The public sector starting salary in Germany depends on two systems. Employees are placed in pay groups (Entgeltgruppen) under the collective agreement for the federal states (TV-L). Civil servants (Beamte) are placed in salary grades (Besoldungsgruppen) such as A 13. This guide shows the 2026 figures and explains why E 13 and A 13 cannot simply be compared.
Kurz beantwortet: Under the TV-L collective agreement for the federal states (valid from 1 April 2026 to 28 February 2027), pay group E 13 in step 1 is 4,759.37 euros gross per month. For A 13 in step 1, the German federal draft salary table (status 26 May 2026) gives 5,343.23 euros gross. The federal states set their own civil servant pay, so these numbers are examples only.
The key points in brief
- E 13 is a pay group for employees, A 13 a salary grade for civil servants.
- E 13 in step 1 is 4,759.37 euros gross per month under the TV-L (valid until 28 February 2027).
- A 13 in step 1 is 5,343.23 euros gross per month in the federal draft table. The states can differ.
- Civil servants usually pay no pension insurance contributions and are not in statutory health insurance. They receive health aid (Beihilfe) instead.
- A fair comparison needs net pay, special payments and pension entitlements.
What do E 13 and A 13 mean?
E stands for Entgeltgruppe, a pay group in the collective agreement for employees of the federal states. A stands for Besoldungsgruppe, the salary grade for civil servants. The number 13 marks the level. Employees of the federal government and municipalities are usually covered by the TVöD, whose table is not analysed here. The job advertisement shows which group applies to you, and grading follows the actual tasks, not the degree alone.
Which figures apply in 2026?
The table lists monthly gross base amounts. Family allowances, special payments and other allowances are not included.
| Step | E 13, TV-L (federal states), pay table | A 13, federal draft, base salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4,759.37 euros | 5,343.23 euros |
| 2 | 5,106.09 euros | 5,598.03 euros |
| 3 | 5,366.89 euros | 5,851.33 euros |
| 4 | 5,873.56 euros | 6,106.15 euros |
| 5 | 6,573.97 euros | not determined |
| 6 | 6,764.69 euros | not determined |
Sources and status: E 13 from the TV-L pay table, Annex B, valid 1 April 2026 to 28 February 2027 (PDF published by dbb). A 13 from the federal draft table dated 26 May 2026, planned to take effect on 1 May 2026, subject to official publication. The draft is not yet binding law. Check the table of the specific employer before you apply.
How do employees and civil servants differ in deductions and cover?
A gross figure says little while the deductions differ. The main differences are these:
- Employees pay contributions to health, long-term care, pension and unemployment insurance (Sozialversicherung), and the employer pays its share.
- Civil servants usually pay no pension insurance contributions. Their old-age provision comes from a civil service pension (Pension).
- For illness, civil servants generally receive health aid (Beihilfe), usually supplemented by private health insurance. The rates differ between employers.
- Becoming a civil servant depends on conditions the employer checks, such as fitness for service.
How cover works for civil servants is explained in Civil Servant Health Aid: Rates and How It Works.
Worked example: monthly difference at entry
Assumption: both posts in step 1, the federal draft for A 13 against the TV-L for E 13. The figures come from different employers, so the comparison only gives an order of magnitude. Special payments and pensions are not included.
- Monthly gross difference: 5,343.23 minus 4,759.37 equals 583.86 euros.
- Annual difference over twelve monthly salaries: 583.86 times 12 equals 7,006.32 euros gross.
- Annual gross at E 13, step 1: 4,759.37 times 12 equals 57,112.44 euros.
- Annual gross at A 13, step 1 (draft): 5,343.23 times 12 equals 64,118.76 euros.
Whether this difference matters to you depends on deductions, pension, health cover and family allowances. A net comparison always needs your personal case.
How do you get into E 13 or A 13?
The advertisement names the pay or salary group. Starting in step 1 is typical. Steps rise with years of experience under the collective agreement (§ 16 TV-L) or under civil service pay law. Ask the HR department whether prior experience counts, because that can move you to a higher step.
Which security does each path offer?
The choice between employment and civil service status depends less on the monthly figure than on your life plan. Both paths have fixed features worth weighing:
- Employment: pay follows the collective agreement and social insurance contributions apply. Moves to other employers are often easier under the rules of the agreement.
- Civil service: pay follows the salary law of the employer. Old-age security and incapacity come through the civil service pension, and health cover through Beihilfe plus private insurance.
- Family: family allowances and child rules differ between collective agreement and salary law. Calculate your own case with your details.
- Duration: fixed-term contracts depend on the contract. Lifetime civil service status is tied to conditions and a selection process.
Anyone checking the public sector should calculate both variants with net pay, pension and family situation before applying. The HR department of the employer explains the rules for the advertised post, including probation and confirmation.
Frequently asked questions
Are E 13 and A 13 the same?
No. E 13 is a pay group under a collective agreement for employees. A 13 is a salary grade for civil servants under civil service pay law. Both are monthly figures, but they come from different legal systems, so only a net comparison with all deductions is meaningful.
Who decides the grading?
The employer decides, based on the tasks of the job and the applicable collective agreement or pay law. The HR department that advertised the post is your contact point.
Are there extra payments?
The TV-L provides for an annual special payment (Jahressonderzahlung). Its amount depends on step and pay group and is not quantified in the sources checked here. Civil servants also receive special payments under their state’s rules.
Is the table the same in every federal state?
No. The TV-L applies to the federal states that use it, and each state sets civil servant pay through its own laws. The figures here are examples, not binding amounts for a particular post.
How to proceed now
- Check the pay group or salary grade in the advertisement.
- Look up the current table of the relevant state or the federal government, not that of another employer.
- Convert gross to net with all deductions and plan health aid or insurance as a separate item.
- Ask about the step, the recognition of prior experience and the special payments.
Related guides
- Civil Servant Health Aid: Rates and How It Works
- Civil Servant Health Aid During Training: Rates and Claims
- Computer science starting salary with a master’s degree
- Berufseinstieg nach dem Studium: career start after your degree (in German)
Sources: dbb, TV-L pay table Annex B (valid 1 April 2026 to 28 February 2027); dbb, federal draft salary table (status 26 May 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
