The presented results derive from a project which focuses on the competition between vocational and higher education. Within the project qualification and skill utilization of the respective educational programmes shall be evaluated with regard to occupational status and positions as well as income. The research concept contains curricula and vacancies analyses, case studies and a quantitative survey. The theoretical background is formed by the signaling and screening approach as well as the segmentation theory. This paper analyses data from the qualification and career survey of 2011/2012 and focuses on employees’ income. From an individual perspective the monetary outcomes of persons with equivalent qualifications are compared. Equivalence of qualifications refers to the German National Qualification Framework (GQF). To find comparable occupational positions the national classification of occupations which includes information on qualificational requirements is used. The results are compared with respective data from Canada.