Know what a German job offer is really worth
Turn gross salary into estimated take-home pay, understand the deductions, then compare your budget across German cities. Updated for 2026 tax rates.
Start with the number in your job offer. No account, email or payment required.
Official tax inputs
Built around the German finance ministry's 2026 payroll program and federal contribution limits.
Tested calculations
Common salaries and household scenarios are checked against published DATEV examples.
Transparent estimates
Salary baselines and rents are clearly labelled, with sources and limitations on the methodology page.
Compare budgets by city
Explore typical rent context for 20 cities. Salary guides use a national baseline; city pages do not pretend it is a local salary survey.
Berlin
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Munich
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Hamburg
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Frankfurt
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Cologne
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Stuttgart
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Düsseldorf
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Dortmund
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Essen
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Leipzig
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Dresden
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Nuremberg
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Hanover
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Bremen
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Mannheim
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Freiburg
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Augsburg
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Wiesbaden
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Bonn
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Karlsruhe
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German salary guides by job
Start from a transparent national gross baseline, compare take-home scenarios and replace it with your actual offer.
What gets deducted from your German salary?
Income tax
Einkommensteuer
Progressive tax from 14% to 45% based on taxable income. Your Steuerklasse significantly affects this.
Health insurance
Krankenversicherung
Statutory health insurance (GKV) split between you and your employer. 14.6% base plus the insurer add-on rate.
Pension
Rentenversicherung
18.6% total, split equally. Your half funds the state pension system.
Unemployment
Arbeitslosenversicherung
2.6% total, split equally. Provides unemployment benefits (ALG I).
Care insurance
Pflegeversicherung
Covers long-term care. Higher rate (0.6% extra) if you have no children.
Solidarity surcharge
Solidaritätszuschlag
5.5% of income tax, only for higher earners (above ~€18k income tax annually).
Common questions about German salaries
How do I read my German payslip?
Your payslip (Gehaltsabrechnung) shows gross pay (Bruttogehalt) at the top. Below that are the deductions split into taxes (Steuern) and social security (Sozialabgaben). The bottom line is net pay (Nettogehalt) — the amount transferred to your account.
What is Steuerklasse and which one should I pick?
Steuerklasse (tax class) determines how much income tax is withheld monthly. Single expats typically start in Class I. Married couples choose between Class III/V (higher vs lower earner) or Class IV/IV (equal split). Class II applies to single parents.
What is the difference between GKV and PKV?
GKV (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung) is statutory health insurance, mandatory for employees earning below ~€73,800/year. PKV (private Krankenversicherung) is private health insurance, available by choice above that threshold. GKV premiums scale with income; PKV premiums are based on age and health.
How much is the average net salary in Germany in 2026?
There is no single trustworthy 2026 net average: official wage statistics arrive later, while net pay depends on tax class, insurance and family circumstances. Use a published gross figure for your role—or your actual offer—and calculate your own scenario here.
How accurate is this calculator?
Our calculator follows the official 2026 Lohnsteuer PAP (Programmablaufplan) published by the German Federal Ministry of Finance, including correct Beitragsbemessungsgrenzen for pension (€101,400/yr) and health insurance (€69,750/yr). It handles all six Steuerklassen, Kinderfreibeträge, GKV Zusatzbeiträge and PKV premiums.
Is there a free PDF I can download?
Yes. After calculating your salary, click 'See full salary result'. The results page has a free PDF download button that produces a printable breakdown — no account or payment needed.