Dietmar Woidke earns highest salary among German state premiers

In Germany, the salaries of state premiers (Ministerpräsidenten) are determined by each individual federal state. As civil servants, these leaders are placed in the highest pay grades, typically B10 or B11, and receive additional percentage supplements and expense allowances paid by taxpayers.

Dietmar Woidke, the Minister-President of Brandenburg, currently earns the highest salary among all German state premiers. Following a decision by the Brandenburg state parliament to increase pay scales retroactively to January 2026, Woidke's gross monthly salary will reach nearly 22,000 euros. This is due to the state's specific regulation of B11 plus a nine percent supplement.