Berlin: Increase in the minimum wage
The Berlin Senate (executive branch of government) has decided to increase the minimum wage in the federal state of Berlin.
The initiative draft of the resolution was presented by the Senator for Labour, Social Affairs, Equality, Integration, Diversity and Anti-Discrimination (Senatsverwaltung für Arbeit, Soziales, Gleichstellung, Integration, Vielfalt und Antidiskriminierung, SenASGIVA), Cansel Kiziltepe.
According to the decision, the minimum wage in Berlin will rise from the current €13.69 to €14.84 per hour (gross) at the beginning of 2026. In 2027, the amount will be reviewed and increased further to €15.58 per hour (gross). The new wage standards are mandatory in all sectors where the Berlin government has jurisdiction over wage regulation. These include public administration, companies with state participation, and organizations financed from the Berlin state budget.
From January 1, 2026, employers in these sectors will be required to pay their employees at least €14.84 per hour. It is important to note that additional payments, such as bonuses for night work, may not be included in the minimum wage and must be paid separately.
According to updated data from the Berlin-Brandenburg Office for Statistics (Amt für Statistik Berlin-Brandenburg, AfS), the minimum wage increase will affect at least 350,000 employees subject to social insurance contributions, which accounts for around 20% of all workers in Berlin.
It should be noted that the minimum wage in Berlin is linked to the nationwide minimum wage, which is expected to reach €14.60 by 2027. However, given the high cost of living in metropolitan areas such as Berlin, this level is often insufficient to ensure a decent standard of living. This is why the Berlin Senate decided to introduce a dynamically adjusted minimum wage at the state level.
Senator C. Kiziltepe stated that “the minimum wage in the metropolis exceeds the nationwide level, thus serving as a clear statement in support of social justice, economic stability, and a decent life in Berlin.”
The Senate resolution must still be reviewed and approved or rejected by the Council of Mayors of Berlin (Rat der Bürgermeister, RdB) as well as by the Berlin House of Representatives (Abgeordnetenhaus von Berlin).
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