Ausbildung Salary in Germany
Salary is not just a nice extra in Ausbildung. For non-EU applicants, it affects the visa directly. The legal minimum training allowance for people starting in 2026 begins at €724 in the first year and rises each year after that. Many professions pay more than the minimum, but not all of them pay enough to fully solve the visa financing requirement.
The legal minimum in 2026
For new trainees starting in 2026, the minimum monthly training allowance is:
| Year | Minimum monthly allowance |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | €724 |
| Year 2 | €854 |
| Year 3 | €977 |
| Year 4 | €1,014 |
That is the floor, not the usual pay in every profession.
Why salary matters for the visa
For company-based vocational training, your livelihood is considered secured if your training salary reaches roughly €1,048 gross or €822 net per month. If it does not, you need to prove the missing amount.
So when you compare offers, do not ask only "how much is the salary?" Ask "does this salary still leave me with a blocked account problem?"
What different fields tend to pay
There is no single national table for every employer, but broad patterns are consistent:
- →Healthcare and nursing often pay above the minimum
- →Many technical and industrial professions also pay relatively well
- →Office, retail, and some service fields are often lower
That is one reason some professions are simply easier for foreign applicants than others.
What the salary feels like in real life
Even where the visa math works, the first year can still feel tight. Rent makes the biggest difference.
A lower salary may be manageable in a smaller city. The same salary can feel rough in Munich or Hamburg. This is why region choice matters almost as much as profession choice.
FAQ
Is Ausbildung salary enough to live on?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. It depends on the profession, the city, and whether you need to top up the visa requirement.
Do all Azubis earn the same salary?
No. The legal minimum is the floor, but many sectors and employers pay more.
Does school time count as paid time?
Yes. In dual vocational training, your monthly pay covers the training period as a whole, including vocational school.