TV-L or TVöD: where do you earn more?
Anyone looking for a public sector job in Germany soon comes across two abbreviations: TVöD and TV-L. The positions often look similar, for example a caseworker job with a city and one with a federal state. But they are paid according to different tables. This article compares the agreements and shows how big the difference is in your pocket.
Who is covered by which agreement
The TVöD covers employees of the federal government and of municipalities. Cities, municipalities and districts apply the TVöD VKA, federal authorities the TVöD Federal. The TV-L applies to the federal states, for example state ministries, tax offices, universities, university hospitals and salaried teachers. Hesse is not a member of the states' bargaining association and has its own state agreement.
The tables compared
Structure and logic are the same: pay groups 1 to 15, six steps, identical step durations. The amounts differ, however. Here is a comparison of the TVöD VKA (valid from 1 May 2026) with the TV-L (valid from 1 April 2026), gross per month for full-time work:
| Pay group | TVöD VKA | TV-L | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| E 5, step 3 | €3,449.05 | €3,430.99 | €18.06 |
| E 9b, step 3 | €4,203.56 | €4,035.07 | €168.49 |
| E 11, step 3 | €5,046.03 | €4,748.43 | €297.60 |
| E 13, step 5 | €6,727.38 | €6,573.97 | €153.41 |
| E 15, step 6 | €8,204.11 | €7,854.52 | €349.59 |
In the lower groups the gap is small; in the middle and upper groups it is often €150 to €350 a month. In addition, the TV-L has no pay group 9c, and E 9a and E 9b are equal there in the first two steps. The TVöD Federal matches the TVöD VKA in most groups but differs in E 1 and E 9a to 9c.
The big difference: the annual bonus
The gap becomes even clearer with the annual bonus. Since 2026 municipalities pay a uniform 85% of one month's pay. In the TV-L the rates are staggered and low in the upper groups: 74.35% in E 9a to 11, 46.47% in E 12 and 13 and only 32.53% in E 14 and 15.
An example for E 13, step 5: under the TVöD VKA the annual bonus is €5,718.27, under the TV-L €3,054.92. Together with the higher monthly amounts, the TVöD VKA reaches €86,446.83 annual gross here, the TV-L €81,942.56. That is a difference of just over €4,500 a year.
In E 9b, step 3, the TVöD VKA with €54,015.75 annual gross is about €2,595 ahead of the TV-L with €51,420.91. In tax class I about €2,735 per month is left net under the TVöD VKA and about €2,644 under the TV-L.
Terms and next pay rises
The agreements run for different periods. The TVöD for federal and municipal employees runs until 31 March 2027, after which new negotiations start. The TV-L has a minimum term until 31 January 2028 and already includes agreed rises: a further 2.0% on 1 March 2027 and 1.0% on 1 January 2028. How the gap develops therefore depends on the outcome of the next TVöD round.
Other differences
The agreements also differ on promotion. Under the TVöD you keep your step; under the TV-L you are placed in the step where you receive at least your previous pay and get a guaranteed amount of €100 or €180 if the increase is small. There are also differences in allowances, working hours and special tables that this comparison does not cover.
Conclusion
For comparable work, the TVöD pays more than the TV-L in almost every pay group, in the upper groups mainly because of the annual bonus. If you are choosing between two offers, calculate both. In the public sector salary calculator you can switch between TVöD VKA, TVöD Federal and TV-L with one click. Read more about the basics in the guide to TVöD and TV-L pay 2026.