German citizens earned more last year than the year before. This is mainly due to higher wage agreements. Differences between the sexes and the federal states remain.
The median income for full-time employees in Germany has grown significantly in the past year. This was the result of a study by the Federal Employment Agency. The so-called median wage rose by 4.1 percent or 150 euros to 3,796 euros in 2023. This is not an average wage. Rather, it describes the income in which there are just as many people with a higher income as with a lower income.
Only the salaries of full-time employees subject to social insurance contributions were included in the statistics. The main reason for the increase was higher collective wage agreements.
Men earn more than women
The gap between men and women has widened again. While the median salary for men was slightly over 3,930 euros, women earned just over 3,563 euros. The difference of 367 euros is two euros larger than in 2022.
Hamburg in front
In a comparison of the federal states, the highest median wage was measured in Hamburg at 4,304 euros, followed by Baden-Württemberg with 4,134 euros and Hesse with 4,087 euros. The lowest median incomes were paid in the eastern German states of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (3,098 euros), Thuringia (3,109 euros) and Saxony-Anhalt (3,152 euros). The order is unchanged from the previous year.
However, education and age also play an important role in the level of income. In 2023, people over 55 had an average income of 3,860 euros, while people under 25 had an average of just 2,897 euros. Academics earned 5,688 euros, while people without a school leaving certificate earned an average of 2,831 euros.
Growth in elderly care
The social economy employers’ association bpa pointed out that, according to statistics, geriatric nurses earned more on average than the median wage across all professions combined for the first time in 2023. For nursing staff, the wage rose by eight percent, to 3,901 euros.
“The renewed strong increase in wages for geriatric nurses to almost 4,000 euros makes it clear that geriatric care is a secure and well-paid job,” said bpa President Rainer Brüderle.
Source: Stern
