Sparkassen managers lead German public sector compensation

A study by Zeppelin University Friedrichshafen, titled ‘Public Pay Study 2026’, reveals that top managers at German Sparkassen (savings banks) are the highest earners among public sector companies. In 2024, Sparkassen executives received an average total compensation of 439,000 euros, significantly higher than the median compensation of 186,000 euros for managers across all public sectors.

The study notes that Sparkassen compensation grew by a median of 5.3 percent, outpacing the 4.1 percent increase seen in other public enterprises. Other high-earning sectors include airports and seaports (342,000 euros) and hospitals (286,000 euros), while education and social services report the lowest average executive pay.

Professor Ulf Papenfuß, a co-author of the study, highlighted that Sparkassen compensation is “strikingly high” when compared to other public entities like municipal utilities or energy providers. The German Savings Banks and Giro Association (DSGV) has defended these compensation levels.