Educators on the paycheck: This is how much skilled workers earn on average

This article first appeared on RTL.de

Basically, the pay of educators always depends on many factors: In addition to your own experience and the type of institution in which you work, the federal state also plays a role.According to the Federal Employment Agency, it can be said that the average salary for a full-time job as an “educator” is 3,749 euros gross.

Important: This is not just about educators in kindergartens, but also about people who work, for example, in a home, in a Waldorf facility, in primary school care or language support.

As already mentioned, the salary varies greatly depending on the federal state. While skilled workers in Bavaria earn an average of 3,948 euros gross (the German leader), in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania the average gross is only 3,378 euros. This means that the federal state brings up the rear.

But how do these differences come about?

The fact that educators earn different amounts depending on the institution and the federal state is due to the TVöD, the collective agreement for the public service. Among other things, it regulates how much educators earn in municipal institutions. There are different levels at TVöD, which are based on professional experience and additional qualifications.

The entry level for educators is usually in the pay group S 8a or S 8b. As you gain experience, you slowly move up the salary ladder. But: Equal TVöD does not automatically mean equal wages, as there are local differences, i.e. a TVöD for North Rhine-Westphalia, for Berlin, … etc.

And it is also important: The TVöD only applies to urban daycare centers. Kindergartens that are run by churches, for example, can set their salaries freely. Even if many facilities are based on the TVöd.

In recent years, educators have repeatedly gone on strike. The reason? Better working conditions and higher wages. Many demand recognition for the demanding work they do every day. After all, the stress is high: large groups, a lack of staff and high demands on educational work lead to stress.

That’s why the tariffs are constantly being renegotiated. The last collective agreement, which also meant a salary increase for educators, was in spring 2023.The next round of collective bargaining will take place next year. And it is already clear what is required: more salary. The Education and Science Union announced in October that they were demanding “eight percent more salary, but at least 350 euros more per month.”

If this were to happen next year, the salaries of educators would continue to rise. A requirement that many who have had to look after many children for a long time can probably understand…