In 2023, the median wage of all full-time employees in Germany subject to social security contributions was €3,796 per month. Compared to 2022, wages and salaries thus rose by €150, or 4.1%, according to data from the Federal Employment Agency.

The agency said the marked increase can be explained by increases in wages as a result of higher collective wage agreements.

While the median wage earned by men was just over €3,930, women earned just over €3,563. The difference was rounded to €367. This gender pay gap increased by €2 compared with 2022. However, in 2019, the difference between men’s and women’s wages was €443, the agency noted.

Meanwhile, the highest median wages are earned by full-time employees in Hamburg at €4,304, Baden-Wuerttemberg at €4,134 and Hesse at €4,08. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (€3,098), Thuringia (€3,109) and Saxony-Anhalt (€3,152) had the lowest wages among the federal states.

By qualification, the agency found that while people without a vocational qualification earned €2,831, workers with recognised vocational qualifications earned €3,658. Academics (those with an academic degree) earned a median of €5,688.

The agency noted that as people get older, their pay increases. Workers aged under 25 earned €2,897, while those aged 25 to 55 earned €3,860. Employees aged 55 and over earned €3,954.