Real wages in Germany rose by 1.8 percent in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year. According to data released by Destatis, the federal statistical office on Thursday, nominal wages climbed by 4.1 percent, while consumer prices increased by 2.2 percent over the same period.
Wage growth varied significantly across different economic sectors. Sectors such as mining and extraction of stones and earths recorded above-average increases at 6.9 percent, while finance and insurance services rose by 6.5 percent, and energy supply saw a 5.9 percent increase. In contrast, growth was comparatively sluggish in the fields of education and training (+3.5 percent), construction (+2.9 percent), and public administration, defense, and social security (+0.1 percent).
When examining full-time employees grouped by income level, the lowest quintile (the bottom 20 percent) experienced the strongest wage growth in the first quarter of 2026, averaging a nominal wage increase of 7.0 percent compared to the prior year. On the whole, total earnings for full-time workers rose by 4.3 percent, slightly outpacing the 4.1 percent increase in overall nominal wages. However, the highest quintile of full-time employees (the top 20 percent) saw a nominal wage increase of only 3.5 percent, falling below the average economy-wide growth.
Other specific groups also showed strong growth. Trainees recorded an above-average nominal wage increase of 6.8 percent compared to the previous quarter. This surge is primarily attributed to the increase in the minimum training allowance implemented on January 1, 2026. Additionally, marginally employed workers registered a robust increase of 4.4 percent. This gain is linked to the raising of the minimum wage from €12.82 to €13.90 gross per hour and the consequent rise in the minimum job income threshold, which increased from €556 to €603.
