How German gross-to-net works
German employees never see most of their deductions: the employer calculates them, withholds them from your gross salary and pays them to the tax office and insurers. Two things come off: wage tax (income tax, plus the solidarity surcharge for higher incomes and church tax if you are a member) and four social insurance contributions for pension, unemployment, health and long-term care. What remains is your net pay.
Income tax is progressive. The first 12,348 euros of taxable income per year are tax-free in 2026 (the basic allowance), after that the rate climbs from 14% to 42%, with 45% on very high incomes. Because allowances and contributions are deducted first, your effective tax rate is well below your top rate.
Your tax class matters, but only monthly
Your tax class sets how much wage tax is withheld each month. Single people are in class 1. Married couples choose between 3 and 5 (a big gap between the two incomes), or 4 and 4. The class does not change how much tax you owe for the year; the annual tax return settles the difference. See the tax classes explained for examples with real numbers.
Frequently asked questions
How much of my salary do I keep in Germany?
It depends on your tax class, state, church tax and health insurance, but employees keep roughly 55 to 70 percent of their gross pay, with the share falling as income rises. Deductions are income tax, the solidarity surcharge for higher earners, optional church tax and four social insurance contributions.
What are the social contributions in Germany in 2026?
The employee share is 9.3% for pension insurance, 1.3% for unemployment insurance, 7.3% plus half of the health fund's additional contribution (about 1.45% on average) for health insurance, and 1.8% for long-term care insurance (higher for childless people over 23). Pension and unemployment contributions stop at 8,450 euros of monthly income, health and care at 5,812.50 euros.
What is a tax class (Steuerklasse)?
The tax class decides how much income tax your employer withholds each month. Class 1 is for single people, class 3, 4 and 5 for married couples, class 2 for single parents and class 6 for a second job. The class only changes the monthly prepayment; the tax return settles the real amount for the year.
Do I pay church tax?
Only if you are registered as a member of a church that collects church tax, such as the Catholic or Protestant church. It adds 8% of your income tax in Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg and 9% in the other states.
Is this calculator exact?
It follows the official 2026 wage tax method and uses the average health insurance additional contribution unless you change it. Your payslip can differ because of allowances, benefits in kind, private health insurance, bonuses or employer-specific items. Treat the result as a close estimate.
See net pay for common salaries
Browse the gross to net salary table for annual salaries from 30,000 to 150,000 euros, or read how we calculate on the methodology page (German). Prefer German? Brutto-Netto-Rechner.