How high is the salary of a metalworker

Steven Miller
Steven Miller
How high is the salary of a metalworker

If you are interested in becoming a metalworker, the salary will certainly play an important role in your decision. Regardless of whether you are currently deciding on an apprenticeship or would like to get started as a metalworker in Germany - here you will find everything you need to know about salaries for metalworkers in Germany. Find out the average training wage, hourly, monthly and annual wages and which factors significantly influence your salary. As a metalworker in particular, it is worth comparing salaries in the various possible sectors - the choice of sector has an extremely high influence on the salary for metalworkers!

Apprenticeship salary of a metalworker

In the first year of your apprenticeship as a metalworker, you will start with an average gross salary of 785 euros per month and increase each year thereafter. The amount of the training salary will vary depending on the federal state, company and collective bargaining agreement. A tip from me: Before looking for a job, definitely research whether a potential employer is bound by collective agreements. As all collective agreements are publicly available, you can easily find out how much you will be paid!

Here you have an overview of the average training salary in Germany:

  • 1st year of training: approx. 785 euros gross per month
  • 2nd year of training: approx. 858 euros gross per month
  • 3rd year of training: approx. 936 euros gross per month
  • 4th year of training: approx. 1,003 euros gross per month (if available)

Source: Ausbildung.de, azubiyo.de

After your training, you can expect a starting salary of 1900 to 2200 euros gross per month. But don't be put off by this relatively low salary, with professional experience and further training you will quickly increase your salary to a solid monthly wage. In the further course of your career as a metalworker, the pay scale, federal state or region will have a major impact on your salary. 

Not yet convinced by this apprenticeship? You can find more information on the various training salaries in the skilled trades on our website - or perhaps the world of plumbing, heating and air conditioning (SHK) is more your thing? You can find all the information you need about the salary as a HVAC plant mechanic in our article. 

Hourly wage of a metalworker

According to Stepstone, the average hourly wage for metalworkers is 18 euros gross. As with the training wage and monthly wage, we are working with Germany-wide averages here. It is possible that the hourly wage may be higher or lower in some regions, collective agreements and for particular specializations.

Here are some examples of hourly wages in different federal states:

  • Bavaria: approx. 17.84 euros gross
  • North Rhine-Westphalia: approx. 17.84 euros gross
  • Baden-Württemberg: approx. 17.49 euros gross
  • Saxony: approx. 16.31 euros gross
  • Hamburg: approx. 18.02 euros gross

Source: Indeed

These differences are caused by various factors, such as the cost of living, regional demand and state-specific trade union agreements. You can also read more about regional salary differences in our article on the average salary in Hamburg and throughout Germany .

How high is the salary of a metalworker

Monthly and annual salary of a metalworker

According to Ausbildung.de and azubiyo.de , the starting salary directly after training is around 1,900 to 2,200 euros gross per month . With increasing professional experience and specialization, the salary can rise to 2,500 euros gross per month, according to Stepstone.

Some factors that can influence salary are:

  • Professional experience: The more experience you have, the higher your salary. 
  • Further training: You can significantly increase your salary through specialization and additional qualifications, such as master craftsman training in metal.
  • Industry: In some industries, such as chemicals or the automotive industry, higher salaries are often paid. We have also put together a brief overview for you below.
  • Collective agreements: Collective agreements are publicly accessible contracts in which companies and organizations agree on wages. In the metal industry, you are normally represented by the IG Metall trade union. 

Earnings of a metalworker in various industries

As a metalworker, you can work in many different sectors. As a metalworker in particular, it's worth doing some detailed research before you start looking for a job, as your salary will vary greatly depending on which industry you are employed in!

Here are some examples of how much the annual salary varies between sectors:

  • Chemistry: approx. 43,500 euros gross per year
  • Construction industry: approx. 34,500 euros gross per year
  • Automotive industry: approx. 36,150 euros gross per year
  • Health: approx. 50,000 euros gross per year

Source: Stepstone

It's worth researching the industry in your region carefully, as this choice will have a significant impact on your future salary!

Are you interested in the salaries of other professions in your sector, such as the automotive industry? Then take a look at our article on the salary of automotive mechatronics technicians

Find jobs as a metal worker

If you are looking for a job as a metal worker, WorkerHero offers you the ideal platform to find suitable vacancies. Whether you want to work in a particular industry or focus on a specific region - at WorkerHero you will find numerous job offers that are precisely tailored to your qualifications, language skills and salary expectations.

The profession of metalworker offers a wide range of career opportunities and attractive salary opportunities, which can vary depending on the region, industry and experience. With the right information and the right job platform such as WorkerHero, you are ideally equipped to get started in this exciting career field.

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