East German Women Overtake Men in Pay — A Statistical Anomaly With a Simple Explanation
Published on 08/02/2026 at 04:31 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
The latest wage data from Germany contains a surprise that runs counter to decades of pay-gap reporting. In the eastern part of the country, full-time employed women now earn more than their male counterparts — a reversal that has no equivalent anywhere else in the Federal Republic.
The median gross monthly salary for women working full-time in the East stands at 3,855 euros, compared to 3,711 euros for men. That 144-euro gap in favour of women stems from two structural factors: a higher share of women working full-time hours and a childcare infrastructure in the eastern states that remains markedly better than in the West. Nationwide, the picture flips — men out-earn women by 309 euros on the same basis.
These figures emerge from a broader wage review showing that median gross monthly earnings across Germany climbed to 4,217 euros last year, a 5.1 percent increase. Hamburg tops the regional ranking at 4,768 euros, while Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt bring up the rear. The gap between West and East persists at more than 550 euros.
A13 Pay Grade Arrives for Primary and Secondary Teachers
Teachers in North Rhine-Westphalia have received a significant pay upgrade. Since 1 August, all fully qualified educators at primary, Hauptschule and Realschule level are being paid according to salary group A13, with salaried staff moving to pay group E13. The change puts an additional 600 to 700 euros gross per month in their pockets.
The move fulfils a phased commitment from the state's coalition agreement. Hesse and Bavaria are following the same path, with their adjustments scheduled for completion by summer 2028. Unions had campaigned for this equalisation for decades, arguing that teachers at these school types were doing identical work to their Gymnasium colleagues for less money.
Minimum Wage Rises — and the Next Increase Is Already Planned
Germany's statutory minimum wage has been 13.90 euros per hour since January, an increase of 1.08 euros. The Institute for Employment Research estimates that up to 6.6 million employment relationships benefit — roughly 17 percent of all workers. The hospitality sector feels the impact most acutely, with more than half of its jobs previously falling below the new threshold.
Regional variation is pronounced. In western Germany, 16 percent of employees benefit; in the East, the figure reaches 20 percent. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania leads the country at 22 percent. The mini-job earnings ceiling rose in tandem to 603 euros per month. A further increase to 14.60 euros is already legislated for 2027.
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Apprentices Cross the 1,000-Euro Threshold
Trainee wages negotiated through collective agreements rose by an average of 3.9 percent in 2025/26, pushing most apprentices past the 1,000-euro mark in their first year. The best-paying sectors are nursing in the public service, plus insurance and banking. However, in companies not bound by collective agreements, 45 percent of apprentices still receive only the statutory minimum training allowance.
In Lower Saxony's confectionery industry, a settlement following strike action introduced three staged increases, benefiting more than 1,400 workers in the Lüneburg region.
Where Germany Sits in Europe
Germany's minimum wage places it in the upper tier of European countries. Of the 27 EU member states, 22 operate a national wage floor. Luxembourg pays the most at 2,771 euros per month, followed by Ireland at 2,391 euros. Bulgaria sits at the bottom with 620 euros, just ahead of Latvia's 780 euros.
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Poland is currently debating a rise to 4,950 PLN for 2027 — approximately 3 percent more. Employers back the proposal, while unions are pushing for considerably more. A decision is expected by mid-September.
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