Exploring Childcare Worker Salaries in Germany: A Closer Look
German Teacher Salaries: An Overview - Annual Income for Educators in Germany Revealed
Penned by Larissa Königs* ~ 2 Min read*
Originally published on RTL.de
In essence, the remuneration of childcare professionals, encompassing Erzieherinnen and Erzieher, hinges on multiple factors, including their own background, the type of facility they work within, and the federal state they reside in. According to the Federal Employment Agency, the median gross salary for childcare workers employed full-time is approximately €3,749.
Notably, this figure includes childcare workers not only in conventional kindergartens but also those in homes, Waldorf facilities, after-school care, language promotion, and other similar settings.
Significantly, salaries can exhibit marked variations stemming from the federal state. Whilst specialists in Bavaria acquire an average annual gross salary of €3,948 (the highest-paying region), in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the average stands at a mere €3,378 gross, making it the lowest-paying state.
But what could account for these differences? Let's delve deeper.
Why Wage Disparities Among Childcare Workers?
The disparity in childcare worker wages is primarily due to the TVöD (Tarifvertrag für den öffentlichen Dienst), the collective agreement for public service. This agreement governs, among other things, the wages of childcare workers in municipal facilities, setting different levels based on professional experience and supplementary qualifications.
Initial wages for childcare workers usually fall within the pay grade S 8a or S 8b. With increasing experience, they advance up the salary ladder. Differentiated TVöDs, such as those distinctive to North Rhine-Westphalia and Berlin, also lead to discrepancies.
It's crucial to mention that the TVöD applies exclusively to municipal kindergartens. Facilities affiliated with religious institutions, for instance, can set their salaries independently, although many tend to follow TVöD structures.
Strikes for Better Compensation and Conditions
Childcare workers have staged numerous strikes in recent years, demanding improved working conditions and higher salaries. The intensifying workload, with large groups, staff shortages, and heavy pedagogical demands, recently caused increased stress.
Consequently, unions consistently engage in wage negotiations, with the last agreement resulting in a salary uplift for childcare workers during the spring of 2023. Another round of negotiations is scheduled for 2024, with the demand for a substantial wage rise, as highlighted by the Education and Science Union, who've stated their intention to pursue a 8% wage hike, equivalent to at least €350 more per month.
Should these demands be met in 2024, childcare worker salaries can expect a further rise, a request that is likely to resonate with those who have been devoted to caring for many children over extended periods...
- The remuneration of childcare professionals working within the institution of the place of residence, such as in homes, also forms part of the median gross salary, with an approximate figure of €3,749.
- In comparison to Bavaria, the federal state with the highest-paying region for childcare workers, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has the lowest-paying state, with an average gross salary of €3,378.
- These wage disparities are primarily due to the TVöD, the collective agreement for public services, which governs the wages of childcare workers in municipal facilities, leading to discrepancies.
- Initial wages for childcare workers usually fall within the pay grade S 8a or S 8b and advance with professional experience, creating a salary ladder.
- Modifications in the TVöD, like those in North Rhine-Westphalia and Berlin, also contribute to the existing wage disparities.
- Childcare workers have staged numerous strikes in recent years, demanding improved working conditions and higher salaries, with the latest negotiations resulting in a salary increase in the spring of 2023.
- The Education and Science Union aims to pursue a 8% wage hike in 2024, equivalent to at least €350 more per month, which could potentially further increase childcare worker salaries.
