The wage gap between German and foreign full-time workers in Germany stood at 23.6 per cent at the end of 2025, according to the German Ministry of Labour in response to an information request from the parliamentary group of the far-right party Alternative for Germany.
The median salary of German full-time workers was 4,396 euros, compared to 3,358 euros for foreign full-time workers. These figures correspond to gross monthly salary before taxes and social security contributions.
The gap has remained stable relative to previous years since 2020, fluctuating between 23.1 and 25.5 per cent. In 2025, 30.6 per cent of foreign full-time workers earned low wages, compared to 12.3 per cent of German workers.
René Sprenger, social affairs expert for Alternative for Germany and member of the German Parliament, used these figures to criticise the German government's migration policy. However, the figures alone cannot prove or rule out a migration effect on wage reduction, as they do not show how wages would have evolved in the absence of migration.
The Federal Employment Agency and the German government noted that wage levels depend largely on education, qualifications and professional experience. According to a study by the Labour Market and Occupations Research Institute, wage differences between migrants and Germans are largely due to the fact that "migrants less frequently work in sectors or occupations with higher wages". The median salary of people without professional qualifications was 3,133 euros in 2025, while for full-time workers with recognised professional qualifications it was 4,069 euros, and for academics it was 6,146 euros.
