Gehälter: Was ist beim Gehalt noch drin – trotz Krise?

Despite the ongoing crisis, Germany's employees can expect stable wage increases, according to an evaluation by Willis Towers Watson (WTW). The average salary raise in 2026 is expected to be 3.1%, with a slight increase to 3.2% the following year. This level of growth is consistent across all employee groups, with only professionals receiving a slightly higher 3.2% boost.

Industries such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, banks, and insurance companies show the most significant wage growth, with 3.2% increases projected for 2026. However, the retail sector sees considerably lower wage increases, around 3%, likely due to its highly competitive nature and reliance on specialized roles.

The disparity in wage growth between industries is primarily due to the economic power and strong unions in sectors like finance and pharmaceuticals, which can afford higher compensation and negotiate favorable collective agreements. In contrast, retail offers relatively fewer opportunities for wage growth as many positions are filled by candidates from outside the industry, leading to increased competition.

The report also highlights that wage increases are increasingly tied to individual employee performance, with top performers receiving an average of 5.2% salary increase. Employees with average or below-average performance can expect only a 2.7% or 1.3% raise, respectively, which does not adequately offset the general inflation rate of 2.8%.