Waiter/Waitress Salary in Germany

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  2. > Salary
  3. > Waiter/Waitress
  4. > Germany

Last Updated: July 08, 2026

€28,888 USD

per year
Hourly Rate €13.89
Bonus €1,528

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Entry Level €23K
Average €29K
Senior Level €33K

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The average pay for a Waiter/Waitress is €28,888, which is €13.89 an hour in Germany. The average salary range for a Waiter/Waitress is between €22,504 and €32,990. On average, a High School is the highest level of education for a Waiter/Waitress.

This compensation analysis comes from aggregated salary survey data for Germany. ERI's compensation information is based on employer-reported data collected from ERI's salary surveys, customer HRIS data, data from Proxies/10Ks and Forms 990, proprietary databases, and purchased survey data. Cost-of-labor data in the Assessor Series are based on actual housing sales data from commercially available sources, plus rental rates, gasoline prices, consumables, medical care premium costs, property taxes, effective income tax rates, etc. For more information, see ERI's methodology.

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Salary Potential for Waiter/Waitress

Explore the estimated salary growth for Waiter/Waitress in Germany for up to 5 years. The estimated salary of Waiter/Waitress in 1 year will be €29,653, and in 5 years, will be €32,922.

Number of Years

2 Years

Estimated Salary

€30,438 USD

Percentage Growth

0%

Growth Trajectory

The estimated salary growth for Waiter/Waitress in [# of years] is [salary], which is [average growth %] average growth. This information is based on ERI's compensation database.

What Does a Waiter/Waitress Do?

Serves patrons of restaurant. Explains how various menu items are prepared, describing ingredients and cooking methods. Informs customers of daily specials. Answers questions about menu items, making recommendations upon request. Takes orders for food and beverages, and delivers food and beverages to table. Checks with patrons to ensure that they are enjoying their meals and takes action to correct any problems.

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Education, Skills, and Certifications for Waiter/Waitress

Gain access to salary differentials for education and skills in ERI's Salary Assessor

Education

Below is the average education level for a Waiter/Waitress. About 90% have a High School Diploma, 10% have a Less Than HS, and 0% have a Doctorate degree.

  • High School Diploma 90%
  • Less Than HS 10%
  • Doctorate Degree 0%
  • Master's Degree 0%
  • Bachelor's Degree 0%
  • Associate Degree 0%

Top Skills

Below are top skills for a Waiter/Waitress. 91% of Waiter/Waitress have a skill in Takes orders. The top 3 most popular skills for Waiter/Waitress are Takes orders, Serves patrons, and Answers questions.

  • Takes orders 91%
  • Serves patrons 83%
  • Answers questions 65%
  • Keeps inventory 4%
  • Serves wines 4%

Popular Certifications for Waiter/Waitress

ServSafe

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Compare Waiter/Waitress Salaries by Location

See how Waiter/Waitress salaries vary by region and find the best location for your career.

Average Salaries for Waiter/Waitress

The average salary of waiter/waitress in Germany is 28.888 €. The average salary of waiter/waitress in California is $40,026. The average salary of waiter/waitress in United States is $34,896. Explore the average salaries for waiter/waitress in other locations below.

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Cost of Living in Germany

The cost of living in Germany is 0% equal to than the national average.

Whether you're planning to move or just want to see the cost of living in different locations, our cost-of-living calculator is the place to start. Compare salaries for other locations by city, U.S. ZIP code, state, or country.

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Why Your Salary May Look Different

This information is based on a specific job title and location, but real-world compensation can vary based on factors like years of experience, company size, shift differentials, and more. Because of these variables, your actual pay may fall above or below the average ranges shown. Use ERI's salary data and compensation management platform to identify market trends and accurately adjust pay so that you can price jobs competitively.

Based on the average salary in the United States, if your shift differential is 10%, then your pay will increase by €1.39/hour

*Some jobs may not be adjusted using shift differentials. Please contact [email protected] for additional information.

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Use ERI's shift differential data to calculate pay for night, day, and swing shifts to benchmark compensation with confidence. Our robust salary survey data can help you accurately price roles using industry-specific shift policies.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Waiter/Waitress salaries and career insights

How much does a Waiter/Waitress make in Germany?

ERI's data indicated that, on average, a Waiter/Waitress is €28,888 per year or €13.89 per hour in Germany, which is 1% lower than the national average. Top earners have reported making up to €32,990. However, the typical pay range in Germany, is between €22,504 and €32,990 annually.

What is the salary potential for Waiter/Waitress in 5 years?

Waiter/Waitress is projected to see 14% salary growth in 5 years.

What are some factors that impact Waiter/Waitress salaries?

Several factors can impact the salary, including experience, company size, job market, location, industry, and more. Understanding how these factors affect the role can provide opportunities to earn more. Use our salary calculator to find out how much you should be paid based on what someone in your area, with similar experience, earns.

How can I accurately price jobs for my organization?

There are several factors that can impact the salary, including experience, company size, job market, location, industry, education, certificates, shift differentials, and more. Understanding how these factors affect the role can help you spot pay gaps and retain top talent. ERI's Assessor Platform brings these factors together in one platform, making it easy to benchmark roles, analyze insights, and set pay with confidence.

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ERI Economic Research Institute was founded over 35 years ago to provide trusted compensation data for private and public organizations. ERI has established itself as a gold standard for global salary benchmarking and geographic differentials and has evolved to offer a complete compensation management software solution.

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With decades of experience in compensation, ERI offers an extensive and reliable salary survey database powered by the Assessor Platform, a comprehensive compensation management solution that optimizes complex processes for accuracy and efficiency.

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ERI's team of PhD-level data scientists and seasoned compensation professionals review and validate our salary data approximately every six weeks, ensuring the accuracy of the data that we publish. Learn more about our methodology.

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About Our Data

This page is an excerpt of the much more complete compensation information available in ERI's Assessor Series.

For over 35 years, ERI has compiled the most robust and accurate salary, cost-of-living, and executive compensation survey database available. Data are analyzed using AI and traditional statistics, depending on which approach is best for a particular application. ERI collects salary survey data from five different sources, which you can learn about here.

Verified Sources

Data sourced from internal salary surveys, purchased surveys, public sources, HRIS data, and proprietary databases.

Real-Time Data

Our salary database is updated and verified approximately every six weeks.

Quality Assurance

Along with our data scientists, we have included AI in our rigorous process to analyze and provide the highest quality data.

10,500+

Locations

35,900+

Job Titles

4,400+

Skills

5,500+

Certifications

1,100+

Industries

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