Germany Average Salaries & Expenditures

 
Contents
Average Employment Income   Average Salary per Job   Average Salary per Sector   Total Personal Average Income   Consumption Expenditure
Workforce Composition   Vacation Time   Exchange Rates   Cost of Living   References
 

Average Employment Income

:
annual, per worker, incl. dependent & self employment
   Disposable (1)  Gross (2)   
2003
25,146
20,843
  
36,444
30,207
  
constant 2005 US$ at PPP
current euros
(1)    Based on gross employment average income and non-consumption expenditure per worker.
(2)    Based on salary & business average income per capita and proportion of employed workforce to total population.
Source: Germany Household Income and Expenditure Survey [8], 2003 (2.12 persons and 0.824 worker per household).
 
 

Average Salary in Germany - Job and Sector Comparison.

Job  Net Monthly Income  constant 2005 US$ (1) Notes                                                                               Gross Monthly Average Income (2) Compulsory Deductions (3) Weekly Hours (4)
 
Airline Pilot average salary PPP $ 8,448 $ 9,122 Minimum per month, 2005. 12,208 euros 40%
Professor average salary PPP $ 3,562 $ 3,846 Minimum per month, 2005. 4,902 euros 37%
Engineer average salary PPP $ 3,146 $ 3,397 Chemical engineer, Minimum per month, 2005, normal hours of work. 4,196 euros 35% 37.5
Teacher average salary PPP $ 3,065 $ 3,309 Minimum per month, 2005, normal hours of work. 4,088 euros 35% 40.0
Accountant average salary PPP $ 2,757 $ 2,977 Minimum per month, 2005, normal hours of work. 3,622 euros 34% 39.0
Flight Attendant average salary PPP $ 2,605 $ 2,813 Minimum per month, 2005, normal hours of work. 3,371 euros 33%
Computer Programmer average salary PPP $ 2,320 $ 2,505 Insurance industry, Minimum per month, 2005, normal hours of work. 2,915 euros 31% 39.0
Miner average salary PPP $ 2,223 $ 2,386 Other mining and quarrying industry. Minimum per month, 2004, normal hours of work. Assuming 22 working days per month. 2,587 euros 28% 38.5
Office Clerk average salary PPP $ 2,177 $ 2,351 Minimum per month, 2005, normal hours of work. 2,622 euros 28% 35.0
Carpenter average salary PPP $ 2,103 $ 2,271 Minimum per month, 2005, normal hours of work. 2,498 euros 27% 39.0
Professional Nurse average salary PPP $ 2,078 $ 2,244 Minimum per month, 2005, normal hours of work. 2,468 euros 27% 39.0
Physiotherapist average salary PPP $ 2,044 $ 2,207 Minimum per month, 2005, normal hours of work. 2,395 euros 26% 39.0
Bus Driver average salary PPP $ 1,997 $ 2,156 Minimum per month, 2005, normal hours of work. 2,340 euros 26% 38.5
Hotel Receptionist average salary PPP $ 1,961 $ 2,117 Minimum per month, 2005, normal hours of work. 2,267 euros 25% 39.0
Auxiliary Nurse average salary PPP $ 1,928 $ 2,081 Minimum per month, 2005, normal hours of work. 2,199 euros 24% 39.0
Baker average salary PPP $ 1,852 $ 2,000 Minimum per month, 2005, normal hours of work. 2,113 euros 24% 38.0
Car Mechanic average salary PPP $ 1,766 $ 1,906 Minimum per month, 2005, normal hours of work. 1,988 euros 23% 36.5
Salesperson average salary PPP $ 1,764 $ 1,904 Minimum per month, 2005, normal hours of work. 1,986 euros 23% 37.5
Firefighter average salary PPP $ 1,755 $ 1,895 Minimum per month, 2005, normal hours of work. 1,976 euros 23% 40.0
Furniture Finisher average salary PPP $ 1,721 $ 1,858 Minimum per month, 2005, normal hours of work. 1,938 euros 23% 35.0
Wood Grinder average salary PPP $ 1,694 $ 1,829 Minimum per month, 2005, normal hours of work. 1,907 euros 23% 38.0
Postman average salary PPP $ 1,681 $ 1,815 Minimum per month, 2005, normal hours of work. 1,893 euros 23% 40.0
Garment Cutter average salary PPP $ 1,413 $ 1,526 Minimum per month, 2005, normal hours of work. 1,571 euros 22% 37.0
Chambermaid average salary PPP $ 1,066 $ 1,151 Minimum per month, 2005, normal hours of work. 1,185 euros 22% 39.0
Sector              
Gas-Electricity-Water average salary PPP $ 2,384 $ 2,559 Wage earners, 2004. 2,938 euros 32% 38.5
Mining-Quarrying average salary PPP $ 2,211 $ 2,373 Wage earners, 2004. 2,610 euros 29% 40.8
Manufacturing average salary PPP $ 2,176 $ 2,336 Wage earners, 2004. 2,569 euros 29% 37.6
Construction average salary PPP $ 2,018 $ 2,166 Wage earners, 2004. 2,349 euros 28% 39.0
 
