Germany pay transparency 2026: thresholds and reporting

API The thresholds of the Pay Transparency Act and the EU directive as REST API, JSON and CSV, with the legal basis for every value.

Right to information, review procedure and reporting duty under the German Pay Transparency Act, plus the EU Directive 2023/970 requirements, clearly marked as not yet transposed.

Further headcount thresholds are under labour law thresholds.

Last checked against the sources on September 26, 2026. Next expected change: transposition act for Directive (EU) 2023/970 (deadline June 7, 2026, not yet promulgated).

REST /v1/hr/entgelttransparenzMCP hr_entgelttransparenzCLI qk entgelttransparenz

From which establishment size employees can request information on comparative pay, when employers should review and report on their pay structures and how often (EntgTranspG). Also the thresholds and dates of the EU Pay Transparency Directive (EU) 2023/970, which has not yet been transposed into German law and so does not yet apply directly to employers.

Valid on September 26, 2026

Individual right to information in establishments with more than: 200 employees
Report on equality and equal pay for employers with more than: 500 employees

Source: Pay Transparency Act (Entgelttransparenzgesetz, EntgTranspG); Directive (EU) 2023/970
License: Values from official works (§ 5 UrhG). Use of the compilation under the Quellenkontor terms of use.
Updates: when the law changes; transposition of the EU directive pending
Coverage: Germany, from July 6, 2017

A value doesn't match the official source? Report an error. We check against the primary source and document every correction in the changelog.

Related solutions: For HR software For AI agents and HR chatbots

api.quellenkontor.dev/v1/hr/entgelttransparenz?datum=2026-10-01

Zur API-Doku →

curl "https://api.quellenkontor.dev/v1/hr/entgelttransparenz?datum=2026-10-01" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $QK_KEY"

import { Quellenkontor } from "@quellenkontor/sdk";

const qk = new Quellenkontor(process.env.QK_KEY);
const daten = await qk.hr.entgelttransparenz({ datum: "2026-10-01" });

import os
from quellenkontor import Quellenkontor

qk = Quellenkontor(api_key=os.environ["QK_KEY"])
daten = qk.hr.entgelttransparenz(datum="2026-10-01")

$ qk entgelttransparenz --datum 2026-10-01

{
  "name": "hr_entgelttransparenz",
  "arguments": {
    "datum": "2026-10-01"
  }
}

This is how an agent calls the tool. Server setup is described in the MCP docs.

