How much does an inclusion companion earn?
Inclusion companions support people with disabilities or special support needs in participating at school, daycare, training, work and leisure – from orientation and communication to practical everyday help and social inclusion. Entry is often via a provider qualification, relevant experience or related training (e.g. social assistance, special needs care); there is no nationwide dual apprenticeship. Gross pay depends on region, provider, collective agreement (e.g. TVöD/AVR), qualifications, hours and the support decision. As a guide, working inclusion companions in Germany in 2026 often earn about €2,600–€3,200 gross per month on a comparable full-time basis; in qualification and entry phases around €840–€1,140 is typical.
Salary by region (gross/month)
Guide figures as of 2026 for typical dependent employment or comparable full-time equivalents. Many inclusion companions work school-year-related, project-based or part-time; the training column refers to qualifications, internships, entry phases or related training pay (e.g. social assistance). Actual pay depends on provider, collective agreement, region, qualifications, hours and individual support funding and is not a guarantee.
Further training options
Job and everyday work
Inclusion companions work closely with the person they support: they enable participation at school, daycare, training, work or leisure, accompany transitions and coordinate with professionals, relatives and the provider. Everyday work calls for empathy, clear boundaries, observation skills and reliability – often across changing settings and shifting support needs.
- Individually accompany people with disabilities or special support needs – at school, daycare, training, work or leisure.
- Support orientation, communication, organisation and social situations; always aligned with support goals and professionals.
- Where needed, help with care, mobility, meals or toileting; maintain professional closeness and distance.
- Document observations, hand over information and work closely with school, workplace, relatives, providers and therapists.
- Apply de-escalation, conflict support and resource-oriented participation in group and everyday contexts.
- Provide reliable presence according to schedule, join outings and cover situations, and uphold data protection and the duty of care.
