A first job as a trainee is a structured programme, usually with an employment contract, rotations through several departments and a fixed salary. What you earn depends on the industry, the employer and whether a collective agreement applies. There is no single salary table for trainees in Germany.
Short answer: Trainee programmes have no uniform salary table. As an employee you are entitled to at least the statutory minimum wage of EUR 13.90 gross per hour (last updated January 2026). Once employment starts, you are generally in statutory health insurance, as long as your annual salary stays below EUR 77,400. Last updated: October 2026.
The key points
- Trainee programmes have no uniform salary table. The employment contract and, where it applies, a collective agreement decide the pay.
- The statutory minimum wage has been EUR 13.90 gross per hour since 1 January 2026, and it applies to trainees with an employment contract.
- Assumption: at 40 hours per week, the minimum wage comes to about EUR 2,409 gross per month.
- Once employment starts, you are compulsorily insured as an employee. Contributions are calculated on gross pay.
- Many trainee programmes are fixed-term. Find out early what happens after the programme.
What do trainees earn?
The range is wide and depends on the industry, the region, your degree and whether a collective agreement applies. If you start with an employer bound by a collective agreement, the pay grade is set in that agreement. Without one, the contract alone decides, and it must at least reach the statutory minimum wage. Before you accept, ask about base pay, special payments and allowances. A high figure says little if working hours and deductions remain unclear. For comparing offers, see Starting salaries 2026 by subject.
Which minimum wage applies to trainees?
Under the Minimum Wage Act, the minimum wage has been EUR 13.90 gross per hour since 1 January 2026 (Fifth Minimum Wage Adjustment Ordinance). There are exceptions, for example for apprentices and certain compulsory internships. A trainee contract is usually an employment contract, and then the minimum wage applies. A lower pay is not permitted.
| Weekly working hours | Monthly gross at the minimum wage (assumption) |
|---|---|
| 30 hours | EUR 1,807.00 |
| 35 hours | EUR 2,108.17 |
| 40 hours | EUR 2,409.33 |
Source: minimum wage of EUR 13.90 per hour (last updated 1 January 2026). The monthly amounts are calculations: hourly wage times weekly hours times 52 weeks, divided by 12 months.
Assumption: a 40-hour week at the minimum wage gives 13.90 times 40 times 52 divided by 12, that is about EUR 2,409 gross per month. A pay of EUR 3,500 gross is used below only as an example for the contribution calculation.
How does health insurance work during a trainee programme?
With the start of an employment contract you are compulsorily insured as an employee (§ 5 para. 1 no. 1 SGB V, in German). If you were insured as a student before, that membership ends when work starts. Contributions are calculated on gross pay up to the contribution assessment ceiling of EUR 5,812.50 per month (2026). The general rate of 14.6 percent and the average additional contribution of 2.9 percent are shared equally by employer and trainee. The long-term care rate in 2026 is 3.6 percent, with a surcharge of 0.6 points for childless employees aged 23 or over.
Assumption: a trainee with EUR 3,500 gross, no children and older than 23, additional contribution of 2.9 percent. Your share of health and long-term care insurance:
- Health insurance: 8.75 percent of EUR 3,500, that is EUR 306.25
- Long-term care insurance: 2.4 percent (1.8 percent plus the 0.6 percent surcharge) of EUR 3,500, that is EUR 84.00
- Together: EUR 390.25 per month
The calculation contains neither income tax nor pension and unemployment insurance. For a net estimate, use the tax calculator of the Federal Ministry of Finance (bmf-steuerrechner.de). For reading your payslip, see Understanding your first payslip.
Which protection matters for trainees?
Many trainees do not yet have their own occupational disability insurance. Whether it makes sense depends on your job, your savings and your health. Such insurance can protect your income if you cannot work because of illness, but it comes with ongoing contributions. Reasons against a policy can be high contributions compared with the cover, or existing protection. The main reason in favour is the lack of savings. Health questions must be answered fully and truthfully, otherwise you risk consequences under the duty of disclosure (§ 19 VVG, in German).
Frequently asked questions
Is a trainee salary always above the minimum wage?
Not necessarily, but the minimum wage is the legal floor, and any pay below it is not permitted. Compare offers by working hours, allowances and special payments, not only by the figure in the offer.
Do I have to pay tax on a trainee salary?
Yes. Like any employment income, it is subject to income tax. The exact amount depends on your tax class and allowances. The tax calculator of the Federal Ministry of Finance gives you an estimate.
Does the probation period apply in a trainee programme?
That is set out in the contract. Under the German Civil Code a probation period may last no more than six months (§ 622 para. 3 BGB, in German).
What happens after the programme?
That depends on the contract: a permanent role, a follow-on contract or an end date. Clarify this early and document your projects. Then you have better arguments in the conversation and know whether you need to bridge a gap in health insurance or income.
What to do next
- Compare offers by minimum wage, allowances and working hours, not only by the figure in the letter.
- Check whether a collective agreement applies and which pay grade the programme provides for.
- Calculate your share of the health and long-term care contributions with the example.
- Clarify the fixed term and the transition before you sign.
Related guides
- Health Insurance After Graduation: Job Seeker Visa
- Private Health Insurance for Working Students in Germany
- Probation period: dismissal, leave and health insurance
- Starting your career after university (in German)
Sources: Fifth Minimum Wage Adjustment Ordinance, Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (last updated 1 January 2026); GKV-Spitzenverband, fact sheet on 2026 calculation figures (last updated 1 January 2026); Social Code Book V, § 5 (accessed October 2026); German Civil Code, § 622 (accessed October 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
