Hamburg Earnings Q3 2025 | Salary & Income Data

Hamburg Wages See Real Gains in Q3 2025, Driven by Low-Income Earners

Hamburg residents experienced a tangible increase in purchasing power during the third quarter of 2025, as real wages – earnings adjusted for inflation – rose by 2.7 percent compared to the same period in 2024.This positive trend,reported by the Northern Statistics Office,signals a strengthening economic position for workers in the city.

Did you know? – Real wages reflect purchasing power,meaning they account for the eroding effect of inflation on earnings. A positive real wage growth indicates workers can afford more goods and services.

Real vs. Nominal Wage Growth

While real wage growth provides a crucial measure of actual financial benefit, nominal wages – earnings before accounting for inflation – also saw a important uptick. According to the data, Hamburg employees experienced a 5.1 percent increase in nominal wages during the same timeframe. For those working full-time, the increase was even more pronounced, reaching 5.4 percent.

“The difference between nominal and real wage growth highlights the impact of inflation on household budgets,” a senior official stated. “While wages are increasing, the rising cost of goods and services is a key factor in determining how much those increases truly mean for workers.”

Uneven Gains: A Closer Look at Wage Distribution

The benefits of wage growth weren’t evenly distributed across the income spectrum.Notably, the bottom 20 percent of full-time employees saw a significant 9.7 percent increase in earnings, considerably outpacing the overall economic trend. In contrast, the top 20 percent experienced a more modest increase of 5.6 percent.

This disparity suggests a potential narrowing of the wage gap, with lower-income earners benefiting disproportionately from recent economic conditions.Among full-time employees, women experienced slightly lower wage increases (5.5 percent) compared to men (5.4 percent).

Pro tip – When analyzing wage data, always consider both nominal and real wage growth. Nominal growth shows the raw increase, while real growth reveals the actual gain in purchasing power.

Trainees and Marginal Workers: Diverging Trends

The data also revealed contrasting fortunes for different employment categories. Trainees experienced above-average nominal wage growth of 8.4 percent,indicating a potential investment in the future workforce. However, those in marginal employment saw a 1.0 percent decline in wages, raising concerns about the economic security of this vulnerable group.

Future Data Updates and Methodology

The Northern Statistics Office announced that earnings indices will be recalculated with a new base year of 2025=100,starting with the fourth quarter of 2025 data. The rebased values will be published in the next press release covering the fourth quarter of 2025 or the year 2025, with previous time series retroactively adjusted to align with the new base year.

Detailed time series data from 2022 onward, covering nominal and real wage indices for Hamburg and Schleswig-holstein, can be found in the Database of the Federal Statistical Office. Further methodological information on real wages and net earnings is available on the federal Statistical Office’s website.

Reader question – Do you think the increased wages for trainees will led to a more skilled workforce in Hamburg long-term? What other factors might influence this?

Contact Information

For professional inquiries, Dr. Isabel Lupold can be reached at [phone] or isabel.lupold(at)statistik-nord(dot)de. Press inquiries should be directed to Alice Mannigel at [phone] or press office(at)statistics-nord(dot)de. The Northern Statistics Offi

Why: The report details wage growth in Hamburg during Q3 2025. The primary driver of this growth