Collectively agreed wages (Tariflohn) in commercial cleaning 2026 — all wage groups & the trend since 2019.
On January 1, 2026, the industry minimum wage in commercial cleaning rose to €15.00 per hour for wage group 1 (Lohngruppe 1) — up 42% since 2019. Below, you’ll find the complete wage table for every wage group, charts of the historical trend, and a comparison with the statutory minimum wage (Mindestlohn) — up to date and reliable.
Prefer to listen? In episode 1 of our German-language podcast Sauber kalkuliert, Jonathan Ruiz explains how these wage rates are set and what the phantom wage trap (Phantomlohnfalle) means for employers: Collectively agreed wages and the phantom wage trap, 22 minutes.
All wage groups at a glance (effective January 1, 2026)
Since January 1, 2026, new collectively agreed wages have been in effect in the building-cleaning trade (Gebäudereiniger-Handwerk). The collective agreement was negotiated between the employers’ federation BIV (Bundesinnungsverband des Gebäudereiniger-Handwerks) and the trade union IG BAU (Industriegewerkschaft Bauen-Agrar-Umwelt). The minimum wages for wage groups 1 and 6 are generally binding (allgemeinverbindlich) — they apply to every company in the industry, whether or not it belongs to the employers’ federation.
All hourly wages come from the official collective wage agreement (Lohntarifvertrag) dated November 15, 2024 (§ 3) and have been in effect since January 1, 2026. Wage group 5 was abolished in 2011 — which is why the numbering jumps from 4 to 6.
The two steps of the current bargaining round
The current collective agreement runs from January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2026, and provides for a two-step increase:
| Wage group | Through Dec. 2024 | From Jan. 2025 | From Jan. 2026 | Total increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 (janitorial cleaning) | €13.50 | €14.25 | €15.00 | +11.1% |
| Group 2 | – | €14.71 | €15.46 | +5.1%* |
| Group 3 | – | €15.20 | €15.95 | +4.9%* |
| Group 4 | – | €15.91 | €16.66 | +4.7%* |
| Group 5 | abolished in 2011 | |||
| Group 6 (glass/facade cleaning) | €16.70 | €17.65 | €18.40 | +10.2% |
| Group 7 | – | €18.64 | €19.39 | +4.0%* |
| Group 8 (crew leader) | – | €19.67 | €20.42 | +3.8%* |
| Group 9 (site manager) | – | €20.89 | €21.64 | +3.6%* |
* Wage groups 2–4 and 7–9: increase from January 2025 to January 2026 — the current collective wage agreement does not list the wages that applied through December 2024. Source: collective wage agreement for commercial cleaning dated November 15, 2024, § 3.
From €10.56 to €15.00 — the rise of wage group 1.
The industry minimum wage in commercial cleaning (wage group 1) has risen steadily — with a notable jump in October 2022, when the statutory minimum wage rose to €12 and the industry had to follow suit.
Industry minimum wage vs. statutory minimum wage
The industry minimum wage in commercial cleaning has always been higher than the statutory minimum wage — in 2026, the gap is €1.10 per hour.
| Effective | Group 1 | Group 6 | Statutory min. wage | Gap (group 1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 2019 | €10.56 | €13.82 | €9.19 | +€1.37 |
| Jan. 2020 | €10.80 | €14.10 | €9.35 | +€1.45 |
| Dec. 2020 | €11.11* | €14.10* | €9.35 | +€1.76 |
| Jan. 2022 | €11.55 | €14.81 | €9.82 | +€1.73 |
| Oct. 2022 | €13.00 | €16.20 | €12.00 | +€1.00 |
| Jan. 2024 | €13.50 | €16.70 | €12.41 | +€1.09 |
| Jan. 2025 | €14.25 | €17.65 | €12.82 | +€1.43 |
| Jan. 2026 | €15.00 | €18.40 | €13.90 | +€1.10 |
* Uniform nationwide since Dec. 2020 (East–West alignment). Before that, lower wages applied in eastern Germany.
What do the wage groups mean?
An employee’s wage group depends on the work they actually do — not on the job title in their employment contract. Anyone who regularly cleans glass belongs in wage group 6, even if their contract says “cleaner” (Reinigungskraft).
| Group | Type of work | €/hour (2026) | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Interior & janitorial cleaning | €15.00 | Office cleaning, restrooms |
| 2 | Machine-assisted interior cleaning | €15.46 | Scrubber-dryers, single-disc floor machines |
| 3 | Exterior cleaning & paved areas | €15.95 | Outdoor grounds, parking lots, snow and ice removal |
| 4 | Disinfection & hygiene | €16.66 | Disinfection, pest control |
| 5 | abolished in 2011 | – | – |
| 6 | Glass & facade cleaning | €18.40 | Window cleaning, facades, aerial lifts |
| 7 | Glass & facade cleaning with special qualifications | €19.39 | Work at height, rope access |
| 8 | Crew leader | €20.42 | On-site team leadership |
| 9 | Site manager | €21.64 | Site responsibility, staff scheduling |
Watch out for phantom wages (Phantomlohn): If an employee is placed in the wrong wage group (e.g., wage group 1 instead of wage group 3), the social insurance agencies can demand back contributions based on the correct, higher wage — even if that wage was never actually paid.
