How much does an electrician earn?

Electricians plan, install and maintain electrical systems in residential, commercial and industrial buildings. From home wiring and industrial plants to modern building automation, the job requires expertise, care and responsibility. In Germany in 2026, indicative monthly gross pay is typically around €900–1,350 for apprentices and about €3,000–3,900 for qualified electricians – depending on region, collective agreements and specialisation.

Comic illustration of an electrician with tools and a wiring diagram in front of a modern electrical installation
Created with AI assistance and editorially reviewed

Salary by region (gross/month)

Region
Apprenticeship (gross/month)
Qualified (gross/month)
Baden-Württemberg
1.020–1.360 €
3.450–4.050 €
Bavaria
1.000–1.340 €
3.400–4.000 €
Berlin
950–1.260 €
3.150–3.680 €
Brandenburg
900–1.180 €
2.900–3.380 €
Bremen
940–1.240 €
3.120–3.620 €
Hamburg
990–1.310 €
3.380–3.960 €
Hesse
980–1.310 €
3.340–3.920 €
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
880–1.150 €
2.820–3.280 €
Lower Saxony
940–1.250 €
3.130–3.630 €
North Rhine-Westphalia
970–1.290 €
3.240–3.760 €
Rhineland-Palatinate
940–1.250 €
3.110–3.610 €
Saarland
930–1.230 €
3.040–3.520 €
Saxony
890–1.160 €
2.880–3.340 €
Saxony-Anhalt
880–1.150 €
2.830–3.290 €
Schleswig-Holstein
930–1.230 €
3.060–3.560 €
Thuringia
880–1.150 €
2.820–3.280 €
Germany (average)
950–1.250 €
3.120–3.700 €

Indicative figures as of 2026. Actual pay depends on apprenticeship year, collective agreements, company size, shift allowances and specialisation (e.g. building automation, photovoltaics).

Further training options

Option
Duration
Salary impact
Master electrician (Elektrotechnikermeister)
approx. 1–2 years (full-/part-time)
often €4,200–5,200
State-certified electrical engineering technician
approx. 2 years full-time
often €3,800–4,600
Electrical engineering business specialist
approx. 12–18 months part-time
often €3,700–4,500
Building automation / smart home specialisation
several weeks to months
often +€200–500 allowance
Photovoltaics and energy storage technology
several weeks to months
often +€250–600 allowance
Electrical engineering degree (part-time/dual)
approx. 3–4 years
often €4,500–6,000

Job and everyday work

Electricians work on construction sites, in customer homes, commercial buildings and industrial plants. Day-to-day work combines planning, installation, testing and troubleshooting – often alongside other trades and under strict safety requirements.

  • Plan and carry out electrical installations in new builds and renovations
  • Assemble and test switchgear, distribution boards and cable networks
  • Locate faults, fix outages and prepare measurement reports
  • Advise customers on lighting, smart home and energy efficiency
  • Strictly follow safety rules and standards (e.g. VDE)
  • Coordinate with site management, other trades and suppliers

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