Find work in Germany
Federal Republic of Germany — 84 million people, Euro (EUR), German. Full employment compliance handled for you, paid every Friday.
Capital
Berlin
Population
84 million
GDP / capita
$51,380
Currency
EUR
Euro
Time zone
UTC+1 (CET) / UTC+2 (CEST)
Working in Germany: what to expect
Key employment law provisions that affect your engagement. Corpshore handles compliance so you don't have to navigate this alone — but knowing your rights matters.
Standard workweek
48h max
35-40 hours (depends on sector and collective agreement; 40 hours typical)
Annual leave
9 public holidays
20 days (5-day week) / 24 days (6-day week). Collective agreements typically offer 25-30 days.
Maternity leave
14 weeks (6 before + 8 after birth), fully paid at average net salary. Plus up to 3 years Elternzeit (parental leave).
Paternity leave
No specific statutory paternity leave; fathers share the Elternzeit entitlement. Elterngeld pays 65-67% of net income for up to 14 months (shared).
Notice period
4 weeks during first 2 years. Increases with tenure: up to 7 months after 20 years. Collective agreements may differ.
Severance
No statutory entitlement, but standard practice in terminations: 0.5 months per year of service (Regelabfindung). Works councils negotiate terms.
Overtime rules
Arbeitszeitgesetz limits to 8 hours/day (extendable to 10 if averaged down within 6 months). No statutory overtime premium; depends on contract or collective agreement.
Probation period
Up to 6 months, with 2-week notice period during probation
Tax landscape in Germany
Indicative tax ranges for general orientation. Always consult a qualified tax advisor for your specific situation. Tax year: Calendar year (Jan-Dec).
- Income tax
- 14% to 45% (plus 5.5% solidarity surcharge on high incomes)
- Corporate tax
- 15% + 5.5% solidarity surcharge + ~14% trade tax (Gewerbesteuer) = ~30% effective
- Social contributions
- Split roughly 50/50: ~20% each. Pension 18.6%, health ~14.6%, unemployment 2.6%, long-term care 3.4%.
- VAT / GST
- 19% (standard); 7% reduced (food, books, public transport)
Treaty network
Over 90 tax treaties
Your fee is always zero
Corpshore charges the hiring business, never you. You receive 100% of the agreed rate, regardless of tax jurisdiction.
How you get paid in Germany
SEPA Credit Transfer is the standard payroll method across the eurozone. Instant SEPA available at most German banks. Stripe Connect supports EUR payouts natively.
Bank transfer (SEPA)
Stripe Connect
Wise
Settlement
Every Friday
No net-30 waits, no chasing invoices
Platform fee
Zero, forever
The business pays Corpshore, never you
Currency
EUR
Local currency where supported
Regulatory landscape in Germany
Corpshore manages compliance so you can focus on the work. Here's what shapes the regulatory environment for workers in Germany.
Worker classification
Scheinselbstandigkeit (bogus self-employment) is heavily policed. Key factors: personal dependence, integration into the client's organisation, fixed working hours. Deutsche Rentenversicherung can reclassify retroactively.
Data protection
GDPR (directly applicable) + Bundesdatenschutzgesetz (BDSG). Federal and state data protection authorities enforce. Employee data protection has sector-specific rules (BDSG Section 26).
Right to work
EU/EEA nationals have free movement. Non-EU: work visa and residence permit required. Blue Card available for qualified professionals. Fachkrafteeinwanderungsgesetz (2020) eased skilled worker immigration.
Non-compete enforceability
Enforceable if: (a) duration max 2 years, (b) employer pays at least 50% of last compensation as Karenzentschadigung (garden pay), (c) protects a legitimate interest.
Collective bargaining
Powerful system. Tarifvertrag (collective agreements) cover ~50% of workers in the west, ~35% in the east. Works councils (Betriebsrat) mandatory in companies with 5+ employees if employees request one.
Working culture in Germany
Business culture
Direct, structured, and thorough. Meetings have agendas that are followed. Decisions are well-documented. Titles (Herr Doktor, Frau Professor) still matter in traditional industries. Mittelstand (family-owned mid-size companies) form the industrial backbone.
Key industries
Talent pool strengths
Historical context
Germany's codetermination model (Mitbestimmung), enshrined in the 1976 Codetermination Act, gives workers representation on supervisory boards of companies with 500+ employees. This social partnership approach, rooted in post-war reconstruction, is one reason Germany has among the lowest strike rates in Europe.
At a glance
- Official name
- Federal Republic of Germany
- Languages
- German
- Time zones
- UTC+1 (CET) / UTC+2 (CEST)
- Data region
- Europe
Open roles: Germany and remote
No open roles in Germany right now
New roles post continuously. Create a profile and we'll match you automatically.
Ready to find work in Germany?
Create a free profile. Verify your identity once. Get matched with roles that fit your skills. No platform fee, ever.
Create your profile