Postdoc salary Germany

What do Postdocs earn?

Which levels of experience are used to classify postdocs?

The professional experience of researchers in general and postdocs can vary widely. Pay band 13 includes people who have only just accepted a doctoral candidate position and seasoned postdocs with many years of research experience. For this reason, employers also differentiate by experience levels. Since 2018, not only the TvoeD, but also the TV-L and the TV-H distinguish between six levels of experience, each with increasing time spent at each stage. Level 1 is reserved for newcomers to the respective pay band and must be fully completed during a single employment contract. Since time spent as a doctoral candidate is included, Level 1 is less common for postdocs.

Are there other benefits for postdocs in Germany?

Employed postdocs receive a special annual payment like all their colleagues in the civil service. The special payment amount depends on the applicable collective agreement. It amounts to between 33%–60% of their average monthly salary. Postdocs who have children, work in Hesse and fall under the TV-H also receive a child allowance in addition to their salary. According to the collective agreements, additional benefits may also be available in connection with special services, such as the procurement of third-party funds. However, the various federal states take very different approaches to this opportunity.

Will the experience level change if an employee moves to a different research institution? If postdocs, for example, change institutions for a new research project, they will usually retain their experience level with the time spent at this level so far. There have been some improvements in this area in recent years, particularly when switching between different collective bargaining agreements. You will need to send a request to the new employer to ensure that this professional experience is recognised.

If it is difficult to find a suitable candidate for the position in question, the facilities may even accommodate further requests by their future employees. This may involve moving them to a higher group or at least a guarantee that the institution will move the employee to the next experience level at an earlier date. As collective agreements specify a wide range of different salaries, switching between different collective agreements and levels of experience can result in a loss of wages. As a postdoc, it is therefore advisable to check your prospective salary before switching to a new public employer. 

Will my experience level change as a result of a stay abroad, break or temporary unemployment?

Collective bargaining for public servants is not particularly compatible with the professional reality of scientists. For example, periods when scientists are not employed by a public-sector employer, e.g. working in the private sector for several years, may be regarded as a "harmful interruption". They may even be downgraded to a lower experience level.

This does not usually apply to employees who teach or conduct research at a foreign research institution and are employed for this purpose. This period of time is deemed to be relevant professional experience and is credited towards the respective time spent at each level.

Periods without employment which are financed by a grant are only considered to be "beneficial" rather than "relevant" in the eyes of public employers. The institution is therefore not required to take it into consideration when determining the individual's experience level.

The qualifying time spent at each stage is not interrupted when a postdoc takes maternity or paid leave. Periods of incapacity up to a maximum of 39 weeks are not deducted from qualifying time. Things work differently with parental leave: This is considered an interruption of the qualifying time and are not applicable for the employee's move to the next experience level.