Vocational training in the hotel and gastronomy industry in Germany

During vocational training, you will be remunerated via a training allowance from the training company. Here is a rough estimate of how much you earn during vocational training in the hotel and gastronomy industry:

• Specialist in gastronomy: €750 – €1,000 per month (gross income)
• Specialist in restaurants and event catering: €850 – €1,200 per month (gross income)
• Hotel management clerk: €850 – €1,200 per month (gross income)

You should also know the following:

• You have to pay social security contributions from your gross income, for example for statutory heal insurance, pension insurance and unemployment insurance. These contributions are deducted automatically, before you receive your net income in your bank account.
• During vocational training, you only pay income tax if you have a higher gross income than €1,385 per month (in tax bracket I; as of 2025).
• In this sector, working in shifts is a possibility, however, this is generally remunerated by bonuses.
• Receiving tips is also possible, for example when working in restaurants.

For vocational training, you generally require a school-leaving certificate. In the case of vocational training in the dual system, you do not need to have it recognised for the visa. For school-based vocational training, the recognition of the foreign school-leaving certificate may be necessary. Good German skills are very important for vocational training, for example for vocational school. There is also the option of completing a language course in Germany to prepare for vocational training. Learn more details on the general requirements for vocational training here.

These are the additional soft skills that are usually expected from applicants in the hotel and gastronomy industry:

• Enjoy interacting with people
• Ability to work in a team
• Great organisation skills
• Flexibility and willingness to work on evenings, weekends and public holidays

Have you already learnt or worked in a profession, or do you have an academic degree? No problem! You can additionally complete vocational training. It can even be an advantage if your previous experience is related to the transport and logistics sector. Having your previous qualification recognised is not required.

The hotel and gastronomy industry is a fast-growing sector in Germany. After completing vocational training, you have a good chance of concluding an employment contract with your training company. Professionally qualified skilled workers are much in demand among companies in Germany.

Even as a trained skilled worker, you have opportunities for further education and career development: for example, as restaurant manager, as examined chef cook (Bachelor Professional) or hotel manager. Self-employment is also an option! Or would you prefer taking up academic studies? There are many alternative routes you will be able to take, once you have finished vocational training.

To learn more about the general options after vocational training, please refer to the “Prospects after vocational training” . On BERUFENET , you will find information on the job-specific options, depending on the vocational training.

Salary after vocational training

The best way to find out about the current salary levels is online research. Depending on the profession and specialisation, the salary ranges may differ. Similar to the training allowance, the amount depends on the federal state you work in, the size of the company and whether the employer is bound to collective agreements. Therefore, you should make sure to look up information according to your situation and refer to multiple sources. For instance, use the Entgeltatlas  (remuneration atlas) of the Federal Employment Agency:

• Cooks: ca. €2,750 gross per month
• Specialists in the hotel business: €2,678 gross per month
• Specialists in gastronomy: €2,415  gross per month

You can also use search engines to find further salary examples for your desired profession on private websites.