Pay
"More money? Be glad you're learning!"
Your training allowance is suspiciously low — is there a limit?
§ 17 BBiG
It depends …
There is a minimum training allowance!
Since 2020 there has been a statutory minimum training allowance (§ 17 (2) BBiG). It depends on the year your training started: for a 2026 start it is at least €724 in the 1st year, €854 in the 2nd, €977 in the 3rd and €1,014 in the 4th year. For a 2025 start: €682 / 805 / 921 / 955. For a 2027 start: €764 / 902 / 1,031 / 1,070. Exception: if your company is bound by a collective agreement, its pay applies — even if it is lower (§ 17 (3) BBiG). Without such a binding, pay may be at most 20% below the sector agreement. It is due no later than the last working day of the month (§ 18 (2) BBiG).
What the law says
§ 17 BBiG – Right to remuneration
Training companies must grant trainees appropriate remuneration. It must increase with the progress of the training, at least annually. A minimum training allowance is set by law.
§ 18 BBiG – Calculation and due date
The allowance is calculated for the current calendar month and must be paid at the latest on the last working day of the month.
What you can do
- What counts is the year your training started, not the current calendar year.
- Check whether a collective agreement applies to your company — it takes precedence.
- Without a collective agreement: at most 20% below the sector rate.
- Payment must reach your account by the last working day of the month.
Email template for your trainer
Subject: Query regarding the training allowance
Dear [name of trainer],
I have informed myself about the current rules on training allowances and would like to clarify a question.
Under § 17 BBiG, trainees are entitled to an appropriate allowance that is at least equal to the statutory minimum training allowance. For the current year and my [X] training year, this is [look up the amount].
My current allowance is [your amount]. I would like to understand how it is composed [and whether a collective agreement applies].
Could we have a brief conversation about this?
Kind regards
[Your name]
More cases: Pay
- Buy your own tools!
- €550 a month is fine for a trainee.
- In your second year you earn the same as in your first.
- We're not paying those few hours of overtime.
- You pay for school books and calculators yourself.
- Your pay is coming a bit later this month.
- If you quit, you pay back the training costs.
- You pay a fee for the training place.
- We'll deduct food and your room from your pay.
- Only permanent staff get a Christmas bonus.
- Nobody pays for your commute.
- As a trainee you don't get child benefit any more.
- During probation you get less money.