  (1) The net average income in "constant 2005 US$" is computed using the Interbank nominal exchange rate [a] and the U.S. inflation rate [d]. The net average income in "constant 2005 US$" at PPP is computed using the OECD PPP exchange rates for actual individual consumption [l] and the U.S. inflation rate [d]. The latter reflects the purchasing power in the United States in 2005.
  (2) The gross monthly average income is based on data supplied by the Federal Statistical Office of Germany to the International Labour Organization [9]. The average income includes the salaries and wages of paid employees. Employees include both men and women unless otherwise noted. The salary income of the wage earners by sector is representative of the one of all employees.
  (3) The compulsory deductions are obtained from a German wage tax calculator [t] reflecting the 2005 income tax rates in Germany of a single-earner married couple without child (tax category III). The deductions include wage tax, solidarity surcharge, social security (health insurance, pensions insurance, unemployment insurance, health/nursing care insurance), and municipal tax. The deductions exclude the Church tax.
  (4) The number of hours worked weekly is based on data supplied by the Federal Statistical Office of Germany to the International Labour Organization. The hours worked by sector correspond to the hours paid for, while the hours worked by job correspond to the normal hours of work. These may not correspond to the hours actually worked.
 
 
 
 

Personal Average Income

:
annual, per capita, incl. non-monetary income
   Disposable (1)  Gross   Salary   Business   Property (2)  Transfer (3)    
2003
17,069
14,148
  
24,337
20,172
  
12,728
10,550
  
1,436
1,190
  
2,725
2,259
  
7,447
6,173
  
constant 2005 US$ at PPP
current euros
1998
16,025
13,048
  
22,235
18,104
  
12,014
9,782
  
1,517
1,235
  
2,630
2,141
  
6,075
4,946
  
(1)    Deductions from gross average income include income tax, church tax and solidarity surcharge, compulsory social security contributions, insurance premiums, other income transfers, other taxes, voluntary contributions to statutory pension and health insurance, interest on loans, and statistical difference.
(2)    Incl. owner-imputed rent income.
(3)    Incl. gross pensions received from statutory pension funds, gross pensions received by public officials, judges, soldiers, current transfers from employment promotion agencies, children's allowance, non-public transfer payments and receipx from subletting.
Source: Germany Household Income and Expenditure Survey [8], 1998 (2.19 persons per household), 2003 (2.12 persons per household).
 

Consumption Expenditure

:
annual, per capita, incl. non-monetary expenditure
   Total   Health   Housing (1)  Food (2)  Apparel   Education   Transport     
2003
14,868
12,324
  
579
480
  
5,632
4,668
  
2,752
2,281
  
767
636
  
136
113
  
2,012
1,668
  
constant 2005 US$ at PPP
current euros
1998
13,896
11,314
  
506
412
  
5,408
4,403
  
2,625
2,137
  
796
648
  
74
60
  
1,874
1,526
  
(1)    Incl. owner-imputed rent, actual rentals, energy, maintenance of the dwelling, furnishings, housing equipment, household maintenance.
(2)    Incl. tobacco and hotels.
Source: Germany Household Income and Expenditure Survey [8], 1998 (2.19 persons per household), 2003 (2.12 persons per household).
 

