Street Cleaner Salary in Germany 2026: Average Gross and Net Pay, Trends

The Job of a Cleaner in Germany (Reinigungsberufe, Reinigung)

The job of a cleaner in Germany is a practical and easy-to-start type of work that involves cleaning and keeping places tidy. This area includes different kinds of cleaning (Reinigung), such as looking after homes, offices, public buildings, and outdoor spaces.

People who work in cleaning are needed everywhere because every company and organisation needs to be clean and tidy. The work can include cleaning rooms, taking care of the area outside, taking out rubbish, and other simple but important tasks.

In general, these jobs are seen as stable, but the pay is not very high. Working conditions can be different depending on the employer, the working hours, and the amount of work you have to do.

If you are a foreigner who wants to work in cleaning in Germany, it is important to know that you usually do not need to have your diploma recognised, and basic German is enough to do the job and speak with your employer.

Street cleaner salary in Germany: median and average

The following table presents official data from the Federal Statistical Office of Germany on employee earnings by occupational groups ¹, providing an overview of the salary level of janitor. The data is based on the latest available statistics and also includes an estimate for April 2026, calculated taking into account changes in the nominal wage index.

Salary Levels by Qualification and Specialisation

The following table shows official data from the Federal Statistical Office of Germany about the earnings of workers by job category, qualification, and specialisation. This gives an idea of the salary level for janitor. The data is based on the latest available statistics, taking into account changes in the nominal wage index as of April 2026.

The tables above use the classification of qualification levels from official German statistics for analysing employment and wages. By clicking on a qualification level in the list below, you can see its definition:
Helfer, Fachkraft, Spezialist, Experte, Aufsicht, Führung.

Gross and Net Salary

Salaries for janitor in Germany are usually given as gross, which means before taxes and social security contributions are taken off. However, the actual amount you receive is your net salary, which is lower because taxes and social insurance payments are deducted.

On average, about 20 to 35 % is taken from your gross salary in Germany. The exact amount depends on your tax class, family status, whether you have children, the federal state you live in, and your health insurance.

If the average salary for the profession group Cleaning Professions is 2,975.00 euros gross per month, then the actual take-home pay is usually between 1,900 and 2,400 euros net per month.

It’s important to know that Germany has a progressive tax system: the higher your income, the higher your tax rate. This means that when your gross salary increases, your net income grows more slowly. So the difference in net salary between employees is usually smaller than it looks if you only compare gross salaries.

Salaries of Men and Women

The salary level for janitor in this profession group in Germany can be different for men and women. According to official statistics, men earn more on average than women, but the difference depends on the job, qualification level, work experience, responsibilities, and type of employment.

Average Monthly Gross Salary of Men and Women by Profession Group as of April 2026 ²

Based on the data in the table, on average the pay gap between men and women is about 14.1 % ³. This means that women usually earn less than men, but the real difference can vary a lot depending on the job and working conditions.