Attorney Average Salary in Germany 2023
How much money does a person working as Attorney make in Germany?
LOW
3,300
EUR AVERAGE
7,170
EUR HIGH
11,400
EUR
A person working as Attorney in Germany typically earns around 7,170 EUR per month. Salaries range from 3,300 EUR (lowest) to 11,400 EUR (highest).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Attorney salaries vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location. Below you will find a detailed breakdown based on many different criteria.
Attorney Pay Scale and Salaries in Germany
Salary Structure and Pay Scale Comparison
6,800 EUR or more
5,960 to 6,800 EUR
4,110 EUR or less
4,110 to 5,960 EUR
 3,300 EUR |
6,850 EUR |
11,400 EUR |
Median Salary, maximum and minimum salary, minimum wage, starting salary, and the salary range
Salary Range, Minimum Wage, and Starting Salary
Attorney salaries in Germany range from 3,300 EUR per month (starting salary) to 11,400 EUR per month (maximum salary). This is not the minimum wage as per the law, only the lowest reported number in the salary survey that had thousands of participants and professionals from all over the country.
Median Salary
The median salary is 6,850 EUR per month, which means that half (50%) of people working as Attorney(s) are earning less than 6,850 EUR while the other half are earning more than 6,850 EUR. The median represents the middle salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the group earning more than the median salary.
Percentiles and Salary Scale
Closely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of Attorney(s) are earning less than 5,530 EUR while 75% of them are earning more than 5,530 EUR. Also from the diagram, 75% of Attorney(s) are earning less than 7,900 EUR while 25% are earning more than 7,900 EUR.
Pay Scale Structure
We grouped the most common and recurring salaries into brackets to give more insight into what salary to expect. This method is more accurate than just the average salary and gives more insights on how salaries are actually distributed. Around 65% of all reported figures are in the range 4,110 EUR to 5,960 EUR. Approximatly 20% fall under the 4,110 EUR cap. Ten percent of wages are from 5,960 EUR to 6,800 EUR. Only 5% of people grossed 6,800 EUR or more.
Attorney Salary Comparison by Years of Experience
How does experience and age affect your pay?
Attorney average salary change by experience in Germany
| 0 - 2 Years | 3,750 EUR | |
| 2 - 5 Years | +34% | 5,000 EUR |
| 5 - 10 Years | +48% | 7,390 EUR |
| 10 - 15 Years | +22% | 9,010 EUR |
| 15 - 20 Years | +9% | 9,820 EUR |
| 20+ Years | +8% | 10,600 EUR |
The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher your wage. We broke down Attorney salaries by experience level and this is what we found.
Employees with less than two years of experience makes approximately 3,750 EUR per month.
While someone with an experience level between two and five years is expected to earn 5,000 EUR per month, 34% more than someone with less than two year's experience.
Moving forward, an experience level between five and ten years lands a salary of 7,390 EUR per month, 48% more than someone with two to five years of experience.
Additionally, Attorney whose expertise span anywhere between ten and fifteen years get a salary equivalent to 9,010 EUR per month, 22% more than someone with five to ten years of experience.
If the experience level is between fifteen and twenty years, then the expected wage is 9,820 EUR per month, 9% more than someone with ten to fifteen years of experience.
Lastly, employees with more than twenty years of professional experience get a salary of 10,600 EUR per month, 8% more than people with fifteen to twenty years of experience.
Typical Salary Progress for Most Careers
Attorney Salary Comparison By Education
How do education levels affect salaries?
Displayed below is the average salary difference between different Attorney(s) who have the same experience but different education levels.
Attorney average salary difference by education level in Germany
| Bachelor's Degree | 4,270 EUR | |
| Master's Degree | +57% | 6,700 EUR |
| PhD | +68% | 11,200 EUR |
We all know that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We broke down Attorney salaries by education level in order to make a comparison.
When the education level is Bachelor's Degree, the average salary is 4,270 EUR per month.
While someone with a Master's Degree gets a salary of 6,700 EUR per month, 57% more than someone having a Bachelor's Degree degree.
