Teacher training in Rhineland-Palatinate (Lehramtsreferendariat) is the traineeship after university. You teach, attend seminars and receive pay. The level of this pay, health aid and health insurance are closely linked, so it is worth looking at them together.
Short answer: In teacher training in Rhineland-Palatinate, trainee pay depends on the basic trainee amount (Anwärtergrundbetrag) of your entry grade. According to the dbb pay table (status April 2026, subject to promulgation), the basic trainee amount is EUR 1,806.71 gross for A 13 and EUR 1,773.55 for A 12 (last updated October 2026). The responsible authority confirms which entry grade applies to your subject. As a rule, civil servants on probation without children receive 50 percent Beihilfe (secondary source, status October 2026).
The most important points at a glance
- Basis: dbb pay table for Rhineland-Palatinate, draft of 27 July 2026, subject to promulgation (status April 2026).
- Increases: EUR 60 from 1 April 2026, a further EUR 60 from 1 March 2027 and EUR 30 from 1 January 2028.
- Entry grade: The law does not name teacher trainees explicitly, so the authority that sets your pay must confirm your grade.
- Health aid: The Landesamt für Finanzen (state finance office) is revising its guidance, so ask for the rates directly.
- Health insurance: statutory (GKV) or private (PKV), depending on contributions, benefits and your family situation.
How are trainee pay levels built up in Rhineland-Palatinate?
The basic trainee amount is the monthly figure the law sets for each entry grade. The table shows the amounts from the dbb pay table, gross per month, subject to promulgation.
| Entry grade | from 1 April 2026 | from 1 March 2027 | from 1 January 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|
| A 5 to A 8 | EUR 1,571.65 | EUR 1,631.65 | EUR 1,661.65 |
| A 9 to A 11 | EUR 1,627.85 | EUR 1,687.85 | EUR 1,717.85 |
| A 12 | EUR 1,773.55 | EUR 1,833.55 | EUR 1,863.55 |
| A 13 | EUR 1,806.71 | EUR 1,866.71 | EUR 1,896.71 |
| A 13 with general allowance | EUR 1,843.13 | EUR 1,903.13 | EUR 1,933.13 |
Source: dbb pay table Rheinland-Pfalz, draft of 27 July 2026, subject to promulgation in the law gazette (last updated October 2026).
The increases follow three steps: EUR 60 from 1 April 2026, EUR 60 from 1 March 2027 and EUR 30 from 1 January 2028. The amounts therefore rise in stages, so do not focus only on the current figure.
Which entry grade applies to your subject?
The law sets the entry grades, but it does not explicitly name teacher trainees. Which pay grade applies to your school type and career path follows from the rules for the traineeship. Ask the authority that sets your pay and have the grade confirmed in writing. An overview of the rules in all German states is in the German guide Referendariat: Anwärterbezüge nach Bundesland (in German).
Which health aid applies in Rhineland-Palatinate?
State health aid (Beihilfe) follows the state health aid regulation. Whether aid is payable, and how much, is decided by the health aid office based on your family situation. The Landesamt für Finanzen Rheinland-Pfalz has a guidance note on health aid that is currently being revised and, in the version we checked, gives no percentages. Written information from the Landesamt für Finanzen is therefore the right route for now.
Worked example: what a year of increase means
Assumption: you are placed in grade A 13. The amount rises by EUR 60 gross per month on 1 March 2027, which is EUR 720 gross per year over twelve months. From 1 January 2028, another EUR 30 per month comes on top, which is EUR 360 gross per year compared with 2027.
Calculate net pay with the Federal Ministry of Finance calculator. This guide does not calculate income tax itself.
Health insurance during teacher training in Rhineland-Palatinate
The choice between statutory and private health insurance depends on contributions, benefits and your family plans. Health aid covers only a share of costs, so it is one part of the calculation. The German guide Krankenversicherung im Referendariat: GKV, PKV und Beihilfe explains the trade-offs in detail (in German).
Frequently asked questions
What is the basic trainee amount for grade A 13 in Rhineland-Palatinate?
According to the dbb pay table, subject to promulgation, it is EUR 1,806.71 gross from 1 April 2026, EUR 1,866.71 from 1 March 2027 and EUR 1,896.71 from 1 January 2028. Have the assignment of A 13 to your subject confirmed separately.
Does the law explicitly cover teacher trainees?
No. The law does not explicitly mention teacher trainees. It sets the basic trainee amounts for each entry grade. Which grade applies to you must therefore be clarified separately.
When do trainee salaries increase?
The increases apply from 1 April 2026, 1 March 2027 and 1 January 2028. The new amount appears from the relevant date in your pay statement.
Where can I get the health aid rates?
Directly from the Landesamt für Finanzen Rheinland-Pfalz, which processes health aid. While the guidance is being revised, ask for the answer in writing.
What to do now
- Check the notice from your employer and note the entry grade it names.
- Compare the basic trainee amount with the table and factor in the increases on 1 March 2027 and 1 January 2028.
- Ask the Landesamt für Finanzen in writing for the rate that applies to your family situation.
- Clarify your health insurance before the traineeship starts, and plan with net pay.
Related guides
- Teacher training insurance: from studies to traineeship
- Trainee Teachers in Statutory Health Insurance: How Voluntary Cover Works
- Civil Servant Health Aid During Training: Rates and Claims
- Referendariat: Anwärterbezüge nach Bundesland (in German)
- Lehramtsreferendariat in Nordrhein-Westfalen 2026/27
Sources: dbb: pay table Rheinland-Pfalz, draft of 27 July 2026, subject to promulgation (status April 2026); Landesamt für Finanzen Rheinland-Pfalz: health aid guidance (under revision, accessed October 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
