Your starting salary with a master’s degree is, on average, higher than with a bachelor’s degree, but Germany has no official figure for entry-level pay by degree. What you can realistically expect depends on your role, industry, region and whether a collective agreement applies.
Short answer: Full-time employees with a bachelor’s degree earned an average of 4,675 euros gross per month in Saxony in April 2025, and those with a master’s degree 6,046 euros (Statistisches Landesamt Sachsen, as of April 2025). These are averages across all years of work, not starting salaries. For your offer, the job you do and the applicable pay scale matter more than the degree alone.
The most important points at a glance
- On average, a master’s degree in Saxony in 2025 came with roughly 1,370 euros more gross per month than a bachelor’s degree.
- Official statistics do not separate bachelor and master graduates by entry into work. The figures describe averages across all career stages.
- Collective agreements look at the activity you perform. A degree is often a requirement but does not fix the pay grade on its own.
- In the German public sector, pay grade 13 under the TV-L collective agreement starts at 4,759.37 euros gross in step 1 from 1 April 2026.
- Negotiate on the gross salary and the full package, including bonuses, leave and training.
How much do bachelor and master graduates earn in comparison?
The Saxon statistical office figures cover full-time employees in April 2025, excluding bonuses. The source reports averages, not medians, and covers only the state of Saxony. They are therefore not a national figure.
| Degree | Gross monthly earnings (average, Saxony, April 2025) |
|---|---|
| Recognised vocational qualification | 3,543 euros |
| Master craftsperson, technician or college diploma (Meister, Techniker, Fachschule) | 4,479 euros |
| Bachelor’s degree (Bachelorabschluss) | 4,675 euros |
| Master’s degree (Masterabschluss) | 6,046 euros |
| Doctorate or habilitation (Promotion oder Habilitation) | 8,886 euros |
Assumption: The gap between 6,046 and 4,675 euros is 1,371 euros per month, or about 16,450 euros gross per year over twelve monthly salaries. That is roughly 29 percent more. At the start of a career the gap can be smaller or larger.
Does a master’s degree pay off financially?
A rough comparison shows whether a master’s degree is worth it. It is deliberately simplified and does not replace personal planning. Our comparison Master or going straight to work (in German) covers the decision in more depth.
- List the direct costs of the master’s degree, such as fees, semester contributions and living costs.
- Count the lost earnings. Assumption: two years of master’s study instead of working at 4,675 euros gross per month means about 112,200 euros gross that you do not earn.
- Divide this by the extra gross income of about 16,450 euros per year. Assumption: this gives roughly seven years until the master’s degree has paid for itself before tax.
This calculation ignores taxes, social insurance contributions, interest and pay rises during a bachelor career. It still shows that a master’s degree pays off over a whole working life rather than in the first year.
What determines the starting pay in the public sector
In the public sector, pay follows fixed tables. Your grade depends on the activity you are assigned under the TV-L collective agreement (section 12), not on your title alone. The table below uses pay grade 13 as an example. It is not a flat rate for master’s graduates.
| Step | Gross monthly pay, pay grade 13 (from 1 April 2026) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 4,759.37 euros |
| 2 | 5,106.09 euros |
| 3 | 5,366.89 euros |
| 4 | 5,873.56 euros |
| 5 | 6,573.97 euros |
| 6 | 6,764.69 euros |
According to the source, the table is valid from 1 April 2026 to 28 February 2027. TV-L applies to employees of the German federal states. Municipalities and state enterprises can follow other rules.
How to place your starting salary
A reliable comparison needs several sources. The Federal Employment Agency publishes pay data by occupation in its Entgeltatlas (pay atlas). Collective agreements are the most binding source if your employer is bound by one. Individual figures from forums are often random and rarely comparable.
Put the offers side by side in a simple overview with gross pay, extra benefits, location and weekly hours. This shows quickly which offer really gives more. When comparing, check that you use the same basis: gross or net, full-time or part-time, with or without bonuses. Only then does a number become useful guidance. For the first months at work, see Berufseinstieg nach dem Studium (in German).
Which role do industry and region play?
Even with the same degree, offers differ considerably. The industry sets salary frameworks, for example in manufacturing, consulting, law firms or healthcare. The region shapes living costs and competition for skilled staff. An offer in a major city with high competition cannot simply be compared with one in a rural area.
- Industry: sectors bound by collective agreements, such as the public sector or the metal and electrical industry, have clear pay tables.
- Company size: large employers often pay in a structured way, while small firms may negotiate more flexibly.
- Region: rent and commuting costs change what a salary is worth. Always compare net pay after housing costs.
How to argue for your salary in a negotiation
A salary talk works better with facts than with gut feeling. Prepare three things: one verifiable figure from a source, a clear gross expectation and your achievements from studies, internships or part-time jobs. Negotiating with reasons makes you appear confident rather than demanding.
Frequently asked questions
Does a doctorate pay more?
The same statistics report an average of 8,886 euros gross per month for doctorate holders. Compared with the master’s average of 6,046 euros, that is about 2,840 euros more (calculated). The figure covers many years of work and different fields, and a doctorate is first of all a decision about a career path.
Is there an official starting salary for bachelor graduates?
No. Official statistics measure averages across all years of work and do not report entry-level pay by degree separately. For a realistic expectation, look at collective agreements, pay data by occupation and job advertisements that state a salary.
Does a master’s degree automatically mean a higher salary?
Not automatically. The degree is often a requirement for certain posts, but the activity remains the decisive factor. In sectors with strong collective bargaining, the pay grade matters more.
Are these figures gross or net?
All figures in this guide are gross. What remains depends on tax class, health insurance and social insurance contributions. The income tax calculator of the German Federal Ministry of Finance is a useful way to estimate net pay.
How quickly does pay rise after starting work?
Many collective agreements set steps that rise with work experience. Outside collective agreements, progress depends on performance, responsibility and negotiation. Ask concretely about pay steps or review dates when you accept an offer.
What to do now
- Set your minimum salary, gross and net, before you receive an offer.
- Check whether the employer is bound by a collective agreement and read the current pay table.
- Compare the offer with pay data by occupation and region, not with single cases.
- Negotiate the full package: salary, bonuses, leave and training.
Related reading
- Berufseinstieg after graduation (in German)
- Health Insurance After Graduation: Job Seeker Visa
- Health Insurance After the Trainee Period: What Comes Next
- Health Insurance Gap Between Bachelor and Master: What Applies
- Staying in Germany After Graduation: 18-Month Job Search Visa
Sources: Statistisches Landesamt Sachsen, press release 45/2026 (wages by degree 2025, as of April 2025); TV-L pay table valid from 1 April 2026 to 28 February 2027 (secondary copy; the official TdL table is decisive); Federal Employment Agency, Entgeltatlas (as of October 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