People with PhD have an average salary of 11,200 EUR per month, 68% more than someone with a Master's Degree.
Is a Master's degree or an MBA worth it? Should you pursue higher education?
A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in Germany costs anywhere from 19,100 Euro(s) to 57,200 Euro(s) and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.
You can't really expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming you already have a job. In most cases, a salary review is conducted once education is completed and the degree has been attained.
Many people pursue higher education as a tactic to switch into a higher paying job. The numbers seem to support the thoery. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.
If you can afford the costs of higher education, the return on investment is definitely worth it. You should be able to recover the costs in roughly a year or so.
Typical Salary Difference by Education for Most Careers
Salary and Compensation Comparison By Gender - Attorney
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male Attorney employees in Germany earn 6% more than their female counterparts on average.
| Male | 7,380 EUR | |
| Female | -6% | 6,960 EUR |
Salary Comparison By Gender in Germany for all Careers
Attorney Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in Germany
How much are annual salary increments in Germany for Attorney(s)? How often do employees get salary raises?
Attorney
Attorney(s) in Germany are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 12% every 16 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 8% granted to employees every 16 months.
Germany / All Professions
The term 'Annual Salary Increase' usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rarely that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.
How to calculate the salary increment percentage?
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 ÷ Increase Frequency
Annual Increment Rate By Industry 2022
| Banking | 9% | |
| Energy | 9% | |
| Information Technology | 9% | |
| Healthcare | 9% | |
| Travel | 9% | |
| Construction | 9% | |
| Education | 9% |
Listed above are the average annual increase rates for each industry in Germany for the year 2022. Companies within thriving industries tend to provide higher and more frequent raises. Exceptions do exist, but generally speaking, the situation of any company is closely related to the economic situation in the country or region. These figures tend to change frequently.
Worldwide Salary Raises: All Countries and All Jobs
Salary Packages and Schemes
Not all compensation increases are reflected directly in the salary. Some companies offer upgraded packages to their staff instead of cash money. The figures displayed here account only for direct increments to the base salary.
Attorney Bonus and Incentive Rates in Germany
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?
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"Attorney" is considered to be a high bonus-based job. The people who get the highest bonuses are usually somehow involved in the revenue generation cycle.
12% of surveyed staff reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 88% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 5% to 9% of their annual salary.
| Received Bonus | 88% | |
| No Bonus | 12% |
Types of Bonuses Considered
Individual Performance-Based BonusesThe most standard form of bonus where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.
Goal-Based BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
Bonuses Are Not Commissions!
People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.
What makes a position worthy of good bonuses and a high salary?
The main two types of jobs | |
| Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
Example: | Example: |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
Bonus Comparison by Seniority Level
Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.
Attorney Salary Trend and Forecast in Germany
How are Attorney salaries changing over time? Listed below is a chart that shows the average salary in recent years.
| Average Salary 2019 | 6,200 EUR | |
| Average Salary 2020 | +4% | 6,430 EUR |
| Average Salary 2021 | +4% | 6,670 EUR |
| Average Salary 2022 | +4% | 6,920 EUR |
Attorney salaries in Germany are on the rise in the year 2023 based on recent submitted salaries and reports. As displayed in the chart, salaries in 2022 are 4% higher than those of 2021. The trend suggests a slow yet continuous increase in pay in 2024 and future years. These numbers may vary from industry to another.
Attorney Average Hourly Wage in Germany
41 EUR per hourThe average hourly wage (pay per hour) in Germany is 41 EUR. This means that the average Attorney in Germany earns approximately 41 EUR for every worked hour.
About The Hourly Pay Rate
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fix amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.
What is the minimum hourly rate of pay?
The minimum pay rate per hour for 'Attorney' in Germany is 19 EUR. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.
Attorney VS Other Jobs
The average salary for Attorney is 56% more than that of Legal. Also, Legal salaries are 21% more than those of All Jobs.
