Bremen’s Wages Outpace National Average, But City-Level Disparities Emerge
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Bremen’s full-time employees earned an average of €4,157 gross per month in 2024, placing the state among the top earners in Germany, but a closer look reveals significant variations between cities and industries.A recent evaluation by the Bremen Chamber of employees indicates the state is performing well in comparison to others nationwide, exceeding the national average and trailing only Bavaria, Berlin, Hesse, Baden-Württemberg, and Hamburg.
Bremen’s Economic Strengths
The strong performance of Bremen is largely attributed to its status as a city-state.According to the Chamber of Employees, gross domestic earnings tend to be higher in urban centers than in more rural regions. this dynamic also explains the high rankings of Berlin and Hamburg. “Area countries such as Lower Saxony cannot keep up because there is an urban-land gradient with a view to the merits,” a senior official stated. This suggests that Bremen’s concentrated economic activity drives up wages.
A Different Picture at the City Level
However, when examining wages at the city level, Bremen’s position becomes more moderate. While still competitive, the city falls to the middle of the pack, with earnings lower than in major economic hubs like Munich and Stuttgart. the key difference lies in knowledge-intensive services – sectors like banking and consulting – where Bremen lags behind. “We are weakly positioned in Bremen and that’s why we fall behind these cities,” the official explained.
Bremerhaven, a city within Bremen, experiences even more pronounced wage disparities, falling significantly below average compared to cities of similar size. .
Industry Disparities Within Bremen
Significant differences in earnings also exist across industries within Bremen.Employees in the metal, electrical, and steel industries consistently earn the highest wages. This is largely due to the presence of large companies like airbus and mercedes-Benz, which require highly skilled workers and offer well-compensated, collectively bargained positions. .
The Decline of Low-Wage Jobs
The prevalence of low-wage jobs in Bremen has been steadily decreasing in recent years. This trend is attributed to more assertive collective bargaining by unions and gradual increases to the minimum wage.Despite this progress, approximately 14% of full-time employees – roughly 30,396 individuals – still earn a low wage. The Chamber of Employees advocates for continued increases to the minimum wage to further address this issue. .
While Bremen demonstrates strong overall wage performance,the data reveals a complex picture of economic prosperity within the state.
Source: Buten un inside.
This topic will be featured on Bremen Eins, News, September 23, 2025, at 10 p.m.
Expanded News Report:
Bremen’s Wages Outpace National Average, But City-Level Disparities Emerge
Bremen’s full-time employees earned an average of €4,157 gross per month in 2024, placing the state among the top earners in Germany, but a closer look reveals significant variations between cities and industries. A recent evaluation by the Bremen Chamber of Employees indicates the state is performing well in comparison to others nationwide, exceeding the national average and trailing only Bavaria, Berlin, Hesse, Baden-Württemberg, and Hamburg.
