Overview
- The GKV’s latest assessment through end-October 2025 puts the national average hourly wage in elder care at €23.70, up 4.9% year over year.
- Resident out-of-pocket payments are projected to increase by about €100 per month on average, with roughly €30 typically offset by relief supplements.
- The statutory long-term care insurance is expected to face about €260 million in additional annual spending due to the higher wage levels.
- Pay remains uneven across states, with Hamburg highest at €24.55 per hour and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern lowest at €22.44, while Saxony recorded an 8.2% jump to €23.32.
- A 2022 rule limiting contracts to providers paying by collective agreements or comparable standards has locked higher personnel costs into care pricing.