Doctors in training who also pursue a doctorate have to combine shifts, research and salary. Pay follows the collective agreement of the employer, and time for the dissertation follows an agreement with the clinic and the supervisor. This guide shows the pay scale for grade Ä1 under the TV-Ärzte TdL collective agreement, works through the time needed and names the points your employment contract should cover.
Short answer: Doctors in training at state university hospitals are paid under the TV-Ärzte TdL collective agreement. For pay grade Ä1, the table “Universitätsärzte 2026b” lists monthly gross pay from 5,792.90 euros (step 1) to 7,436.05 euros (step 6). The table applies from 1 April 2026 to 31 August 2027. How much time the doctorate receives during working hours is set in an agreement with your clinic. Last updated: October 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- Pay follows the collective agreement of your employer and the step you reach.
- For Ä1, the 2026b table lists monthly gross pay from 5,792.90 to 7,436.05 euros.
- The table applies from 1 April 2026 to 31 August 2027. A new table applies from 1 September 2027.
- Time for a doctorate does not appear in any pay table. It is a matter for agreement with the clinic and the supervisor.
- A worked example shows the time a dissertation takes alongside your shifts (assumption).
- Gross is not net. For the amount you actually receive, you need a separate calculation.
How high is pay during training?
Doctors at state university hospitals generally fall under the TV-Ärzte TdL. The table “Universitätsärzte 2026b” has two pay grades: Ä1 for doctors in training and Ä2 for doctors at specialist level. The figures below come from the table overview on oeffentlicher-dienst.de. The collective agreement itself remains decisive.
| Step | Ä1 (in training) | Ä2 (specialist level) |
|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | 5,792.90 euros | 7,645.72 euros |
| Step 2 | 6,121.26 euros | 8,286.77 euros |
| Step 3 | 6,355.79 euros | 8,849.64 euros |
| Step 4 | 6,762.34 euros | 9,165.95 euros |
| Step 5 | 7,247.00 euros | 9,338.38 euros |
| Step 6 | 7,436.05 euros | 9,576.69 euros |
The figures are monthly gross amounts in euros. According to the table overview, the “Universitätsärzte 2026b” table carries an increase of 2.95 percent and is valid until 31 August 2027. The table for the period from 1 September 2027 is not included in this source, so check it before you sign. Status of these figures: October 2026.
How much time does the doctorate take alongside your shifts?
A doctorate needs time that no pay table records. Whether the clinic grants time off is settled in an agreement with the department and the supervisor, often also in the employment contract. Put this agreement in writing. It protects you in matters of rotas, on-call duties and leave.
Assumption: you work ten hours per week on your dissertation, 46 weeks per year, over three years. That makes about 1,380 hours. Plan for more time if you collect data or do laboratory work, and build in buffers for analysis and revisions.
Gross, net and health insurance
The table figures are gross amounts. Social insurance contributions are deducted from pay, and income tax is also due. Income tax cannot be calculated reliably without your tax details. For an estimate, use the income tax calculator of the Federal Ministry of Finance (bmf-steuerrechner.de, in German). Your own estimate does not replace the information from your payroll office.
For statutory health insurance, the annual pay counts. The general insurance threshold for compulsory membership was 77,400 euros per year in 2026 (official, status January 2026). If your annual pay is above it, a move to private health insurance may be an option. Whether that applies to you depends on your situation. The guide Health Insurance During a PhD in Germany explains the basics.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I change clinic during the doctorate?
A change can affect your step placement and your research time. Include your commitments in the handover and clarify the recognition of earlier service with your new employer. This matters most if you are in the middle of the dissertation and do not want to interrupt the analysis.
Do I earn more during training if I do a doctorate?
Pay depends on the collective agreement, pay grade and step, not on the doctoral title. What counts is recognised service that the agreement takes into account for moving up a step. Ask your HR department which periods count for you.
Can I schedule the doctorate as working time?
That depends on your agreement with the clinic. The collective agreement alone does not give you such a right. Clarify beforehand whether research time is planned into the rota, and put the commitment in writing. The guide PhD Funding: Position, Scholarship or Own Savings gives an overview of funding options.
Do the table figures also apply to municipal hospitals?
Not automatically. Municipal hospitals and other employers often apply other collective agreements. Check the agreement of your employer before you calculate with the figures in this table.
From which salary can a move to private insurance be an option?
The insurance threshold was 77,400 euros per year in 2026. If your annual pay is above it, you are no longer subject to compulsory membership in statutory health insurance. For Ä1 this becomes relevant at higher steps, so calculate your annual pay. The decision needs an individual check.
What should the employment contract cover?
An employment contract during training is where promises become binding. Make sure the following points are recorded:
- The collective agreement and the pay grade you are placed in.
- The rules for placing you on a step and for recognised earlier service.
- The extent and timing of time for research or the dissertation.
- Leave for congresses, the defence and examination dates.
- Fixed-term rules and extension rules if the training takes longer than planned.
Do not rely on verbal promises about research time alone. A written addendum helps when rotas change or the department changes. If you later move to a practice or another clinic, check your insurance status again as well.
What to do next
- Check the collective agreement of your employer and the pay grade you are placed in.
- Agree the time for the doctorate in writing with the clinic and your supervisor.
- Calculate your gross-to-net pay with the Federal Ministry of Finance calculator, or have it checked.
- Check whether your annual pay reaches the insurance threshold before you decide on your health insurance.
- Record commitments and deadlines before you sign any contract.
Related guides
- PhD in Germany: routes, titles and requirements
- PhD Funding: Position, Scholarship or Own Savings
- Health Insurance During a PhD in Germany
Sources:
- Pay table overview TV-Ärzte TdL, table “Universitätsärzte 2026b”, valid 1 Apr 2026 to 31 Aug 2027 (reproduction, the collective agreement is decisive, in German)
- Federal Ministry of Finance, income tax calculator (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
