Entgelt

Entgelt is the term used in German to denote remuneration or consideration paid for goods, services, or labor. It is a broad concept that can be monetary or in-kind and is used in contracts, commercial transactions, and legal contexts to describe the compensation owed or received.

In labor law and employment relations, Entgelt includes all components of pay, such as base wages, bonuses, allowances, and social security contributions paid by the employer. It is defined by contracts, collective agreements, and statutory provisions, and may include pay-related rights such as entitlements to continued payment in illness (Entgeltfortzahlung). In collective bargaining, pay is often organized by Entgeltgruppen (pay groups) with corresponding wage tables (Entgelttabellen).

Compared with specific terms, Entgelt is broader than Lohn (hourly wage) or Gehalt (monthly salary). In civil law, it denotes the consideration provided for a service or transfer of property; a contract concluded for an agreed price is an entgeltliches Rechtsgeschäft, while a gratuitous act is unentgeltlich.

Originating from ent- (out) and gelt (payment), the term is commonly translated as remuneration or compensation, or as price in a transaction, depending on context. Related terms include Vergütung, Preis, and Tarifvertrag.