Sectoral pay and hourly wage for drivers in Germany

Minimum wage vs. sectoral pay in Germany

First, we must clarify that in the context of international drivers working in Germany, we are referring to sectoral pay—not the minimum wage.

The minimum wage is the statutory hourly rate guaranteed to any truck driver for each hour worked. In contrast, sectoral pay refers to the full remuneration package of a professional driver, which includes premiums, bonuses, and other statutory entitlements based on the regulations of the country where the work is performed and applicable to the profession.

Notably, sectoral pay for HGV drivers has been mandatory since February 2, 2022, when the Mobility Package introduced the requirement to pay wages in line with the labor law of the host country. However, sectoral pay cannot fall below the statutory minimum hourly wage.

As a result, employers are obliged to cover any difference in wages when drivers operate in countries where the sectoral pay exceeds that of the employer’s home country. For instance, if a Polish company’s employee performs transport services in Germany, the employer must pay the difference between the Polish wage and Germany’s higher sectoral wage.

More detailed information on sectoral pay calculations and how the Mobility Package affects them can be found in our article: Rules for calculating sector pay and the Mobility Package - How to correctly calculate sector pay? There, you’ll learn who is subject to sectoral pay and what types of transport are included.

Sectoral pay rates in Germany

In Germany, the sectoral wage for drivers currently stands at around €12 per hour. By comparison, rates are typically higher in other Western European countries—around €14–15 per hour in France, Austria, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

These rates, including those in the transport sector, are typically updated annually or biennially. Staying informed is essential—or you can rely on professionals who specialize in drivers' payroll calculation. If you need assistance, our experts are here to help — simply contact us!

CE Driver pay in Germany – Pay structure overview

To fully understand sectoral pay and the compensation of CE category drivers in Germany, one must consider the components that make up their salary. It is a complex system made up of multiple elements contributing to total remuneration.

Gross base and hourly rate

The foundation of driver compensation in Germany is the gross base wage (Grundgehalt). As of January 1, 2025, the applicable minimum hourly wage is €12.82 gross. Over a standard 168-hour work month, this equates to €2,153.76 gross per month.

In practice, however, HGV driver wages in Germany often exceed the legal minimum, due to various factors such as:

• Work experience – after 10 years, a driver may earn around €2,400/month
• Qualification level
• Region of employment – wages are typically higher in Western than in Eastern Germany
• Company size – in large firms (500+ employees), average monthly pay is €2,620
• Transport specialization – e.g., ADR or heavy haulage work can significantly affect earnings

In addition, driver wages in Germany include various bonuses, such as for night, Sunday, or holiday work.

Bonuses in German truck driver pay – Night work

Professional drivers in Germany are entitled to additional pay for night shifts. According to local laws, night work (between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.) attracts a 25% bonus on top of the gross hourly wage.

Importantly, these bonuses are tax-free, offering a significant financial benefit.

Bonuses – Sundays and holidays

Truck driver pay increases for work on Sundays and holidays as well. Specifically:

• Sunday work: 50% bonus on the gross hourly wage
• Public holidays and December 31 after 2:00 p.m.: 125% bonus
• Special holidays (December 24 after 2:00 p.m., December 25–26, and May 1): 150% bonus

Daily allowances and their role in payroll

Daily allowances (diets) are another crucial component of CE drivers’ pay in Germany, as they compensate for increased meal costs during work trips. These are not considered taxable income, since they reimburse actual expenses.

Since 2020, the following rates apply:

• €14 net for days with over 8 hours away from base
• €28 net per full (24-hour) day away
• Overnight allowance (for sleeping in the vehicle): €9 per night as of 2024 (previously €8)

This simplified system eliminates the need for collecting receipts. If an employer does not pay per diems or overnight allowances, drivers may deduct them in their tax returns, potentially increasing their refund.

Including 20 days of per diems (€560), an average CE driver in Germany may receive around €2,560 net per month.

Note: These rates apply to German drivers. For Polish drivers, see our dedicated article: Driver delegations - How to legally and beneficially settle allowances and accommodation in Poland in 2025?

Factors influencing driver pay

Driver salaries in Germany vary due to numerous factors. For professionals considering working abroad, understanding these is essential when making career decisions.

Work experience

Experience is a key determinant. New drivers can expect €2,200–2,500 gross. Experienced drivers may reach €3,500–4,500 gross.

With several years on the job, wages can grow to €3,000 net per month or more. Drivers with 5–10 years' experience often earn €3,000–4,000 net, plus:

• Loyalty and seniority bonuses
• Better routes and working conditions
• Stronger negotiating power

The average annual wage increase for drivers in Germany is around 5% per year. Drivers with additional qualifications (e.g., foreign languages) can also command higher salaries.

Vehicle type and transport specialization

The type of vehicle and nature of transport significantly affect earnings. Specializations come with premium pay. Examples:

• Hazardous materials (ADR): up to €4,500 gross
• Refrigerated transport: €3,800–4,200 gross
• Heavy equipment transport: €3,700–4,300 gross

Drivers responsible for load checks, documentation, or delivery inspection also earn more.

Company location and work system

There are significant regional differences in the salaries of truck drivers in Germany. Earnings in the western states are usually higher than in the eastern states. For example, in Munich the average salary can be 20-30% higher than in small towns in the eastern states.

Western states such as Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia offer salaries in the range of 3,500-4,000 euros gross for drivers with average experience. In contrast, eastern states such as Brandenburg and Mecklenburg offer significantly lower rates, often around 2,200-2,800 euros gross.

