PRESS RELEASE
from The Stepstone Group
Apprenticeship 2026: Entry-level salaries reflect economic change
EQS-Media / 07.04.2026 / 09:13 CET/CEST
Press release
Apprenticeship 2026: Entry-level salaries reflect economic change
Düsseldorf, 07.04.2026 – For many young people, attending a university is almost automatically the first choice after graduating from school. Now, a recent analysis by Stepstone shows that vocational training in the right fields has long been financially competitive — and is a smart first step in many professions. For example, those who complete an apprenticeship as a chemical technician or as a business administrator specializing in digitalization management earn a median of over 53,000 euros annually in the three years following graduation. The highest starting salaries after apprenticeship also reflect the current economic transformation in Germany.
“The list of the highest-paying jobs after completing an apprenticeship reads like a catalog of the most pressing challenges facing the German economy. The market pays the most where demand is greatest and change is most noticeable,” says Anna Wittich, labor market researcher at The Stepstone Group. Among the top salaries in 2026 are occupations in the aviation and defense sectors, the digital economy, and the health and social services sector. For example, apprentices in aircraft mechanics specializing in engine technology or manufacturing technology rank third among the highest-paying apprenticeship occupations in 2026. Digitalization management specialists, mathematical-technical software developers, and IT specialists for data and process analysis are benefiting from the technological transformation. However, demographic change is also bringing salaries for nursing professionals specializing in geriatric care and social insurance clerks specializing in pensions into the top 10. Starting salaries for the 10 highest-paying apprenticeship programs
“Future-oriented skills are rewarded accordingly. Whether it’s defense capabilities, digitalization, or caring for our aging population: those who complete training in these fields not only secure a job that is critical to the economy, but also above-average pay,” explains Wittich.
Significant differences between popularity and pay
A look at the most popular apprenticeship programs, based on the rankings from the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), shows that popularity does not necessarily go hand in hand with the highest salaries. Classic apprenticeship fields such as automotive mechatronics technician, office management assistant, or sales associate top the popularity rankings. These jobs are widely available throughout Germany, but their median salaries are sometimes significantly lower than those of highly specialized apprenticeship professions. Wittich adds: “Salary alone should never be the deciding factor in career planning. What matters are your own interests, strengths, and how much you enjoy the job. No matter the profession: an apprenticeship is often a solid foundation for your future career. With a subsequent master craftsman’s certificate or further academic studies, a wide range of career opportunities will open up in the future.” Entry-level salaries for the 10 most popular apprenticeship programs
More information
This analysis is based on salary data from Stepstone and an evaluation by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB). The salary figures refer to the median gross starting salary following successful completion of vocational training in Germany. The analysis included full-time employees aged 29 or younger without managerial responsibilities and with less than three years of professional experience.
Information and guidelines for employees and job applicants: www.stepstone.de/magazin/gehaltsvergleich
What is the median salary? And how does it differ from the average salary?
The average is calculated by adding up all the values and then dividing the sum by the number of data points. The average can be skewed by extremely high or low values. To better understand the average, it is therefore helpful to compare it with the median. The median is the value that lies exactly in the middle of all values. This means that there are exactly as many salaries that are lower as there are that are higher than the median salary.
About The Stepstone Group
The Stepstone Group is a leading global digital recruitment platform that connects companies with the right talent and helps people find the right job. AI-driven job marketplaces and programmatic-powered marketing solutions connect more than 130 million job applications with about 130,000 employers every year. The Stepstone Group operates in more than 10 countries - including Stepstone in Germany, Appcast in the USA and Totaljobs in the UK. The company is headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany and employs about 3,000 people worldwide. For more information: www.thestepstonegroup.com/english
Contact
The Stepstone Group media relations
press@stepstone.co
Apprenticeship 2026: Entry-level salaries reflect economic change
- Top salaries after an apprenticeship in Germany: digitalization, healthcare and demographic change are driving up apprenticeship salaries
- Chemical technicians and business administrators specializing in digitalization management top the ranking of the best-paid apprenticeship occupations in 2026
- Apprenticeships in future-oriented professions often significantly outpace traditional apprenticeship fields in terms of starting salaries
Düsseldorf, 07.04.2026 – For many young people, attending a university is almost automatically the first choice after graduating from school. Now, a recent analysis by Stepstone shows that vocational training in the right fields has long been financially competitive — and is a smart first step in many professions. For example, those who complete an apprenticeship as a chemical technician or as a business administrator specializing in digitalization management earn a median of over 53,000 euros annually in the three years following graduation. The highest starting salaries after apprenticeship also reflect the current economic transformation in Germany.
