German Phrase
Was willst du verdienen?
Meaning
Literally, “What do you want to earn?” It is used when asking someone about the amount of money they hope to make, usually in a job‑search or salary‑negotiation context.
When to use
Use this informal question with friends, classmates, or colleagues you know well. In a formal interview you would switch to the polite 'Sie' form or use a softer construction like 'Wie viel möchten Sie verdienen?'.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Waswillstduverdienen?
Was (interrogative pronoun)
Used to ask about something unknown; here it asks for the amount or type of earnings.
willst (2nd person singular of wollen)
Expresses a desire or intention; conjugated as 'willst' for 'du'.
du (personal pronoun)
Informal singular 'you', placed after the verb in questions with inversion.
verdienen (infinitive)
Means 'to earn' (money, salary, reward). In this construction it stays in the infinitive after 'willst'.
Word order – verb‑second in questions
In German yes‑no and wh‑questions the finite verb comes right after the interrogative word, then the subject.
🗨In Conversation
Was willst du verdienen?
What do you want to earn?
Ich strebe etwa 45 000 Euro im Jahr an.
I'm aiming for about 45,000 euros a year.
✕Common Mistakes
Willst du verdienen?
Missing the interrogative 'Was' makes the sentence incomplete; you need to ask *what* you want to earn.
Verdienst du willst?
Word order is wrong; the finite verb must follow the interrogative word, not the infinitive.
Was willst du verdienst?
Do not conjugate the infinitive after 'willst'; keep 'verdienen' in its base form.
↔Alternatives
Wie viel möchtest du verdienen?
How much would you like to earn?
Was für ein Gehalt strebst du an?
What salary are you aiming for?
Wie hoch soll dein Verdienst sein?
How high should your earnings be?
Cultural Tip
Discussing salary openly is more common in Germany than in some other cultures, but it is still considered a private matter in many workplaces. When you’re not sure about the level of formality, switch to the polite 'Sie' form (e.g., 'Was möchten Sie verdienen?') or phrase the question more indirectly, such as 'Welche Gehaltsvorstellungen haben Sie?'.