Antwort200 OK · JSON

{
  "datensatz": "entgelttransparenz",
  "datum": "2026-10-01",
  "vorlaeufig": false,
  "werte": {
    "auskunftsanspruch": 200,
    "auskunft_wiederholung": 2,
    "vergleichsgruppe_mindestens": 6,
    "pruefverfahren": 500,
    "bericht": 500,
    "berichtsturnus_tarif": 5,
    "berichtsturnus_sonstige": 3
  },
  "bestandteile": [
    {
      "id": "auskunftsanspruch",
      "name": "Individueller Auskunftsanspruch in Betrieben ab mehr als",
      "gruppe": "Entgelttransparenzgesetz",
      "art": "schwelle_mehr_als",
      "einheit": "beschaeftigte",
      "wert": 200,
      "gueltig_ab": "2017-07-06",
      "gueltig_bis": null,
      "rechtsgrundlage": "§ 12 Abs. 1 EntgTranspG",
      "quelle": {
        "titel": "Gesetz zur Förderung der Transparenz von Entgeltstrukturen vom 30. Juni 2017 (BGBl. I S. 2152)",
        "url": "https://www.bgbl.de/xaver/bgbl/start.xav?startbk=Bundesanzeiger_BGBl&jumpTo=bgbl117s2152.pdf"
      },
      "hinweis": "In der Regel mehr als 200 Beschäftigte bei demselben Arbeitgeber im Betrieb. Geltend machen erstmals sechs Kalendermonate nach dem 06.07.2017, also ab 06.01.2018 (§ 25 Abs. 1 EntgTranspG).",
      "naechster_wert": null,
      "status": "festgelegt",
      "erwartet": null,
      "letzter_wert": null
    },
    {
      "id": "auskunft_wiederholung",
      "name": "Erneute Auskunft frühestens nach",
      "gruppe": "Entgelttransparenzgesetz",
      "art": "frist",
      "einheit": "jahre",
      "wert": 2,
      "gueltig_ab": "2017-07-06",
      "gueltig_bis": null,
      "rechtsgrundlage": "§ 10 Abs. 2 Satz 2 EntgTranspG",
      "quelle": {
        "titel": "Gesetz zur Förderung der Transparenz von Entgeltstrukturen vom 30. Juni 2017 (BGBl. I S. 2152)",
        "url": "https://www.bgbl.de/xaver/bgbl/start.xav?startbk=Bundesanzeiger_BGBl&jumpTo=bgbl117s2152.pdf"
      },
      "hinweis": "Früher nur, wenn sich die Voraussetzungen wesentlich verändert haben. Wer erstmals innerhalb der ersten drei Kalenderjahre gefragt hat, konnte erst nach drei Kalenderjahren erneut fragen (§ 25 Abs. 1 Satz 2 EntgTranspG).",
      "naechster_wert": null,
      "status": "festgelegt",
      "erwartet": null,
      "letzter_wert": null
    }
  ],
  "hinweise": [
    "Bestandteile mit rl_ stammen aus der Richtlinie (EU) 2023/970. Sie ist nicht in deutsches Recht umgesetzt und gilt für Arbeitgeber erst mit einem deutschen Umsetzungsgesetz, auch wenn ihr Datum schon erreicht ist."
  ],
  "lizenz": "Werte aus amtlichen Werken (§ 5 UrhG). Nutzung der Zusammenstellung nach den Nutzungsbedingungen von Quellenkontor.",
  "stand": "2026-09-26",
  "zitat": "Entgelttransparenz am 01.10.2026: Individueller Auskunftsanspruch in Betrieben ab mehr als: 200 Beschäftigte; Bericht zur Gleichstellung und Entgeltgleichheit ab mehr als: 500 Beschäftigte. Rechtsgrundlage: § 12 Abs. 1 EntgTranspG. Quelle: Gesetz zur Förderung der Transparenz von Entgeltstrukturen vom 30. Juni 2017 (BGBl. I S. 2152), https://www.bgbl.de/xaver/bgbl/start.xav?startbk=Bundesanzeiger_BGBl&jumpTo=bgbl117s2152.pdf. Daten: Quellenkontor (quellenkontor.dev).",
  "datenstand": "2026-09-26.35"
}

Response shortened. All parameters and response fields are in the Pay transparency reference.

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Pay Transparency Act (Germany) 2026

As of September 26, 2026.

Legal citations stay in German, exactly as they appear in the official sources.

Component	Value	Type	Valid	Legal basis	Source
Individual right to information in establishments with more than	200 employees	schwelle mehr als	from July 6, 2017	§ 12 Abs. 1 EntgTranspG	Source
Repeat request no earlier than after	2 years	frist	from July 6, 2017	§ 10 Abs. 2 Satz 2 EntgTranspG	Source
Comparator pay is disclosed from a comparator group of	6	schwelle mindestens	from July 6, 2017	§ 12 Abs. 3 Satz 2 EntgTranspG	Source
In-house pay audit (recommended) for private employers with more than	500 employees	schwelle mehr als	from July 6, 2017	§ 17 Abs. 1 Satz 1 EntgTranspG	Source
Report on equality and equal pay for employers with more than	500 employees	schwelle mehr als	from July 6, 2017	§ 21 Abs. 1 EntgTranspG	Source
Reporting cycle for employers bound by or applying collective agreements	5 years	turnus	from July 6, 2017	§ 22 Abs. 1 EntgTranspG	Source
Reporting cycle for all other employers required to report	3 years	turnus	from July 6, 2017	§ 22 Abs. 2 EntgTranspG	Source

Pay transparency from June 7, 2027

Already promulgated, not yet in force.