What does “generally binding” mean?
The minimum wages for wage groups 1 and 6 were declared generally binding by an ordinance issued by the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (the tenth ordinance on working conditions in commercial cleaning, or 10. GebäudeArbbV, published on January 28, 2025). In practice, this means:
The minimum wages apply to every commercial cleaning company — whether or not it is a member of the BIV.
They also apply to companies based outside Germany that post workers to Germany.
No company may pay its cleaners less than these minimum wages.
The current ordinance is in effect from February 1, 2025, through December 31, 2026.
What the 2026 wage rates mean in practice
For minijob workers
In 2026, the minijob earnings limit (Minijob-Grenze) rose to €603 per month (the limit is tied to the statutory minimum wage and rises with it). For cleaners earning the industry minimum wage of €15.00 per hour, that means:
Maximum hours in a minijob: about 9.25 hours per week (without IG BAU membership)
With IG BAU membership at a guild-member company (Innungsbetrieb): about 9 hours per week (because of the additional vacation pay)
The full prorated paid vacation entitlement (Urlaubsanspruch) applies to minijobs, too — calculate yours here →
For clients
Rising collectively agreed wages have a direct impact on the price of cleaning services. In commercial cleaning, labor costs account for roughly 75–80% of total costs. When the industry minimum wage rises by more than 11% in two years, reputable cleaning companies have to adjust their prices accordingly.
What Ruiz Gebäudereinigung does differently: We pay our cleaners above the collectively agreed wage — starting at €16.00 per hour, which is more than the current industry minimum wage for wage group 1. We also offer performance bonuses, onboarding, and professional equipment. Fair pay = motivated teams = better cleaning for our clients. Current job openings →
The current collective agreement runs until December 31, 2026. New negotiations for 2027 are coming up. IG BAU has already signaled that a possible bonus for union members and stabilizing real wages will be key issues. So far, the union has not been able to secure 13th-month pay.
At the same time, the statutory minimum wage will rise to €14.60 on January 1, 2027. That narrows the gap to the industry minimum wage (currently €1.10) once again — adding pressure on both sides at the bargaining table.
Frequently asked questions about collectively agreed wages
The five key answers — concise and reliable.
As the employer of more than 20 cleaners, Jonathan Ruiz pays above the collectively agreed wage — starting at €16.00 per hour, plus performance bonuses and onboarding. More about Ruiz →
Sources: collective wage agreement for commercial cleaning dated November 15, 2024 (BIV/IG BAU) · tenth ordinance on working conditions in commercial cleaning (10. GebäudeArbbV, BGBl. 2025 I Nr. 22) · Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (BMAS). Responsible for this content: Ruiz Büroreinigung Hamburg, Carl-Petersen-Straße 92b, 20535 Hamburg.
What is the collectively agreed wage in commercial cleaning in 2026?
Since January 1, 2026, the rate has been €15.00 per hour for wage group 1 (janitorial cleaning) and €18.40 per hour for wage group 6 (glass/facade cleaning). Both rates are generally binding and apply to every company.
Is the industry minimum wage higher than the statutory minimum wage?
Yes. The industry minimum wage for wage group 1 (€15.00) is €1.10 above the statutory minimum wage (€13.90 as of 2026). The gap varies — it was only €1.00 in October 2022.
What does “generally binding” mean?
A declaration that wages are generally binding (Allgemeinverbindlicherklärung) means that the minimum wages for wage groups 1 and 6 apply to every commercial cleaning company — whether or not it is a member of the employers’ federation BIV. No company may pay less.
How are cleaners assigned to wage groups?
Classification depends on the work actually performed, not on the job title. Anyone who regularly cleans glass surfaces belongs in wage group 6 — even if their contract says “cleaner.” Misclassification can lead to back payments on so-called phantom wages (Phantomlohn).
What happens when the current collective agreement ends?
The current collective agreement runs until December 31, 2026. New negotiations for 2027 are coming up. The statutory minimum wage will rise to €14.60 — so the pressure for higher industry minimum wages will continue.
Cleaners in Hamburg — we’re hiring.
Ruiz pays above the collectively agreed wage — starting at €16.00 per hour. Flexible short shifts, a regular site, permanent employment. Apply in 60 seconds — no cover letter needed.
Ruiz Büroreinigung Hamburg · Carl-Petersen-Straße 92b, 20535 Hamburg · Mon–Sat, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.