“They say you earn 1,000 euros a month in an Ausbildung.” You have probably heard that line in Buea, Bamenda or on a WhatsApp group. Sometimes it is true, sometimes it is not. The Ausbildung salary in Germany depends on the year you start, your trade, your company and which year of training you are in. This guide gives you the official 2026 figures, what they are worth in FCFA, the 1,048 EUR rule for the visa and, most importantly, what you have left once rent is paid. Numbers, not promises.
What the training allowance is
In dual training, the company pays you an Ausbildungsvergütung (training allowance) every month. It is not a skilled worker’s wage: you are still learning. But it is real income, paid during your Berufsschule (vocational school) days and during your paid leave too.
The amount goes up with each training year. It is set in your contract, which you sign before you leave, so you know in advance what you will earn.
School-based training (schulische Ausbildung) is different: many of these programmes pay nothing at all. Always check this before you choose.
The legal minimum: 724 EUR in 2026
Germany sets a minimum training allowance (Mindestausbildungsvergütung). The amount depends on the year your training starts, and that amount then applies for your whole training.
| Training starts in | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 682 EUR | 805 EUR | 921 EUR | 955 EUR |
| 2026 | 724 EUR | 854 EUR | 977 EUR | 1,014 EUR |
| 2027 | 764 EUR | 902 EUR | 1,031 EUR | 1,070 EUR |
Gross monthly amounts. For training starting in 2026, 724 EUR is about 475,000 FCFA (1 EUR = 655.957 FCFA). The later years follow a simple rule: +18 % in year 2, +35 % in year 3 and +40 % in year 4, each calculated on the year 1 amount.
One important detail: a company bound by a collective agreement pays the agreed rate. A company that is not bound may pay less than its sector’s agreed rate, but by no more than 20 %, and never below the legal minimum.
What trainees actually earn
The minimum is a floor. In practice many companies pay more. According to BIBB (the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training), the average collectively agreed allowance in 2025 was 1,209 EUR gross per month across all training years. By year: 1,117 EUR, 1,201 EUR, 1,297 EUR and 1,339 EUR.
The 2026 figures are not out yet: BIBB publishes them in early 2027.
By sector (collectively agreed averages, 2025)
| Sector | Monthly average |
|---|---|
| Public service | 1,329 EUR |
| Home economics (Hauswirtschaft) | 1,295 EUR |
| Industry and commerce | 1,266 EUR |
| Agriculture | 1,188 EUR |
| Liberal professions | 1,098 EUR |
| Skilled crafts (Handwerk) | 1,093 EUR |
By trade (collectively agreed averages, 2025)
| Trade | Monthly average |
|---|---|
| Maurer (bricklayer) | 1,332 EUR |
| Mechatroniker (mechatronics technician) | 1,324 EUR |
| Industriemechaniker (industrial mechanic) | 1,318 EUR |
| Fachkraft für Lagerlogistik (warehouse logistics specialist) | 1,251 EUR |
| Kaufmann im Einzelhandel (retail salesperson) | 1,226 EUR |
| Hotelfachmann (hotel specialist) | 1,225 EUR |
| Koch (cook) | 1,223 EUR |
| Berufskraftfahrer (professional truck driver) | 1,195 EUR |
| Fachlagerist (warehouse operative) | 1,192 EUR |
| Verkäufer (sales assistant) | 1,138 EUR |
| Medizinische Fachangestellte (medical assistant) | 1,117 EUR |
| Anlagenmechaniker SHK (plumbing and heating installer, crafts) | 1,021 EUR |
| Friseur (hairdresser) | 727 EUR |
These are averages over the whole training period and across Germany. The first year is usually below the average and the last year above it.
What about nursing?
The Nursing Professions Act guarantees “appropriate” pay for the whole Pflegefachmann or Pflegefachfrau training. At public employers, the TVAöD-Pflege agreement reportedly pays, since May 2026, about 1,490 EUR gross in year 1, 1,552 EUR in year 2 and 1,653 EUR in year 3. These numbers come from specialist websites, not the official table, so check them against your contract. Private employers have their own pay scales.
Gross versus net
Every figure above is gross. On your payslip the employer deducts social contributions (health, pension, unemployment and long-term care insurance) and, depending on the amount, income tax. The exact figure depends on your situation and your health insurance fund. Never build your budget on the gross amount.
The 1,048 EUR rule for the visa
This is the point many people discover too late. For the training visa, your allowance must reach 1,048 EUR gross or 822 EUR net per month (2026 rule). If it is lower, the gap must be covered by a blocked account or a Verpflichtungserklärung (a formal commitment by someone in Germany to cover your costs).
Do the maths: the legal minimum of 724 EUR is below the threshold, so a trainee on minimum pay needs a top-up. A trainee paid under a collective agreement (1,117 EUR on average in the first year in 2025) usually clears it. The embassy does the exact calculation for your file. All the rules are on our requirements page and in our article on Ausbildung requirements in 2026.
What is left after your expenses
You cannot compare a German allowance with a Cameroonian salary without talking about the cost of living. A few markers:
- Housing: a room in a shared flat (WG) costs about 510 EUR per month on average in Germany, much more in Munich (about 850 EUR). These figures come from a housing platform, not official statistics. Smaller towns are often cheaper.
- Broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag): 18.36 EUR per month per household, split between flatmates.
- Transport, phone, food and winter clothes: budget for them from the first month.
In the first year, with an allowance close to the minimum, money is tight. Sending money home every month is often hard at the start. It is better to tell your family that plainly before you leave.
Mistakes to avoid
- Comparing German gross with Cameroonian take-home pay. Always think in net terms, after deductions, then subtract rent.
- Forgetting the first weeks. Your first pay usually arrives at the end of your first month of work. You need money to live on before that.
- Believing offers that look too good. A beginner’s allowance far above the averages above should make you suspicious. Always check the written contract.
- Signing without reading the amount for each year. Your contract must state the allowance for every training year.
Earning a little more
The law allows a side job of up to 20 hours per week alongside your training. Watch out for exhaustion: the training and the Berufsschule come first, and your final exam decides your future in Germany.
After the Ausbildung, your pay changes
Once you qualify, you become a Fachkraft (skilled worker) and earn a skilled employee’s salary, which is generally higher than the training allowance. You can look for a job for up to 18 months on a dedicated residence permit. Read after the Ausbildung: work and residence.
At ILC, when a company makes an offer, we go through the amount in the contract with you and what it means for your visa. For pre-departure costs, see our costs page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Ausbildung salary in Germany per month?
At least 724 EUR gross in the first year for training starting in 2026. The collectively agreed average was 1,209 EUR gross in 2025 across all training years.
Which Ausbildung pays best?
Among common trades, construction, mechatronics and the public service sit at the top of the scale. Nursing at public employers also pays well. Hairdressing is among the lowest.
Is the training allowance enough for the visa?
Only if it reaches 1,048 EUR gross or 822 EUR net per month. Otherwise you need a blocked account or a Verpflichtungserklärung for the gap.
Does the allowance rise every year?
Yes. The legal minimum rises by 18 % in year 2, 35 % in year 3 and 40 % in year 4 compared with year 1, and collective agreements also raise pay each year.
Sources
- BIBB: minimum training allowance 2025
- BIBB: minimum training allowance 2026
- BIBB: minimum training allowance 2027
- BIBB: collectively agreed allowances 2025
- BIBB: allowances by occupation 2025
- Section 19 PflBG: pay during nursing training
- Make it in Germany: visa for vocational training
- Section 16a AufenthG: vocational training
- Rundfunkbeitrag
Last checked: 19 October 2026.