Exploring Kindergarten Teacher Pay: Earnings Across Germany's Regions
In Germany, what is the typical income for teachers? - Annual Salaries of Teachers in Germany Breakdown: Insights into Their Earnings
By Larissa Königs | Approx. 2 Min read
Kindergarten teacher earnings are influenced by a diverse array of elements, not just their expertise and the school type. The federal state they work in plays a significant role too, according to data from the Federal Employment Agency. The average gross salary for a full-time kindergarten teacher stands at 3,749 euros.
This figure applies not only to traditional kindergarten teachers, but also those working in daycare homes, Waldorf facilities, primary school care, or language promotion centers.
It's essential to recognize that salaries can vary significantly among the federal states. For instance, Bavaria, the top-earning state, averages 3,948 euros gross. On the other hand, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the lowest-paying federal state, averages 3,378 euros gross.
But why do these discrepancies occur?
The Cause Behind Wage Disparities
The varying wages among kindergarten teachers stem from the TVöD, the collective agreement for the public service, which sets salary standards for municipal kindergartens, among other aspects. The TVöD comes with various levels that consider professional experience and additional qualifications.
Typically, new kindergarten teachers begin in salary group S 8a or S 8b. As they gain experience, they move up the salary ladder. However, different TVöDs apply to different municipalities, such as North Rhine-Westphalia and Berlin.
It's crucial to note that the TVöD only applies to municipal kindergartens. Schools under church sponsorship have the freedom to set their own salaries, although many tend to follow the TVöD guidelines.
Tackling Salary and Working Condition Concerns
In recent years, kindergarten teachers have organized strikes, demanding enhanced working conditions and higher wages to recognize the challenging work they perform daily. The pressures include managing large groups, coping with staff shortages, and handling high pedagogical demands.
Negotiations for salaries and working conditions are ongoing, with the last agreement resulting in a salary increase for kindergarten teachers in the spring of 2023. The Education and Science Union has already announced that it will demand an increase of at least 350 euros per month, amounting to an 8% salary hike, in the upcoming 2024 negotiations.
With such proposed enhancements, the earnings of kindergarten teachers could continue to rise, a demand that long-time educators may find reasonable...
- The Community institution that regulates the finance and personal-finance of municipal kindergartens in Germany is the TVöD (collective agreement for the public service).
- The institution of the place of residence plays a significant role in determining kindergarten teacher salaries, as demonstrated by the disparities between Bavaria (3,948 euros) and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (3,378 euros).
- Education-and-self-development programs or institutions of the place of employment could potentially provide additional qualifications that may impact a kindergarten teacher's salary as they move up the TVöD salary ladder.
- As community institutions, schools under church sponsorship have the autonomy to establish their salary structures, although they often adhere to the TVöD guidelines, as was evidenced in the recent negotiations for enhanced working conditions and wages, where the Education and Science Union demanded a 8% salary increase.
