How much does a foreman earn?
Foremen lead work groups in production, construction, logistics or skilled trades: they assign tasks, safeguard quality and deadlines, onboard staff and are the first contact when problems arise – often as the link between skilled workers and master craftspersons or plant management. Entry is not via a dedicated “foreman” apprenticeship, but via a sector trade apprenticeship plus experience and internal promotion. Gross pay depends on region, collective agreements, sector, shift allowances and leadership responsibility. As a guide, practising foremen in Germany in 2026 often earn about €3,400–€4,200 gross per month; in the preceding dual apprenticeship around €1,020–€1,360 is typical.
Salary by region (gross/month)
Guide figures as of 2026. The training column means the dual trade apprenticeship before promotion (e.g. industrial mechanic, warehouse logistics specialist, construction or craft trades); qualified means practising foremen. Actual pay depends on collective agreements, sector, shift and leadership allowances, employer, region and experience and is not a guarantee.
Further training options
Job and everyday work
A foreman combines skilled work with first-line leadership: the team must deliver, quality and safety must hold, and disruptions must be fixed quickly. The day shifts between work planning, instruction, quality checks and alignment with masters, planning or site management – often under deadline pressure when staff or materials are short.
- Prioritise work orders, assign people and machines or site areas, and reallocate when capacity is tight.
- Instruct and onboard staff, give feedback, and continuously check quality and progress.
- Spot disruptions, rework and material shortages, report them and resolve them with maintenance, stores or site management.
- Enforce occupational safety, operating instructions and standards; document accidents and near misses.
- Document shift handovers, output or construction progress and inspection records and report to supervisors.
- Act as interface to masters, planning, quality and neighbouring areas; mentor apprentices in day-to-day practice.
