Teacher trainees in Lower Saxony (Lehramtsreferendariat) receive trainee pay (Anwärterbezüge): a monthly payment for the training relationship, made up of a basic amount and further components. This guide shows the figures we can back with an official status date, and explains how Beihilfe and health insurance fit in.
Short answer: According to the state education ministry, the basic trainee amount for teacher training in Lower Saxony is 1,722.66 euros from 1 April 2026 for primary, lower secondary and special needs teaching, and 1,761.92 euros for grammar schools and vocational schools. Family allowance and other components are added. Last updated: October 2026.
The Most Important Points
- The basic trainee amount from 1 April 2026 is 1,722.66 or 1,761.92 euros, depending on the school type.
- The family allowance is 170.36 euros at level 1 (married) and 315.97 euros at level 2 (one child).
- The ministry names the trainee special supplement but gives no amount. Ask your training office for the current sum.
- For active civil servants the Beihilfe rate is 50 percent. Trainees face limits on dental benefits.
- You choose your health insurance based on your status, usually Beihilfe combined with a private tariff, or statutory cover.
How high is trainee pay in Lower Saxony in 2026?
Trainee pay has several parts. The basic amount depends on the school type. The family allowance applies if you are entitled to it, and the trainee special supplement comes on top. The Lower Saxony Ministry of Culture publishes the amounts with effect from 1 April 2026.
| Item | Amount from 1 April 2026 | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Basic amount, primary, lower secondary and special needs teaching | 1,722.66 euros | Lower Saxony Ministry of Culture |
| Basic amount, grammar and vocational schools | 1,761.92 euros | Lower Saxony Ministry of Culture |
| Family allowance, level 1 (married) | 170.36 euros | Lower Saxony Ministry of Culture |
| Family allowance, level 2 (one child) | 315.97 euros | Lower Saxony Ministry of Culture |
| Trainee special supplement | no amount in the document | ask your training office |
Worked example: gross pay from the basic amount and family allowance
Assumption: grammar school, married, no further allowances. The basic amount of 1,761.92 euros plus family allowance level 1 of 170.36 euros gives 1,932.28 euros gross, before tax and without the trainee special supplement. For a reliable net figure, use the tax calculator of the German Federal Ministry of Finance (bmf-steuerrechner.de), because income tax depends on your personal circumstances. Civil servants do not pay social insurance contributions, but they pay premiums for health insurance from their net pay.
Beihilfe during teacher training: what applies in Lower Saxony?
Beihilfe is available to trainees who are entitled to it. The NLBV information sheet lists 50 percent for active civil servants. Its higher rates for families and children come from the version dated August 2023 and are not used here; ask the NLBV for the current version. The sheet names no separate rate for trainees, but dental benefits are restricted. A tariff covers the remaining share. Our guide to civil servant health aid during training explains the details.
Health insurance during teacher training: how to proceed
During teacher training the usual question is: Beihilfe plus a private trainee tariff, or statutory insurance? The answer depends on your status, your previous insurance and your income. The guide to health insurance during clerkship compares the routes. Check the admission conditions before you sign, because many tariffs ask about your health.
What changes when you move to another state?
Trainee pay and Beihilfe rules differ from state to state. If you move, check the figures again. The overview of trainee pay by state (in German) lists the states side by side. Law trainees follow different rules, see the legal traineeship guide for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Frequently asked questions
Do teacher trainees in Lower Saxony receive trainee pay?
Yes. Teacher trainees receive trainee pay. The basic amount depends on the school type you train for. The family allowance and other components are added if you are entitled to them.
Why are there two basic amounts?
The amounts differ by teaching qualification. For primary, lower secondary and special needs teaching the ministry gives 1,722.66 euros, for grammar and vocational schools 1,761.92 euros. Which group applies follows from your qualification.
How high is the trainee special supplement?
The ministry names the supplement but gives no amount. Ask the competent office for the current figure before you set your budget.
Does Beihilfe cover dental work?
For trainees in Lower Saxony, dental replacements, inlays, crowns and implant services are restricted. An exception applies to treatment resulting from an accident during training. Plan dental treatment with a reserve.
How do I get my net pay?
Use the tax calculator of the Federal Ministry of Finance. We do not calculate income tax ourselves, because without your personal tax data the result would be too imprecise.
What to do now
- Ask your training office to confirm your basic amount for your teaching qualification in writing.
- Clarify the family allowance, the trainee special supplement and your Beihilfe entitlement.
- Compare tariffs by benefits and your share of costs, not only by premium, and check the admission conditions.
- Calculate your net pay with the federal tax calculator and plan a buffer.
- For questions about the overall picture, personal advice is available from academycon: how we work.
Related reading
- Trainee Teacher Salary in Germany by State
- 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
- Beihilfe in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Sources: Lower Saxony Ministry of Culture: pay information, basic trainee amounts and family allowance (status 1 April 2026, German original); NLBV: general information sheet on Beihilfe, form 2719 (status August 2023, German original).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