Workforce Composition

:
percentage of total workforce
   Primary (1)  Manufacturing   Education   Financial   Paid Employees   Unemployed  
2005 2.7   22.0   5.7   3.6   87.7   12.5  
%
(1)    Agriculture, hunting, forestry, fishing, mining, and quarrying.
Source: International Labour Organization [9].
 

Workforce Size

 :  
36.6 million (2005).
Source:   International Labour Organization [9].
 

Population

 :  
82.4 million (2006).
Source:   CIA World Factbook [b].
 

Compulsory Deductions

 :  
41.7% for a single with no child, 31.1% for a single with two children, 31.9% for a one-earner married couple with no child, and 22.3% for a one-earner married couple with two children.
Source:   OECD Tax Database [k], 2005, combined deductions on a gross monthly salary income of 3,423 euros including family allowances in terms of cash transfers.
 

Vacation Time

 :  
4 weeks per year (24 "workable" days, that is Monday to Saturday, even if the working week is Monday to Friday), plus 9 to 13 bank holidays of legally required minimum vacation time [e]. According to a recent survey by the World Tourism Organization, 35 vacation days per year are taken on average in Germany [f].
 

Inflation

 :  
107.5 (2001), 108.9 (2002), 110.1 (2003), 112.0 (2004), 113.5 (2005);
Source:   IMF inflation rates [d], Index: 1995=100.
 

PPP Exchange Rate

 :  
0.974 (1998), 0.957 (1999), 0.924 (2000), 0.921 (2001), 0.889 (2002), 0.879 (2003), 0.863 (2004), 0.867 (2005), 0.833 (2006), 0.828 (2007), 0.815 (2008);
Source:   OECD PPP exchange rates for actual individual consumption [l], euros per U.S. dollar.
 

Nominal Exchange Rate

 :  
0.937 (1999), 1.081 (2000), 1.115 (2001), 1.057 (2002), 0.883 (2003), 0.804 (2004), 0.803 (2005);
Source:   Interbank nominal exchange rates [a], euros per U.S. dollar.
 

Cost of Living

 :  
1.019 (1999), 0.864 (2000), 0.829 (2001), 0.878 (2002), 1.040 (2003), 1.133 (2004), 1.130 (2005);
Source:   Interbank nominal exchange rates [a] and IMF PPP exchange rates [d], US=1.000.
 

 

References
 
[8]   Federal Statistical Office of Germany; the deductions are obtained from the average income tax, other taxes and necessary insurance in a household compared to the household gross income (resulting in a deduction rate of 31.3%).
[9]   International Labour Organization. Compilation of average salary income worldwide. Classified by country, by employment category, and by gender.
[a]   Interbank nominal exchange rate, Oanda.com; historical currency converter for over 164 currencies and 3 metals.
[d]   International Monetary Fund, PPP U.S. dollars exchange rate.
[e]   Vacation - Wikipedia, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
[f]   World Tourism Organization, a United Nations agency; survey of vacation days worldwide, 2000.
[k]   OECD Tax Database, 2005 data. Provides comparative information on personal and corporate income tax and consumption tax systems and rates in OECD countries since 2000. Information on social security contributions levied on employees and their employers is also reported. Includes family benefits in terms of cash transfers.
[l]   OECD. PPP exchange rates for actual individual consumption.
[t]   German Wage Tax Calculator, www.parmentier.de. Includes social security contributions, wage tax, and solidarity surcharge.
 
Other links:
Social Security in Germany, Social Security Programs Throughout the World, 2004-2005, compiled by the U.S. Social Security Administration.
Germany: Statistics, Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD).
Germany: Selected Internet Resources, U.S. Library of Congress.
Germany Economy Overview, CIA World Factbook.
Personal Income Tax Rates Around the World, 2005, Wikipedia.
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