The differences in salaries between cities are also significant. A truck driver in Hamburg can earn around 1,000 euros more per month than a driver in Leipzig for the same number of working hours. In 2022, the highest rates were recorded in:

• Munich: €3,500–4,000 gross
• Saarbrücken: €2,425.21
• Frankfurt am Main: €2,405.75

Work schedules also affect wages. In a 2/2 system (2 weeks on, 2 off), drivers typically earn €1,600–2,000 net monthly, or €800–1,000 per working week.

The 3/1 system yields the highest wages due to increased work hours. International drivers can earn 20–30% more than domestic hauliers.

How to calculate a driver’s net salary?

To accurately determine a truck driver’s net salary in Germany, it’s important to understand the relevant tax mechanisms. How much of the German wage ends up “in hand”? How can real earnings be calculated correctly?

The importance of the tax class

The German tax system is based on tax classes (Steuerklasse), which directly affect the amount of income tax deducted. This is precisely why there is no single net wage rate applicable to all drivers. The “take-home” pay depends on the taxpayer’s individual situation, which is reflected in the functioning of the tax classes in Germany:

Online calculators and how to use them

The simplest and most accurate way to calculate net pay is by using online payroll calculators. To use such a tool, you need to enter a few key pieces of information:

1. Settlement period – usually a month or a year
2. Gross amount – hourly rate or monthly salary
3. Year of birth – affects the amount of certain contributions
4. Tax class – from I to VI
5. Number of children – relevant for determining tax reliefs
6. Federal state – place of employment
7. Church tax – whether it is paid (8–9% of income depending on the federal state)
8. Insurance information – pension, health, and unemployment insurance

Moreover, when using a calculator tailored to international truck drivers’ pay, it is helpful to understand the following terms:

• Nettolohn – take-home pay
• Lohnsteuer – income tax
• Sozialversicherung – social security contributions (about 20% of income)

It’s important to emphasize that truck drivers’ net salaries in Germany vary significantly depending on the federal state, tax class, and working system. A properly chosen tax class can result in a considerably higher net salary for the same gross rate.

Automation of settlements and regulatory compliance

Proper time tracking of drivers’ working hours in Germany is a complex issue for both transport companies and drivers. How can working time be effectively recorded in accordance with German regulations? What tools can assist in this process? In this section, we examine technological solutions that streamline payroll processes and help ensure compliance with strict legal requirements.

The role of tachographs and working time records

Drivers' working hours in Germany must be meticulously recorded. It’s worth noting that German regulations are stricter than Polish ones — they require working time records even for drivers of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight between 2.5 and 3.5 tons. Truck drivers operating vehicles over 3.5 tons must absolutely use tachographs, which record:

• exact driving times
• vehicle mileage
• vehicle speed
• rest periods

Interestingly, starting in 2026, the obligation to install tachographs will also apply to vans. For now, however, drivers of such vehicles must maintain a so-called Kontrollbuch — a special working time logbook, in which they must regularly record:

• driving times
• hours of other work and readiness
• driving breaks
• daily and weekly rest periods

According to the latest regulations, international transport operators operating in Germany are required to replace older tachograph models with second-generation smart tachographs. These modern devices offer features that greatly facilitate settlement, including automatic border-crossing detection and the ability to log loading and unloading data — which is particularly relevant for calculating sectoral pay.

Support from specialists in international driver payroll

The complexity of regulations regarding driver pay in Germany makes manual calculation of wages extremely time-consuming and prone to errors. Therefore, to ensure correct wage calculation for international drivers operating in Germany, it's worth relying on expert support — and the Evotax team is happy to help!

How much does a driver earn in Germany? – Sectoral pay in Germany – Summary

The earnings of professional drivers in Germany, especially those in international transport, depend on many factors, including professional experience, job location, type of transport, and individual skills. Moreover, the sectoral pay system also applies to truck drivers from other countries performing transport in Germany. This system, known as sectoral pay, differs from minimum wage in that it takes into account all benefits for truck drivers, wage supplements, and other variables based on national laws.

Furthermore, if the sectoral pay in the country of transport (e.g., Germany) is higher than that in the company’s country of establishment, the employer must pay the driver the difference.

However, calculating sectoral pay in Germany or other countries requires knowledge of applicable rates, legal provisions, and driver pay systems. If you want to be sure that you’re calculating the wages of your professional drivers correctly, it's best to consult with experts — like the team at Evotax. Simply contact us, describe your challenge, and our specialists will take care of the rest!

Truck driver pay in Germany – Frequently asked questions

Below, we’ve compiled the most frequently asked questions regarding truck driver salaries in Germany — along with our answers. If your question isn’t listed, feel free to contact us, and our experts will gladly help!

What are the average earnings of truck drivers in Germany?

The average gross salary for professional truck drivers in Germany is approximately €2,942. Top earners can receive up to €3,425 gross per month. Pay depends on factors such as experience, type of transport, and region of employment.

What is the minimum hourly wage for drivers in Germany?

As of 2025, the minimum hourly wage for drivers in Germany is €12.82 gross. With 168 working hours per month, this results in approximately €2,153.76 gross. Keep in mind that actual wages are often higher, especially for experienced drivers.

What benefits do truck drivers in Germany receive?

Drivers in Germany receive various allowances, including: a 25% bonus for night work, 50% for Sunday work, and 125% for holiday work. They are also entitled to tax-free per diems and overnight allowances.

How does the tax class affect a driver’s net salary in Germany?

Tax class significantly impacts net salary. Germany has six tax classes, and choosing the right one can greatly reduce tax liabilities. For example, Class III offers the highest tax relief and is favorable for married individuals supporting an unemployed spouse.

What factors influence a driver’s gross salary in Germany?

The main factors include: years of experience, vehicle type and transport category (e.g., hazardous materials), company location (Western states offer higher wages), work system (e.g., 3/1 is best-paid), and additional qualifications such as foreign language skills.