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Starting salary as Head of department
The starting salary as a Head of department is on average 53.887 € gross per year. This corresponds to a monthly salary of 4.491 € gross.
Your chances of a higher salary increase with your work experience, as you can often take on more responsibility.
As a Head of department with several years of work experience, your average salary is 67.372 € gross per year.
Starting Salary
⌀ 53.887 €
With
Experience
⌀ 67.372 €
Similar Interesting Professions
As a Head of department, you have numerous specialization opportunities and related professions, such as
Head of , Head of unit , Head ,for which you could also be qualified with your knowledge.
| Ø Gehalt | Jobs | |
|---|---|---|
| Head of | 59,298€ | Current jobs |
| Head of unit | 63,215€ | Current jobs |
| Head | 63,215€ | Current jobs |
| Deputy Head | 52,207€ | No Jobs |
| Department Manager | 61,412€ | Current jobs |
| Department management | 50,115€ | Current jobs |
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Salary as Head of department
Specialist vs. Manager
Are you aiming for a career as a manager or do you prefer to specialize as a specialist? The salary for specialists and managers in the field of Head of department can serve as your first decision-making aid in choosing your career path.
Taking on personnel responsibility as a manager pays off in the field of Head of department. While your salary as a specialist averages 65.271€, as a manager you can earn up to 63.795€.
Manager
ø 65.271 €
Specialist
ø 63.795 €
Salary as Head of department
Degree vs. Apprenticeship
Whether you pursue a degree or an apprenticeship not only determines the positions you may qualify for in a company but also significantly impacts your salary. Typically, with an academic degree, your starting salary is higher than with a vocational training. However, your salary is not set in stone - through work experience and additional qualifications, you always have the opportunity to advance and increase your salary further.
The type of degree you obtain can also affect your salary. The average salary for master's graduates is higher than for bachelor's graduates, and with a master's degree, you have better chances of quickly attaining a position with personnel responsibility. However, salary alone should never be your sole decision criterion: choose the qualification that best fits your interests and carefully consider whether you prefer to earn money sooner or continue studying a bit longer.
With a completed apprenticeship, you can expect an average annual salary of 53.813€ as a Head of department. If you have an academic degree as a Head of department, your average salary is 65.222€.
Academic degree
ø 65.222 €
Study vs. Training
Non-Academic degree (Apprenticeship, Vocational Education, Technician, ...)
ø 53.813 €
Skills as Head of department
In addition to soft skills such as communication, flexibility, and teamwork, employers expect a variety of relevant hard skills and abilities for the profession as Head of department. The most important skills include: Project Management , Health department , Department management , Team leadership , Human Resources Development , Hospital Management , HTA .
Salary as Head of department
by City
Where do you earn the most as a Head of department? Currently, you earn the most as a Head of department in München with an average salary of 77.070€ per year.
In general, the salary as a Head of department is usually higher in large cities than in small towns. Large cities and metropolises often offer higher salaries, although the cost of living is also higher.
In which city you can earn particularly high salaries as a Head of department, you will find out in this table:
Salary as Head of department
by Federal State
In which region do you earn the most as a Head of department? Currently, you earn the most as a Head of department in Bavaria with an average salary of 67.659€ per year.
In Germany, there are still sometimes differences in salaries between western and eastern federal states.
We provide you with an overview of the salaries you can expect as a Head of department in different federal states.
| Ø Gehalt | Gehaltsspanne | |
|---|---|---|
| Bavaria | 67,659€ | 65,049 € - 75,318€ |
| Hesse | 65,271€ | 57,898 € - 75,210€ |
| Lower Saxony | 65,835€ | 55,545 € - 69,300€ |
| North Rhine-Westphalia | 63,888€ | 52,762 € - 75,331€ |
| Rhineland-Palatinate | 60,403€ | 57,657 € - 67,125€ |
What factors influence your salary as Head of department?
There are several career factors that influence your salary as a Head of department. Average salary tends to increase with the size of the company you work for. In large corporations, salaries are often higher compared to start-ups and small companies. However, in smaller companies, you may have the opportunity to advance more quickly on the career ladder.
One of the key factors affecting your salary as a Head of department is your work experience. With each year on the job, you gain valuable knowledge and experience that become increasingly better compensated over time. In just a few years, you transition from a beginner to a young professional. After more than 10 years of experience, you can then be considered a professional. With increasing experience, you also have the opportunity to move into positions with personnel responsibility. A position with personnel responsibility is generally paid significantly better, and there are further factors influencing your salary here as well. For example, a department head with personnel responsibility for over 20 employees earns more than a group leader responsible for 5 employees.
Your educational qualification, the city, and the federal state where you work are also factors that influence your salary.
Head of department - Latest salary data 2025
How up-to-date is the Head of department salary data?
At jobvector, we attach great importance to always providing you with up-to-date and accurate salary information. Income as an Head of department has changed significantly over the last few years due to factors such as rising wage levels, inflation, new legal regulations, bonus payments and tax adjustments. It is therefore particularly important to us to present up-to-date data that gives you as an applicant a good and realistic basis for the next salary negotiation.
The salary information on jobvector is consistently kept up to date and is never more than three years old. This timeliness guarantees you a precise and clearly structured overview of salary structures as an Head of department, and effectively supports you in preparing for your salary negotiations.
