Why are the 2 different Blue Card Salary levels?

Blue Card applicants will have observed that there are 2 different salary levels, a lower salary level and one ca. 10 % on top of this. What is the difference and what are the impacts?

The two Blue Card salary levels define a different way of access to the German labor market.

While employees only meeting the lower salary level

• Are limited to only carry out jobs in areas with high demand (currently IT- and other engineers, doctors etc. with the relevant qualification) and while these employees
• are also obliged to process and employment marked check (including the check if the salary is in the normal ranges)
• are resticted form working as temporary employees.

Employees meeting the higher salary level

• are not limited to a specific type of work and
• are also exempted from processing an employment marked check
• can work as temporary employees (AUG).