How much does a clerk earn?
Clerks and case officers (Sachbearbeiter) manage workflows in companies, insurers, public authorities and service providers – from applications and customer requests to file and system maintenance, information, billing and deadline control. Entry is typically via a commercial dual apprenticeship (e.g. office management, industrial, insurance or public administration clerks) or a career change with practical experience. Gross pay depends on region, sector, collective agreements and specialisation. As a guide, qualified clerks in Germany in 2026 often earn about €3,100–€3,700 gross per month; during apprenticeship around €980–€1,280 is typical.
Salary by region (gross/month)
Guide figures as of 2026. The apprenticeship column covers commercial dual training or comparable entry routes (e.g. office management, industrial clerks, insurance clerks, public administration clerks); qualified means practising Sachbearbeiter. Actual pay depends on collective agreements (e.g. TVöD), employer, region, specialism and experience and is not a guarantee.
Further training options
Profession and everyday work
Clerks are the operational interface for case work: they check documents, maintain systems, keep deadlines and communicate with customers, colleagues and authorities. Day-to-day work combines diligence, service and digital office routines – often with clear process rules and changing case constellations.
- Receive, check and process applications, enquiries and cases according to guidelines.
- Maintain files, tickets and specialist systems and track deadlines, follow-ups and status.
- Advise customers, policyholders or citizens by phone and email and document information given.
- Prepare calculations, billing and standard letters and follow up on incoming payments.
- Coordinate with internal specialists, managers and external partners and prepare escalations.
- Reliably apply data protection, compliance and quality requirements in daily work.