“The list of the highest-paying jobs after completing an apprenticeship reads like a catalog of the most pressing challenges facing the German economy. The market pays the most where demand is greatest and change is most noticeable,” says Anna Wittich, labor market researcher at The Stepstone Group. Among the top salaries in 2026 are occupations in the aviation and defense sectors, the digital economy, and the health and social services sector. For example, apprentices in aircraft mechanics specializing in engine technology or manufacturing technology rank third among the highest-paying apprenticeship occupations in 2026. Digitalization management specialists, mathematical-technical software developers, and IT specialists for data and process analysis are benefiting from the technological transformation. However, demographic change is also bringing salaries for nursing professionals specializing in geriatric care and social insurance clerks specializing in pensions into the top 10. Starting salaries for the 10 highest-paying apprenticeship programs
| Occupation | Median annual salary in euros |
| Chemical Technician | 53.250 |
| Business Administrators – Digitalization Management | 53.000 |
| Aircraft Mechanic – Manufacturing Technology Aircraft Mechanic – Engine Technology | 51.750 51.250 |
| Surgical Technician | 51.250 |
| Registered Nurses (Geriatric Care) | 51.000 |
| Social Insurance Clerk - Pension Insurance | 50.750 |
| Mathematical-Technical Software Developer | 49.750 |
| Pharmacy Technician | 49.500 |
| IT Specialist - Data and Process Analysis | 49.500 |
| Investment Fund Clerk | 49.500 |
Significant differences between popularity and pay
A look at the most popular apprenticeship programs, based on the rankings from the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), shows that popularity does not necessarily go hand in hand with the highest salaries. Classic apprenticeship fields such as automotive mechatronics technician, office management assistant, or sales associate top the popularity rankings. These jobs are widely available throughout Germany, but their median salaries are sometimes significantly lower than those of highly specialized apprenticeship professions. Wittich adds: “Salary alone should never be the deciding factor in career planning. What matters are your own interests, strengths, and how much you enjoy the job. No matter the profession: an apprenticeship is often a solid foundation for your future career. With a subsequent master craftsman’s certificate or further academic studies, a wide range of career opportunities will open up in the future.” Entry-level salaries for the 10 most popular apprenticeship programs
| Occupation | Median annual salary in euros |
| Automotive Mechatronics Technician | 39.500 |
| Office Administration Specialist | 39.250 |
| Sales Associate | 34.250 |
| Medical Assistant | 39.750 |
| Dental Assistant | 36.750 |
| IT Specialist | 47.250 |
| Retail Sales Associate | 35.250 |
| Electronics Technician | 48.500 |
| HVAC Technician | 42.000 |
| Industrial Business Administrator | 41.500 |
More information
This analysis is based on salary data from Stepstone and an evaluation by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB). The salary figures refer to the median gross starting salary following successful completion of vocational training in Germany. The analysis included full-time employees aged 29 or younger without managerial responsibilities and with less than three years of professional experience.
Information and guidelines for employees and job applicants: www.stepstone.de/magazin/gehaltsvergleich
What is the median salary? And how does it differ from the average salary?
The average is calculated by adding up all the values and then dividing the sum by the number of data points. The average can be skewed by extremely high or low values. To better understand the average, it is therefore helpful to compare it with the median. The median is the value that lies exactly in the middle of all values. This means that there are exactly as many salaries that are lower as there are that are higher than the median salary.
About The Stepstone Group
The Stepstone Group is a leading global digital recruitment platform that connects companies with the right talent and helps people find the right job. AI-driven job marketplaces and programmatic-powered marketing solutions connect more than 130 million job applications with about 130,000 employers every year. The Stepstone Group operates in more than 10 countries - including Stepstone in Germany, Appcast in the USA and Totaljobs in the UK. The company is headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany and employs about 3,000 people worldwide. For more information: www.thestepstonegroup.com/english
Contact
The Stepstone Group media relations
press@stepstone.co
End of Media Release
Issuer: The Stepstone Group
Key word(s): Services
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| Language: | English |
| Company: | The Stepstone Group |
| Völklinger Straße 1 | |
| 40219 Düsseldorf | |
| Germany | |
| Internet: | https://www.thestepstonegroup.com/de/ |
| EQS News ID: | 2303442 |
| End of News | EQS Media |
2303442 07.04.2026 CET/CEST