates
- Berufseinstieg nach dem Studium (in German)
- Bewerbung als Student (in German)
Sources: Section 10 EntgTranspG, individual right to information (in German); Fifth Minimum Wage Ordinance, BMAS, status 1 January 2026 (in German).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
