In Germany, the statutory minimum wage is the absolute lower limit for the payment of labour. In many sectors, trade unions and employers have agreed on minimum wages that are higher than the statutory minimum wage, in some cases very significantly. We show you the industry minimum wages for some sectors and explain in advance what they are all about.

Sector minimum wages are minimum wages that are negotiated by trade unions and employers in a collective agreement and then declared universally applicable. This means that they then apply to all companies and businesses in a sector, even if they are not covered by a collective agreement. All employees in this sector have the right to be paid according to this collectively agreed minimum wage. This is important because the industry minimum wages are almost always higher than the statutory minimum wage.

In other words: An industry minimum wage is the binding lowest wage limit for an industry. It therefore only applies to employees in the sector for which it has been negotiated and declared generally binding. Of course, it is also possible to earn more, for example if professional experience is taken into account. It depends on the employer.

Below we have illustrated the industry minimum wages for some important sectors. These are gross hourly wages. If you multiply the value by 174 hours (average number of working hours per month), you will arrive at the gross monthly salary.

Care

The industry minimum wage in the care sector varies depending on the job and training.
The industry minimum wage in the care sector is
– for unskilled workers: 14.15 euros (since December 2023), 15.50 euros from 1 May 2024, 16.10 euros from 1 July 2025.
– for care workers with at least 1 year of training: 15.25 euros (since December 2023), 16.50 euros from 1 May 2024, 17.35 euros from 1 July 2025
– for nursing staff: 18.25 euros (since December 2023) 19.50 euros from 1 May 2024, 20.50 euros from 1 July 2025.

Electrical trade

The industry minimum wage in the electrical trade has been €13.95 for all employees (insofar as they carry out electrotechnical and IT activities) since 1 January 2024.
This applies, for example, to
– Electronics technicians for energy and building technology
– Electronics technicians for information and telecommunications technology
– Electronics technicians for machines and drive technology
– Electronics technicians for automation technology, device and systems technology, office systems technology
– System electronics technicians.

Building cleaning

For the approximately 700,000 building cleaners, the following has applied since 1 January 2024
– an industry minimum wage of 13.50 euros for interior and maintenance cleaning
– an industry minimum wage of 16.70 euros per hour for glass and façade cleaning
The industry minimum wage in the painting and varnishing trade is
– 14.50 per hour for journeymen, from 1 April 2024 15 euros
– 12.50 euros for unskilled workers, 13 euros from 1 April 2024.

Painters and varnishers

The industry minimum wage in the painting and varnishing trade is
14.50 per hour for journeymen, from 1 April 2024 15 euros
12.50 euros for unskilled workers, from 1 April 2024 1 pm.