Component	Value	Type	Valid	Legal basis	Source
Directive (EU) 2023/970, not transposed into German law: gender pay gap reporting for employers with at least	150 employees	schwelle mindestens	June 7, 2027 to June 6, 2031	Art. 9 Abs. 2 und 3 Richtlinie (EU) 2023/970 (nicht in deutsches Recht umgesetzt)	Source
Directive (EU) 2023/970, not transposed into German law: annual report for employers with at least	250 employees	schwelle mindestens	from June 7, 2027	Art. 9 Abs. 2 Richtlinie (EU) 2023/970 (nicht in deutsches Recht umgesetzt)	Source
Directive (EU) 2023/970, not transposed into German law: reporting cycle for employers with 100 to 249	3 years	turnus	from June 7, 2027	Art. 9 Abs. 3 und 4 Richtlinie (EU) 2023/970 (nicht in deutsches Recht umgesetzt)	Source
Directive (EU) 2023/970, not transposed into German law: joint pay assessment from a pay gap of	5%	schwelle mindestens	from June 7, 2027	Art. 10 Abs. 1 Richtlinie (EU) 2023/970 (nicht in deutsches Recht umgesetzt)	Source
Directive (EU) 2023/970, not transposed into German law: gender pay gap reporting for employers with at least	100 employees	schwelle mindestens	from June 7, 2031	Art. 9 Abs. 4 Richtlinie (EU) 2023/970 (nicht in deutsches Recht umgesetzt)	Source

Pay transparency since 2017

Every change to a component with its validity, newest first.

Component	Value	Type	Valid	Legal basis	Source
Directive (EU) 2023/970, not transposed into German law: gender pay gap reporting for employers with at least	100 employees	schwelle mindestens	from June 7, 2031	Art. 9 Abs. 4 Richtlinie (EU) 2023/970 (nicht in deutsches Recht umgesetzt)	Source
Directive (EU) 2023/970, not transposed into German law: gender pay gap reporting for employers with at least	150 employees	schwelle mindestens	June 7, 2027 to June 6, 2031	Art. 9 Abs. 2 und 3 Richtlinie (EU) 2023/970 (nicht in deutsches Recht umgesetzt)	Source
Directive (EU) 2023/970, not transposed into German law: annual report for employers with at least	250 employees	schwelle mindestens	from June 7, 2027	Art. 9 Abs. 2 Richtlinie (EU) 2023/970 (nicht in deutsches Recht umgesetzt)	Source
Directive (EU) 2023/970, not transposed into German law: reporting cycle for employers with 100 to 249	3 years	turnus	from June 7, 2027	Art. 9 Abs. 3 und 4 Richtlinie (EU) 2023/970 (nicht in deutsches Recht umgesetzt)	Source
Directive (EU) 2023/970, not transposed into German law: joint pay assessment from a pay gap of	5%	schwelle mindestens	from June 7, 2027	Art. 10 Abs. 1 Richtlinie (EU) 2023/970 (nicht in deutsches Recht umgesetzt)	Source
Individual right to information in establishments with more than	200 employees	schwelle mehr als	from July 6, 2017	§ 12 Abs. 1 EntgTranspG	Source
Repeat request no earlier than after	2 years	frist	from July 6, 2017	§ 10 Abs. 2 Satz 2 EntgTranspG	Source
Comparator pay is disclosed from a comparator group of	6	schwelle mindestens	from July 6, 2017	§ 12 Abs. 3 Satz 2 EntgTranspG	Source
In-house pay audit (recommended) for private employers with more than	500 employees	schwelle mehr als	from July 6, 2017	§ 17 Abs. 1 Satz 1 EntgTranspG	Source
Report on equality and equal pay for employers with more than	500 employees	schwelle mehr als	from July 6, 2017	§ 21 Abs. 1 EntgTranspG	Source
Reporting cycle for employers bound by or applying collective agreements	5 years	turnus	from July 6, 2017	§ 22 Abs. 1 EntgTranspG	Source
Reporting cycle for all other employers required to report	3 years	turnus	from July 6, 2017	§ 22 Abs. 2 EntgTranspG	Source

