What does a Referendar earn?
Referendare complete the paid preparatory service after university – most often in teaching or legal training. They teach under supervision or rotate through court, authority and law-firm placements, attend seminars and prepare for exams. Pay depends on federal state, career track and allowance rules. As a guide, typical trainee allowances in Germany in 2026 often lie around €1,500–€1,900 gross per month; after successful completion many start at about €4,200–€5,200.
Salary by region (gross/month)
Orientation figures as of 2026. The training column refers to typical trainee allowances during the Referendariat (teaching or law); qualified means career entry after successful completion (e.g. teacher in school service or assessor/employed entry). Actual pay depends on federal state, track, pay grade, seniority and workplace and is not a guarantee.
Further training options
Job and everyday work
The Referendariat centres on supervised practical qualification: teaching or placements, seminar work and exam preparation set the pace. Classroom observation, feedback talks, marking or casework and close exchange with mentors and trainers complete the day.
- Prepare and deliver lessons or rotate through court, authority and law-firm placements.
- Attend seminars, write lesson or case reflections and apply feedback from trainers.
- Plan, practise and document assessed lessons, written papers or state exams.
- Coordinate with mentors and staff teams; keep deadlines, appointments and documentation reliable.
- Mark work and give feedback, or draft files, pleadings and minutes under supervision.
- Structure exam content, sharpen time management and prepare the move into school service or the assessor track.
