Gross vs net salary in Germany: what you actually take home

German job offers always quote gross salary per year. What reaches your bank account each month is quite a bit lower. Right now 15% of the jobs on this site show a salary — here is how to read it.

What gets deducted

Deduction	Who pays	Roughly
Income tax (Lohnsteuer)	you	progressive: 0% up to the basic allowance, rising to 42% (45% for very high incomes)
Pension insurance	split with employer	about 9% of gross for you
Health insurance	split with employer	about 8–9% for you, depending on your insurer
Long-term care insurance	split with employer	about 1.8% for you; a surcharge applies if you are over 23 and have no children
Unemployment insurance	split with employer	about 1.3% for you
Church tax	only church members	8–9% of your income tax

Social security together takes around 20–21% of gross from you, up to yearly contribution ceilings. Above the ceilings the percentage falls, which is why net pay rises faster for high salaries.

Tax classes (Steuerklassen)

• Class I — single. This is where most people start.
• Class III / V — married couples with very different incomes can split this way.
• Class IV — married couples with similar incomes.
• Class VI — a second job.

Your tax class only changes the monthly withholding. The final tax is settled when you file your yearly tax return, and many employees get money back.

A rule of thumb

For a single person in tax class I, not a church member, with a salary between €50,000 and €70,000, net pay is usually around 60–65% of gross. For a real number, use the official calculator from the Federal Ministry of Finance (link below) — it takes two minutes.

Comparing two offers

1. Compare net, not gross, if the offers are in different countries.
2. Count everything: 13th salary, bonus, pension contribution, public transport ticket, meal vouchers.
3. Remember the Blue Card thresholds apply to gross salary — see EU Blue Card 2026.

Don't register as a church member by accident

When you register your address, the form asks for your religion. If you write a church that collects church tax (Catholic, Protestant and a few others), you will pay it. Leave it empty if you aren't a member.