The Referendariat in Berlin (the paid practical training after university for teachers and lawyers) raises three questions straight away: how much trainee pay (Anwärterbezüge) you receive, which Beihilfe (state partial reimbursement of medical costs) applies and how your health insurance is organised. This guide brings together the figures we can verify for Berlin and names the bodies that give binding answers.
Short answer: According to the dbb salary table (status April 2026, subject to promulgation), trainee pay at pay grade A 13 in Berlin is 1,807.47 euros gross per month. As a rule, civil servants on probation without children receive Beihilfe covering 50 percent of eligible costs. Berlin state law sets any deviations. This guide gives no verified amount for legal trainees. Last updated: October 2026.
The most important points
- Trainee pay at pay grade A 13 is 1,807.47 euros gross per month according to the dbb table (status 1 April 2026).
- The table carries the reservation that it is subject to publication in the official gazette, so check the figure before you make financial commitments.
- The grade depends on the teaching qualification and school type. Check it in your appointment documents.
- As a rule, civil servants on probation without children receive a Beihilfe rate of 50 percent.
- For legal trainees (Rechtsreferendariat) this guide gives no amount. The Kammergericht, as the competent higher regional court, provides binding information.
How much is trainee pay in Berlin?
Trainee pay is the monthly salary during the practical training. The dbb salary table (Besoldungstabelle) lists 1,807.47 euros for pay grade A 13, status 1 April 2026. The table reproduces the state salary scale through a union source, and it carries the reservation of publication in the Berlin gazette. The figure can therefore still change before it becomes binding.
| Item | Value | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trainee pay, entry grade A 13 | 1,807.47 euros gross per month | 1 April 2026 | dbb salary table, subject to promulgation |
| Beihilfe rate (rule, probationary civil servants without children) | 50 percent | October 2026 | Berlin Beihilfe ordinance |
| Subsistence allowance for legal trainees | no verified amount | October 2026 | Competent higher regional court |
Whether grade A 13 applies to your teaching qualification is shown in the documents of your appointment. The figure is gross. Income tax and social insurance contributions are deducted, and the amount depends on your tax class and family situation. For your personal calculation, the federal finance ministry offers a tax calculator. This guide does not calculate income tax itself.
How Beihilfe works during training in Berlin
Beihilfe is a benefit from the employer that covers part of your medical costs. The rule of 50 percent is the standard for probationary civil servants without children. Berlin sets deviations in its state Beihilfe ordinance. The rest is usually covered by private health insurance, because Beihilfe pays only a share. The actual reimbursement shows only when you submit receipts and the Beihilfe office processes them.
Some states offer a flat-rate Beihilfe (pauschale Beihilfe) instead of the individual rate. Whether Berlin offers it, which election deadlines apply and whether the election is binding are questions for the Berlin Beihilfe office. Make that decision before you take out a private policy, because it changes the cover you need.
What applies to health insurance?
Under § 6 para. 1 no. 2 SGB V, civil servants are exempt from compulsory statutory insurance if they are entitled to continued salary payment and Beihilfe. Whether this applies to your training in Berlin is checked by the employer when you are appointed. Without Beihilfe entitlement, your cover stays with statutory insurance or a voluntary membership, which needs clarifying.
Transitions matter here. Anyone moving from university or the state exam into training should plan health cover without a gap. The German guide on health insurance during the Referendariat (in German) describes the options in more detail.
Lehramt and legal training in Berlin: what differs
In teacher training, the practical training leads to an appointment as a civil servant on probation, and trainee pay is the central figure. Legal training follows different rules for the subsistence allowance and status. This guide therefore gives no amount for legal trainees in Berlin. The Kammergericht, which serves as the higher regional court in Berlin, gives the binding answer. The difference between the two routes is explained in the German guide on Rechtsreferendariat in Berlin.
Common planning mistakes
Many trainees plan with the wrong figure. These three mistakes come up again and again and are easy to avoid.
- Gross trainee pay is used as if it were net income. Plan with the amount left after deductions.
- The Beihilfe rate is treated as a full reimbursement. At 50 percent, half of the cost stays open and must be covered elsewhere.
- Health insurance is clarified only after training starts. A gap can become expensive, so decide before the first working day.
Frequently asked questions
Is the trainee pay in Berlin a net amount?
No. It is a gross amount from which income tax and social insurance contributions are deducted where they apply. The exact amount depends on your tax class and personal situation. The federal finance ministry tax calculator gives the binding estimate.
Why is the figure marked as subject to promulgation?
The dbb table reproduces the state salary scale and is a union document. It carries the reservation that the figure is published in the official gazette. Before you make a financial decision, check the figure in the Berlin gazette or ask the salary office.
Does the 50 percent Beihilfe rate also apply if I have children?
The 50 percent figure is the standard for probationary civil servants without children. With children or a different family status, other rates can apply. The Beihilfe office of Berlin gives the binding answer.
Where do I find a binding amount for legal trainees?
This guide gives no verified amount for legal trainees in Berlin. The competent higher regional court (the Kammergericht) provides the binding information.
How to proceed now
- Check in your appointment documents which pay grade and status apply to you.
- Look up the trainee pay in the Berlin gazette or with the salary office once the figure is published.
- Clarify the Beihilfe rate and whether a flat-rate option is open to you with the Berlin Beihilfe office.
- For a personal assessment, Academycon offers advice at https://academycon.de/so-arbeiten-wir/.
Related reading
- Civil Servant Health Aid During Training: Rates and Claims
- Health Insurance for Referendare in Germany
- Lehramtsreferendariat in Berlin 2026/27
Sources: Salary table Berlin, dbb (status April 2026, subject to promulgation) and § 6 SGB V (accessed October 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
