Working as a childcare worker in Germany
The indicative childcare worker salary band is short of the 2026 EU Blue Card threshold.
Mean gross earnings of the "Service and sales workers" ISCO-08 major group — 2,234 €/month, about 26,808 €/year — sit below the 50,700 €/year threshold; the gap is about 23,892 €/year. Senior roles and shortage-list entries can still clear it individually.
- Blue Card threshold 2026
- 50,700 €/year (general rate)
- Shortage-occupation rate
- 45,934 €/year — this occupation is not on Germany's 2026 shortage list
- Indicative salary band
- 2,234 €/month (ISCO major-group mean, SES 2022)
How the threshold applies
The general 2026 threshold of 50,700 €/year applies because this occupation is not on Germany's 2026 shortage list. Both thresholds are statutory gross annual salary and change every January; the number on this page is the value.
Recognition and next steps
Continue with the Germany country profile, the visa route overview, or compare German cities by cost and salary.