Rules from statutes and administrative guidance

The Pay Transparency Act has applied since 6 July 2017, and the thresholds listed here have not changed since (gesetze-im-internet.de: last amended by Art. 25 of the act of 5 July 2021, BGBl. I S. 3338).
Employees in establishments with more than 200 employees of the same employer as a rule can request in text form the average monthly gross pay of a comparable job and up to two pay components (§§ 10, 12 EntgTranspG).
Private employers with more than 500 employees as a rule are called upon to review their pay rules regularly with an in-house audit (§ 17 EntgTranspG).
Employers with more than 500 employees as a rule that must prepare a management report report on equality and equal pay: those bound by or applying collective agreements every five years, all others every three years (§§ 21, 22 EntgTranspG).
Directive (EU) 2023/970 had to be transposed by 7 June 2026 (Art. 34). By 26 September 2026 Germany has not promulgated a transposition act in the Federal Law Gazette; checked on recht.bund.de: BGBl. 2025 I Nos. 1 to 383 and BGBl. 2026 I Nos. 1 to 273 (No. 274 not yet published on 26 September 2026); the EntgTranspG was last amended by Art. 25 of the act of 5 July 2021, in force since 1 August 2022.
Under the directive, workers have a right to information on their pay level and the average pay of comparable groups regardless of company size, to be answered within two months (Art. 7 Directive (EU) 2023/970).
The directive requires gender pay gap reports: 250 or more workers by 7 June 2027 and annually thereafter, 150 or more by 7 June 2027 and every three years, 100 or more by 7 June 2031 and every three years (Art. 9 Directive (EU) 2023/970).
The directive allows member states to exempt employers with fewer than 50 workers from disclosing the criteria for pay progression (Art. 6(2) Directive (EU) 2023/970). The directive is addressed to the member states (Art. 37).
Components prefixed rl_ come from the directive, not from German law; they bind employers in Germany only once the transposition act is in force.

The API returns these statements in the regeln field, so software and agents can display them.

As JSON and CSV

Every request returns JSON. The history since 2015 is also available as a CSV file with format=csv, and with trennzeichen=semikolon it fits Excel with German regional settings. More in Responses and CSV.

Terminal

curl "https://api.quellenkontor.dev/v1/hr/entgelttransparenz/verlauf?format=csv&trennzeichen=semikolon" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $QK_KEY" -o entgelttransparenz.csv

Parameters

Parameters	Type	Meaning
`datum`date	date	Effective date in the format YYYY-MM-DD. Defaults to today.
`bestandteil`text	text	Return and cite only this component, for example for a single question (optional). Allowed values are the component ids.

All response fields with types, allowed values, defaults and error cases are in the Pay transparency reference.

Questions about this dataset

From how many employees does the German Pay Transparency Act apply?

Employees in establishments with more than 200 employees at the same employer have a right to information (§ 12 Abs. 1 EntgTranspG). Private employers with more than 500 employees are asked to review their pay structures and, if they must publish a management report, to report (§§ 17, 21 EntgTranspG).

Does the EU Pay Transparency Directive already apply in Germany?

No. Directive (EU) 2023/970 should have been transposed by June 7, 2026; no German transposition act has been promulgated so far. Until then, the rules of the Pay Transparency Act apply to employers.

How often is the dataset updated?

When the law changes; transposition of the EU directive pending. We check the data against the official sources every week, and every change is logged in the changelog. On the Pro plan, a webhook notifies your server.

Germany pay transparency 2026: thresholds and reporting

Pay Transparency Act (Germany) 2026

Pay transparency from June 7, 2027

Pay transparency since 2017

Rules from statutes and administrative guidance

As JSON and CSV

Parameters

Questions about this dataset

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