Apprenticeship pay in Germany 2026
Statutory minimum amounts, collective agreements and what apprentices earn
The apprenticeship pay (Ausbildungsvergütung) is the monthly payment that apprentices receive from their training company during their vocational training. Since the 2020 Vocational Training Act Modernisation Act (Berufsbildungsmodernisierungsgesetz), there has for the first time been a statutory minimum amount for all training occupations regulated under the BBiG, adjusted annually. For 2026, the minimum rate in the first training year is 724 euros per month – a value that applies only as an absolute floor.
Actual pay is significantly higher in many industries. In banking and insurance, apprentices often earn 900–1,100 euros as early as the first training year; in construction and the chemical industry, 900–1,200 euros is not unusual. Unionised sectors (IG Metall, IG BCE, ver.di) regularly negotiate pay increases that also cover apprenticeship pay.
Pay rises with each training year: under § 17 BBiG, rates must be at least 18% higher in the second year, at least 35% higher in the third year, and at least 40% higher in the fourth year than the starting value. This scale is meant to reflect increasing productivity and responsibility. Our calculator shows the total pay across all training years, so future apprentices can plan the finances of their training period soundly.
Beyond the gross salary, apprentices at many companies benefit from further perks: travel cost allowance, Christmas and holiday bonuses, canteen or meal vouchers, and guarantees of permanent employment after successful completion. These extras should factor into the choice of training company just as much as the monthly gross apprenticeship pay.