Workers on minimum wage in Germany will receive 0.70 euros gross more for each hour worked starting January 1, 2027.

The statutory minimum hourly wage is increasing from 13.90 to 14.60 euros gross, which is an increase of approximately 5.04%. According to data from the German federal government and the already adopted regulation, the new amount has been officially determined, so employers already know how much they will have to pay at minimum to workers covered by the statutory minimum wage. For a person working 40 hours per week, this means an average of about 121 euros gross more per month.

The amount of 14.60 euros gross per hour from 2027 represents the general statutory minimum wage in Germany. In certain sectors, higher mandatory minimum hourly wages apply, and the right to higher pay may also arise from the applicable collective agreement. For example, for workers covered by sector-specific rules in the electrical trade minimum hourly wage from January 1, 2027 rises to 15.49 euros, and for qualified roofers to 17.10 euros gross. In elderly care, from July 1, 2027, minimum hourly wages will amount to 16.95 to 21.58 euros gross, depending on the qualifications and tasks the worker performs.

What salary is that with weekends off?

Let us take a worker who works from Monday to Friday for 8 paid hours per day, a total of 40 hours per week, without overtime and receives the general statutory minimum wage. For an approximate monthly average, we calculate 40 hours × 52 weeks ÷ 12 months, which gives approximately 173.33 hours per month. When we multiply that average by the new hourly wage, we get about 2,530.67 euros gross per month, compared to the current 2,409.33 euros. We do not calculate only 160 hours because a month lasts longer than 4 weeks on average. This is a calculated monthly average, not a single statutory monthly minimum wage; when calculated by hours, the amount may vary from month to month.

About 56% more than at the beginning of 2020

Germany’s minimum hourly wage throughout 2020 amounted to 9.35 euros gross. From the beginning of 2027, it will amount to 14.60 euros, which is an increase of 5.25 euros per hour, or approximately 56.1% over 7 years. For a worker with 40 paid hours per week, that is a difference of an average of 910 euros gross per month. However, a wage increase of 56.1% does not mean that the worker can buy that much more than in 2020, because the rising cost of living has not been included in that comparison.