Starting your Referendariat (the German traineeship after the state exam) in another federal state often means moving house, for a partner, family or your preferred placement. Then trainee pay (Anwärterbezüge), the health aid rate (Beihilfesatz) and insurance rules change, because the training falls under state law. Knowing the differences early avoids nasty surprises in your pay.
Short answer: Pay and health aid depend on the state where you complete your traineeship, not on where you live. The trainee base pay (A 13) ranges from roughly 1,720 to 1,870 euros gross per month, depending on the state (civil service tables, status 2026, subject to promulgation). The health aid rate is generally 50 percent without children, and Hesse deviates from this rule. Last updated: October 2026.
The essentials in brief
- Trainee pay and health aid are state matters. The state where you are trained is decisive.
- The trainee base pay differs between states, depending on pay grade and the status of the table.
- The health aid rate is generally 50 percent without children. Hesse grants 70 percent for outpatient and 85 percent for inpatient care.
- Legal trainees (Rechtsreferendariat) receive a maintenance allowance (Unterhaltsbeihilfe), whose amount is regulated separately in each state.
- A change of state during training is not automatic. Clarify in advance what counts and what starts again.
Why pay differs from state to state
Each state sets trainee pay through its own laws and tables, so the amounts differ even though the training follows a similar structure. The trainee base pay is a gross amount without family allowance. Whether you are placed in pay grade A 13 or A 12 depends on the school type or career path and must be checked with the state.
The table below shows trainee base pay for pay grade A 13 from the civil service tables of the dbb (Deutsche Beamtenbund). The figures are subject to promulgation, because some state laws are not yet published. Use them for comparison, not as a binding calculation.
| State | Trainee base pay A 13 (gross) | Status in the table | Health aid rate as a rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Rhine-Westphalia | 1,793.28 euros | 1 April 2026 | 50 percent without children |
| Bavaria | 1,795.21 euros | 1 October 2026 | 50 percent without children |
| Lower Saxony | 1,722.66 euros | 1 April 2026 | 50 percent without children |
| Hesse | 1,868.96 euros | 1 July 2026 | 70 percent outpatient, 85 percent inpatient |
| Baden-Württemberg | 1,786.46 euros | 1 April 2026 | 50 percent without children |
| Berlin | 1,807.47 euros | 1 April 2026 | 50 percent without children |
Source of the figures: dbb civil service tables, status 2026 per state. The official publication in the law gazette of each state is always decisive.
What changes concretely when you move
A move affects three areas: the level of pay, the health aid rate and the insurance rules. For pay, the difference between two states can easily run to triple digits per month, while for health aid it can be noticeable with larger treatment bills. It also matters whether previous training time is recognised or whether a new traineeship begins. The receiving state decides this, and the competent office judges each case.
The same applies to legal trainees. Maintenance allowance is not regulated the same way everywhere. In North Rhine-Westphalia the basic maintenance allowance has been 1,585.17 euros since 1 April 2026 according to the ordinance, plus family allowance. The ordinance applies until 28 February 2027 (Ordinance on the granting of a monthly maintenance allowance, North Rhine-Westphalia). For other states this guide deliberately gives no figure, because the status of the figures varies. Ask the responsible higher regional court or training office.
Comparison in numbers
Assumption: you compare Lower Saxony with Hesse, each with the trainee base pay for A 13 from the table. The gap is 146.30 euros gross per month (1,868.96 minus 1,722.66 euros). Over twelve months that is 1,755.60 euros gross. Taxes and social contributions are not included, and the family allowance adds on top. A net comparison therefore needs the federal finance ministry’s tax calculator.
Health aid is the second lever. With a larger medical bill, moving from 50 to 70 percent can change your own share considerably. So calculate not only with pay, but also with the likely costs of treatment and insurance premiums.
What to check concretely when you move
- The trainee base pay and pay grade in state law, not only in third-party tables
- The health aid rate, the assessment limits and whether a flat-rate health aid is offered
- The length of the traineeship and the examination dates in the new state
- Family allowance and child rules, because they can change the total considerably
- Relocation costs and deadlines before you start
Whether relocation costs are refunded is decided by each state under its own rules. Ask before the move whether an application is needed and which proofs apply.
Frequently asked questions
Does the health aid from my old state continue?
No. Health aid follows the law of the state whose service you join. With the move the assessment rate and the procedure change. Ask the new health aid office to confirm the rules in writing.
What is the health aid rate if I train in Hesse?
According to the Hessian leaflet on the health aid ordinance, the rate for trainees is 70 percent for outpatient and dental services and 85 percent for inpatient services. This applies uniformly, regardless of marital status (leaflet on the Hessian health aid ordinance, § 15).
Does time in my previous traineeship count?
The receiving state decides. Recognition is possible but not automatic. Clarify in writing whether and to what extent time counts before you move. If you have already passed exams or completed parts of the training, name them in your enquiry so the office can check your status precisely.
Can a side job make up the difference?
That depends on the rules of the state. Side activities during the traineeship usually need approval and can be offset against pay. Ask before you start.
Is the training a civil servant relationship in every state?
No. Depending on the state you are either a probationary civil servant or in a public-law training relationship (öffentlich-rechtliches Ausbildungsverhältnis). In some states you can choose. This affects insurance, health aid and social insurance, so know your status before you accept.
Do I have to reapply for health aid in the new state?
Yes. You register with the health aid office of the new state, submit the proofs and receive a new decision. Keep all documents, because rules change even though the old papers help with recalculation.
So what should you do now?
- Compare states: place the trainee base pay, health aid rates and maintenance allowance for your target states side by side.
- Clarify recognition: ask the training office in writing whether time counts and how long the traineeship lasts.
- Confirm health aid: have the future health aid office name the rate and flat-rate rules in writing.
- Plan insurance: decide whether you use health aid or a flat-rate model, and plan contributions and any switch with it.
Related reading
- Civil Servant Health Aid During Training: Rates and Claims
- Civil Servant Health Aid: Rates and How It Works
- Teacher traineeship in North Rhine-Westphalia: pay and health aid
- Flat-rate health aid for trainees: which states offer it
Sources: dbb civil service tables, status 2026 per state (dbb.de, subject to promulgation); Ordinance on the granting of a monthly maintenance allowance, North Rhine-Westphalia (recht.nrw.de, valid from 1 April 2026); leaflet on the Hessian health aid ordinance, § 15 (rp-kassel.hessen.de, version from 24 November 2021).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
