Besoldungsgruppen

Besoldungsgruppen is a pay-scale concept used in Germany to determine the base salaries of public sector employees. The system applies to civil servants (Beamte) and, to varying extents, to other public-law employees at federal, state, and municipal levels. The aim is to standardize compensation according to job responsibility, qualification, and experience.

The pay structure is organized in Besoldungsordnungen. In federal administration the common reference is the Bundesbesoldungsgesetz (BBesG), which defines groups and corresponding pay tables. The groups are typically designated by letters, such as A, and in higher education and some specialised areas the W-Besoldung applies for university professors (for example W2, W3; W1 is used for junior professorships in some states). Each group has numeric levels that indicate increasing responsibility and requirements.

Within each group there are Stufen (steps) that reflect service time and experience. Depending on the group, the number of steps and the automatic progression from one step to the next varies, ensuring incremental pay raises as years of service accumulate. Additional allowances may exist, such as family allowances or special responsibility supplements, within the applicable pay table.

Differences exist between federal and state systems, and between Beamte and other public employees. While Beamtinnen and Beamtete follow Besoldung tables, many Angestellte in public roles are paid under tariff agreements (TV-L at the Länder level or TVöD at the federal level) rather than Besoldung. The exact groups, steps, and amounts can differ across states and municipalities, but the overall concept—graded pay according to role, qualification, and tenure—remains consistent.