Salary & contract
Additional pay (actual salary)
Also: Current salary · Willingness to pay above average
Additional pay is the part of the salary that exceeds the minimum wage in the collective agreement (Kollektivvertrag). The actual salary (Ist-Gehalt) consists of the collective agreement minimum plus additional pay and is the main focus of negotiation.
Key Points
- Actual salary = collective agreement minimum + additional pay.
- Additional pay is determined by qualifications, experience, responsibility, and market conditions.
- The job ad phrase “additional pay depending on qualifications” indicates room for negotiation.
- Willingness to pay extra is the amount a company is prepared to pay over the collective agreement.
- Once agreed, additional pay is not automatically absorbed by collective agreement increases – interpretation depends on the contract.
What does additional pay mean in the Austrian salary system?
In Austria, the collective agreement sets a minimum salary for each employment group, which cannot be undercut. Almost all employment relationships are covered by a collective agreement. Payments beyond this minimum are considered additional pay. Therefore, the actual gross salary is the actual salary, as opposed to the collective agreement minimum.
- Collective agreement minimum: the binding industry-wide lower limit per classification.
- Additional pay: the freely negotiable premium above that.
- Actual salary: the sum of both – what arrives in the account (gross).
How do you negotiate additional pay?
Since the collective agreement minimum is fixed, the real salary negotiation is about the additional pay. Those who know the collective agreement value for their employment group negotiate informed decisions and argue with concrete benefits – qualifications, relevant experience, responsibility, or in-demand special skills.
Determine collective agreement value
Identify employment group and years of service, and look up the corresponding collective agreement minimum salary.
Assess market value
Research typical actual salaries for the role in the region to target a realistic additional pay.
Demonstrate added value
Justify additional pay with specific, job-related arguments rather than personal needs.
What does additional pay indicate in a job ad?
The requirement to specify a salary means every ad must mention at least the collective agreement minimum. The added information about willingness to pay extra is optional but significant: it shows there is room for negotiation above the minimum.
Low signal
“Collective agreement minimum salary EUR 3,000 gross/month.” – correct, but with no indication of upward flexibility.
Clear signal
“Collective agreement minimum salary EUR 3,000 gross/month, additional pay depending on qualifications and experience.” – invites negotiation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is additional pay the same as gross salary?
- Not exactly. Additional pay is only the portion above the collective agreement minimum. The gross salary (actual salary) is the sum of the collective agreement minimum and additional pay.
- Is additional pay counted in collective agreement increases?
- It depends on the employment contract. Some contracts apply a collective agreement increase to the additional pay (absorption), while others increase the actual salary accordingly. When in doubt, check the contract clause or consult the Chamber of Labor (Arbeiterkammer).
Note: This entry provides an overview to the best of our knowledge (as of: July 2026) and does not replace legal advice. Binding information is provided by the Chamber of Labour and the relevant trade union.