Senior consultant salary: What does a senior consultant earn in Germany?

According to a study, the average annual salary for senior consultants is between € 137,800 and € 168,800, with an average of around € 153,800. This corresponds to monthly earnings of around €12,817 or an hourly wage of around €80. Most vacancies for senior consultants can currently be found in Berlin, Hamburg and Munich.

Duties and responsibilities of a senior consultant

As a senior consultant, you will play a key role in patient care and in the management of your department. Your tasks not only include medical treatment, but also the management and coordination of the medical team. With your expertise as a medical specialist and your leadership skills, you will be responsible for managing a clinical area and ensuring high-quality patient care.

In this responsible position, you will be the first deputy to the head physician. During his/her absence, you will assume responsibility for the entire clinic as a senior consultant. Your management tasks will include controlling, quality management and budgeting. In addition, you will actively shape the further development of the department by working to improve medical equipment and recruit qualified specialist staff.

In addition to your administrative and organisational duties, as a senior consultant you will of course also remain clinically active. You will treat patients, perform operations and look after complex cases. You will support your medical team as an experienced mentor and assist with the specialist training of junior staff. Regular ward rounds, case discussions and further training are just as much a part of your daily routine as interdisciplinary collaboration with other specialities.

In your role as a senior consultant, you play a key role in ensuring the best possible quality of care for patients. Your decisions have a direct influence on the processes and success of the department. Through your commitment, leadership and medical expertise, you will master the diverse challenges of this demanding senior physician position and play a decisive role in shaping the future of your clinic.

Salary of a senior consultant

As a senior consultant, you can expect an attractive salary that is significantly higher than the average salary for medical specialists. However, your exact income depends on various factors, such as your employer's collective agreement, your professional experience and the region in which you work.

Collective agreement commitment and classification

In principle, the collective agreement classification is decisive for the salary of senior physicians. In municipal hospitals, the TV-Ärzte VKA collective agreement often applies, while university hospitals pay according to the TV-Ärzte TdL collective agreement. Private hospital operators also have their own collective agreements. Different salaries are possible depending on the collective agreement and professional experience.

Starting salary and development within collective agreements

Promotion to a managerial position is associated with a significant salary increase. While the starting salary for senior physicians is €8,742 according to the collective labour agreement (TV-Ärzte TdL) (university hospitals) or €8,776 (V-Ärzte VKA) (municipal hospitals), as a senior physician you can expect a gross salary of over €10,000 in your first year. Your earnings will continue to rise with increasing professional experience. After several years in the position, annual salaries of €130,000 and more are achievable.

In private clinics, even higher non-tariff salaries of up to €10,600 are possible in some cases. Regional differences can also influence the salary.

Senior consultant salary: influencing factors and comparison

As a senior consultant, you have the opportunity to influence your salary through various factors. In addition to your professional experience and specialisation, the type of clinic and the region in which you work also play a decisive role. Below you can find out more about the salary differences between private and public clinics, regional differences and the influence of professional experience and specialisation on your income.

Salaries in private and public clinics

The salary of senior consultants varies depending on the employer. You generally earn more in private clinics than in public institutions. A look at the starting salaries shows the following differences:

Senior consultant salary: regional salary differences

The region in which you work as a senior consultant also influences your salary. You tend to earn more in the old federal states than in the new federal states. Salaries are particularly high in Baden-Württemberg, while the lowest average salaries can be found in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania:

• Baden-Württemberg: average €12,026 gross/month
• Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: average € 9,874 gross/month

Impact of professional experience and specialisation

As your professional experience increases, so does your average salary as a senior consultant. The collective agreement stipulates that you earn more with each year. The starting salary is around 93,000 euros per year and can be up to 106,000 euros at the highest level of experience.

Your specialisation also influences your income. Surgeons earn an average of €148,000 gross per year, followed by senior physicians specialising in internal medicine with an average gross annual income of €142,000.

Salary increase opportunities for senior consultants

As a senior consultant, you have various opportunities to increase your salary. One option is to continuously expand your professional experience and specialisation. As your expertise and responsibility in clinical management increases, so do your earnings. Get involved in research projects, publish specialist articles and regularly take part in further training to expand your qualifications.

Another way to increase your salary is to move to another management position at a larger clinic or a renowned hospital. University hospitals and facilities in economically strong regions often pay higher salaries. Taking on additional responsibilities, such as heading a department or participating in specialist committees, can also have a positive effect on your income.

As a senior consultant, you can also supplement your salary with part-time work. Working as an honorary doctor enables flexible assignments in other clinics and offers attractive hourly wages. Conducting expert reports, supervising studies or working as a lecturer at universities or in further education and training also open up additional earning opportunities.

Ultimately, your individual qualifications, negotiating skills and willingness to take on new challenges are decisive for your salary development as a senior consultant. Through strategic career planning and continuous development of your skills in medical management, you can increase your income in a targeted manner and realise your professional goals.