Information for Employees
Wages / salaries
You have the right to be paid for your work!
Minimum wages have been established in Germany. This means that an employer is not permitted under any circumstances to pay less than the applicable minimum wage. Wage and salary amounts are either specified in collective bargaining agreements or negotiated with employers. The same also applies to special benefits, such as a 13 monthly salary.
There is a general statutory minimum wage. From January 1, 2026 it will be 13,90 € per hour.
The only exceptions are young people under the age of 18, certain interns, trainees and individuals registered in Germany as long-term unemployed persons.
Minimum wages that are usually higher than the statutory minimum wage have been set for certain jobs and economic sectors based on collective agreements (e.g. for workers in the primary construction industry, electricians, building cleaning personnel, nursing-care providers, etc.).
You can find the current industry-specific minimum wages in our flyer on the minimum wage (see Downloads).
The date by which your salary must be paid is usually specified in your employment contract or the collective agreement that applies to you. If not, the law states that the salary is generally due on the first day of the following month. It is usually transferred to your bank account. You may open an account at any bank. Your employer is required to issue you a salary and tax statement each month showing how much you have earned and the amounts that have been deducted for taxes and insurance. Income taxes are paid directly to the tax authority (Finanzamt) by your employer.
If your employer fails to pay your salary, you should take action immediately. Issue a written notice to your employer demanding payment and proper accounting of your wages within two weeks. Your notice should contain the following information: the number of hours worked that have not been paid, the total amount owed to you by the employer and a bank account number. Do not wait too long. Certain provisions of the law specify the periods during which you are entitled to demand payment of your salary or file a claim for payment in court. Once these periods have expired, you can no longer assert your claims against your employer. The relevant periods are indicated in your employment contract or the applicable collective agreement and in the Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (Civil Code, BGB).
Document the hours you have worked and, if possible, have your employer sign the document. Check your wage and tax statements to ensure that you have been paid the minimum wage for every hour you have worked.
Further information is provided at: