According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), full‑time employees in Germany who hold a recognized vocational qualification earned a gross average of €4,125 in April 2025. In the crafts sector, earnings were generally below this average. Bricklayers, for instance, earned €3,910 on average, while hairdressers made €2,470-over €1,500 less than the overall average for those with vocational training. Tool mechanics earned €4,179 in April 2025, slightly above the sector average and more than one and a half times the earnings of hairdressers. All figures refer to wage‑employed workers, not self‑employed professionals.
The choice of profession is not the only factor that determines pay. Higher academic degrees usually lead to higher earnings. In April 2025, full‑time employees without a vocational qualification earned an average gross of €3,432, about €693 below the €4,125 average for those with a completed vocational training. Employees holding a master’s, technical, or vocational college degree earned €5,405 on average-€621 above the overall average for all individuals regardless of education level. Those with a bachelor’s degree earned €5,289 on average, and employees with a master’s degree earned roughly €1,730 more, at €7,019. The highest average earnings were recorded among employees with a doctoral degree or habilitation, at €9,476.
