Vocational training in trading and sales in Germany

How much do I earn during vocational training?

During vocational training, you earn a training allowance from the company. Here is a rough estimate for the first training year:

• Sales assistant: about €900 – €1,080 per month gross income
• Salesperson specialising in foodstuffs: about €900 – €1,080 per month gross income
• Management assistant for retail services: about €900 – €1,080 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)

Which requirements do I have to meet?

For vocational training, you generally require a school-leaving certificate. For vocational training in the dual system, you do not need to have it recognised for the visa. Good German skills are very important for vocational training, for example for vocational school and working with customers. 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.

Especially the following soft skills are important in trading and sales:

• Friendliness and communicativeness to help customers and present the products.
• Reliability and team spirit because, more likely than not, you will be working in a team.
• Flexibility because many shops are open during the evenings and on the weekends

Prospects after vocational training

After successfully completing vocational training, you have a good chance of concluding a work contract with your training company, because professionally qualified skilled workers are especially sought after by companies in Germany.

Additionally, there are a lot of opportunities for further development. The retail sector offers good career prospects, for example as department leader or branch manager. You can also acquire additional qualifications, for example in the field of European commodity and commercial law via the additional qualification of “Europe Assistant” or via the expertise knowledge examination (Sachkundeprüfung) for over-the-counter medicine. The individual opportunities depend on the concrete vocational training profession.

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 salary after vocational training depends on the experience, the sector and the region. Here are some references for the average gross salary per month:

• Sales assistant: about €2,728 per month gross income
• Salesperson specialising in foodstuffs: about €2,266 – €2,428 per month gross income
• Management assistant for retail services: about €2,728 per month gross income

With work experience and continuing education, for example as a commercial specialist or branch manager, the salary can increase further.

Have you already learned 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 trading and sales. Foreign language skills can also be useful, since communication is very important in these professions.