Teacher training (Lehramtsreferendariat) in Hamburg brings trainee pay, family allowances and the question of health insurance and civil servant health aid (Beihilfe). This guide sets out the figures from the Hamburg overview of trainee pay, explains the flat-rate aid (pauschale Beihilfe) and shows what you need to clarify for your health insurance.
Short answer: In teacher training in Hamburg, the basic trainee amount for pay grade A 13 with admission is 1,827.17 euros gross per month (status April 2026, according to the Besoldungstabelle of the dbb, draft, subject to promulgation). Family allowances come on top. Hamburg also offers a flat-rate civil servant aid of, as a rule, 50 percent of the costs of comprehensive private health insurance, which you apply for voluntarily. Status: October 2026.
The key points at a glance
- The basic trainee amount for pay grade A 13 with admission is 1,827.17 euros gross per month (status April 2026, subject to promulgation).
- Family allowances come on top, their amount depends on level and number of children.
- The special payment (Sonderzuwendung) is built into the monthly pay.
- The flat-rate aid is voluntary, must be applied for in writing and applies only from the future.
- The handout does not clearly state whether legal trainees and teacher trainees are entitled to flat-rate aid. Ask the personnel office.
How high are trainee salaries in Hamburg?
The amounts come from the draft pay table for new civil service appointments in Hamburg (dbb), status April 2026. They apply to all teaching qualifications in pay grade A 13 with admission.
| Item | Amount per month |
|---|---|
| Basic trainee amount, gross (A 13 with admission) | 1,827.17 euros (status April 2026, draft) |
The amount is a gross figure, and allowances are added separately.
Flat-rate civil servant aid in Hamburg: the basic rule
Hamburg offers civil servants a flat-rate civil servant aid as a voluntary alternative to the usual aid billed per invoice. According to the handout on flat-rate aid, status January 2024 (in German), the flat rate is as a rule half of the costs of comprehensive private health insurance. It applies regardless of whether you are insured statutorily or privately.
Entitlement requires pay such as trainee pay. The handout names persons in a public-law training relationship as eligible. Legal trainees and teacher trainees are not named expressly. Clarify with the personnel office whether your preparatory service falls under it.
What to consider when applying
The decision is voluntary and made in writing. It applies only from the future, not retroactively. Once made, it is irrevocable. You must expressly waive any additional individual aid. When switching between statutory and private insurance, at most the previous amount is paid. Hamburg does not continue the payment if you move to another employer.
Worked example (assumption)
| Item | Amount per month |
|---|---|
| Share of premium for benefits comparable to statutory insurance, at most the basic tariff (assumption) | 300.00 euros |
| Flat-rate aid at 50 percent | 150.00 euros |
| Remainder you pay yourself, without other benefits | 150.00 euros |
Assumption: a basic tariff share of 300 euros, used for calculation only. The handout states that for privately insured persons only the premium share for benefits comparable to statutory insurance counts, at most up to the basic tariff under § 152 VAG. Your actual share may differ.
Health insurance: what to check
Whether you choose statutory insurance or comprehensive private insurance with flat-rate aid is a personal decision. In voluntary GKV, the contribution depends on income. For 2026, the minimum contribution base is 1,318.33 euros per month and the reduced rate under § 243 SGB V is 14.0 percent, plus your fund’s additional contribution. Source: contribution figures 2026 of the GKV-Spitzenverband, status 1 January 2026 (in German).
With private insurance, the tariff matters. Flat-rate aid complements the tariff rather than replacing it. Check benefits, premium development, waiting periods and health checks. If you later become a civil servant, your situation changes again. Our guide Health Insurance After the Trainee Period: What Comes Next describes the next steps.
Frequently asked questions
Is the trainee pay the same for all teaching qualifications?
The basic trainee amount applies to all teaching qualifications in pay grade A 13 with admission. Part-time work follows the part-time share.
What is the special payment for children?
The amount of the special payment for children is set out in the current pay table and can be requested from the personnel office. It is paid with the December salary and is pro rata for shorter employment. The general special payment is built into the monthly pay.
Can I change the flat-rate aid later?
No. According to the handout, the decision is irrevocable once made. Make it only after comparing costs and the benefits of your tariff.
Who is the contact point in Hamburg?
The personnel office of your preparatory service answers questions on pay and flat-rate aid. For health insurance questions, the handout refers you to health funds, insurers or advisory services, because the personnel offices do not advise on these.
What to do now
- Ask the personnel office whether your preparatory service falls under the flat-rate aid.
- Check the trainee pay for your part-time share and your family situation.
- Compare statutory and private insurance with tariff and aid share before you decide.
- Submit the application in writing and keep the confirmation.
- Waive additional individual aid only once you understand the consequences.
Related guides
- Teacher training insurance: from studies to traineeship
- Civil Servant Health Aid During Training: Rates and Claims
- Beihilfe Bremen: Bemessungssätze, Eigenanteil und PKV für Beamte
Sources:
- dbb, Hamburg pay table (new civil service appointments, draft), status April 2026 (in German)
- Handout on flat-rate civil servant aid, Hamburg, status January 2024 (in German)
- Contribution law figures 2026, GKV-Spitzenverband, status 1 January 2026 (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