Salary comparison with similar jobs
| Job Title | Average Salary |
| Administrative Law Judge | 10,200 EUR |  +42% |
| Arbitrator | 4,520 EUR |  -37% |
| Associate Attorney | 4,710 EUR | -34% |
| Attorney | 7,170 EUR | -0% |
| Bailiff | 2,330 EUR | -68% |
| Barrister | 1,920 EUR | -73% |
| Candidate Attorney | 4,100 EUR | -43% |
| Conciliator | 3,660 EUR | -49% |
| Contracts Manager | 4,320 EUR | -40% |
| Contracts Negotiator | 3,310 EUR | -54% |
| Conveyancing Secretary | 1,920 EUR | -73% |
| Corporate Counsel | 5,050 EUR | -30% |
| Counsel | 5,280 EUR | -26% |
| Court Clerk | 1,580 EUR | -78% |
| Court Judicial Assistant | 2,850 EUR | -60% |
| Court Liaison Specialist | 3,250 EUR | -55% |
| Court Reporter | 2,730 EUR | -62% |
| Court Representative | 2,200 EUR | -69% |
| Crown Prosecution Service Lawyer | 9,450 EUR | +32% |
| Immigration Executive | 4,730 EUR | -34% |
| In House Counsel | 5,020 EUR | -30% |
| Intellectual Property Specialist | 3,440 EUR | -52% |
| Judge Advocate | 8,000 EUR | +12% |
| Law Clerk | 1,710 EUR | -76% |
| Lawyer | 7,270 EUR | +1% |
| Legal Administrative Assistant | 2,010 EUR | -72% |
| Legal Advisor | 4,350 EUR | -39% |
| Legal Assistant | 1,890 EUR | -74% |
| Legal Associate | 3,190 EUR | -56% |
| Legal Consultant | 4,270 EUR | -40% |
| Legal Counsel | 5,270 EUR | -27% |
| Legal Editor | 3,480 EUR | -51% |
| Legal Executive | 6,580 EUR | -8% |
| Legal Executive Secretary | 1,960 EUR | -73% |
| Legal IP Officer | 1,810 EUR | -75% |
| Legal Officer | 2,230 EUR | -69% |
| Legal Services Director | 7,960 EUR | +11% |
| Legal Services Manager | 8,320 EUR | +16% |
| Legal Support Worker | 1,370 EUR | -81% |
| Legislative Liaison | 3,330 EUR | -54% |
| Litigation Attorney | 8,480 EUR | +18% |
| Litigation Paralegal | 4,180 EUR | -42% |
| Magistrate Judge | 10,700 EUR | +49% |
| Paralegal | 2,650 EUR | -63% |
| Patent Attorney | 5,650 EUR | -21% |
| Staff Attorney | 5,650 EUR | -21% |
Salary Comparison By City
| City | Average Salary |
| Berlin | 8,070 EUR |
| Bremen | 7,060 EUR |
| Dortmund | 6,640 EUR |
| Dresden | 6,880 EUR |
| Dusseldorf | 7,390 EUR |
| Essen | 7,010 EUR |
| Frankfurt | 7,900 EUR |
| Hamburg | 8,030 EUR |
| Hannover | 6,560 EUR |
| Koln | 7,950 EUR |
| Leipzig | 6,940 EUR |
| Munchen | 7,990 EUR |
| Nurnberg | 6,030 EUR |
| Stuttgart | 6,960 EUR |
Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison
Where can you get paid more, working for a private company or for the government? Public sector employees in Germany earn 5% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.
| Private Sector | 3,720 EUR | |
| Public Sector | +5% | 3,900 EUR |
Salary Statistics and Calculation Guide
What is considered to be a good and competitive salary for Attorney in Germany?
A good and competitive compensation would range anywhere between 6,850 EUR and 7,900 EUR. This is a very rough estimate and your experience and education will play a very huge part into your final earnings.
Gross Salary (before tax) and Net Salary (after tax)
All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salart after tax for every career.
Base / Basic Salary
The base salary for Attorney in Germany is ranges from 5,530 EUR to 7,900 EUR. The base salary depends on many factors including experience and education. It is not easy to provide a figure with very little information, so take this range in a grain of salt.
What is the difference between the median and the average salary?
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both of the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people are earning more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary
