German Income & Salary Calculator
Estimate German gross-to-net salary, wage-tax withholding and employee social-insurance deductions by tax class and federal state.
Your estimate
Enter your details and calculate to see an estimate.
How the calculation works
Your gross salary is reduced by income tax, the solidarity surcharge and church tax where it applies, then by the four social contributions: health, long-term care, pension and unemployment insurance. Contributions stop counting above their ceilings, which is why the net share improves at higher salaries. The social-insurance part uses the centrally verified 2026 ceilings and official average GKV additional rate. Your insurer’s Zusatzbeitrag and care-insurance adjustments for age and additional children can change the result; income tax remains an illustrative estimate rather than an official payroll calculation.
German tax classes
Your Steuerklasse changes how much is withheld each month, not what you owe over the year.
Read the tax class guideWorked gross-to-net example
Enter €4,200 gross per month, tax class 1, Nordrhein-Westfalen, no church tax and no children. The result separates estimated wage tax from health, pension, unemployment and long-term care contributions, then shows monthly and annual net. Change one field at a time to see which assumption matters. The figures are illustrative, not an official payslip.
Current 2026 contribution inputs
Official average additional GKV contribution
2.9
percent for 2026
Applies from 1 January 2026
This is the official average used for 2026. Each Krankenkasse sets its own actual Zusatzbeitrag.
Last verified 21 August 2026 · Federal Ministry of Health (opens in a new tab)
GKV contribution ceiling
69.750 €
gross annual income (5,812.50 EUR monthly)
Applies from 1 January 2026
Income above the ceiling does not increase GKV health-insurance contributions.
Last verified 21 August 2026 · Federal Ministry of Health (opens in a new tab)
Statutory pension-insurance contribution rate
18.6
percent total contribution
Applies from 1 January 2026
Employees and employers generally split the total contribution equally.
Last verified 22 August 2026 · Deutsche Rentenversicherung (opens in a new tab)
Statutory unemployment-insurance contribution rate
2.6
percent total contribution
Applies from 1 January 2026
Employees and employers generally split the total contribution equally.
Last verified 22 August 2026 · Deutsche Rentenversicherung (opens in a new tab)
Statutory long-term care-insurance base contribution
3.6
percent total contribution
Applies from 1 January 2026
The employee/employer split differs in Saxony. Employee reductions for the second through fifth child under 25 can also apply.
Last verified 22 August 2026 · Deutsche Rentenversicherung (opens in a new tab)
Pension and unemployment contribution ceiling
8.450 €
gross per month
Applies from 1 January 2026
The 2026 ceiling is uniform across Germany. Earnings above it do not increase statutory pension or unemployment contributions.
Last verified 22 August 2026 · Deutsche Rentenversicherung (opens in a new tab)
Continue from the estimate
Frequently asked questions
It is one calculator for employment salary: it estimates gross-to-net pay. It does not calculate self-employed profit, rental income or an annual income-tax assessment.
Gross salary is the contractual amount before payroll deductions. Net salary is what remains after estimated wage tax, solidarity and church tax where applicable, plus employee social-insurance contributions.
Tax class changes payroll withholding and monthly cash flow. The annual assessment is based on taxable income and the applicable tax rules, not a separate final tax rate created by the class.
The engine uses centrally verified 2026 contribution rates and ceilings. The health-insurance additional rate is the official average; your insurer and personal care-insurance circumstances can differ.
No. The income-tax part is an illustrative approximation. Use the employer payslip, ELSTER and the official BMF calculator for authoritative work.
Official information
Rules and amounts change. Always verify current requirements using official sources.
Official income tax calculator, opens in a new tab
Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF)
The ministry’s own wage and income tax calculator. The authoritative check on any third-party estimate.
Income tax and tax classes, opens in a new tab
Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF)
The ministry’s explanation of wage tax, including how tax classes and the factor method work.
Contributions and income thresholds for statutory insurance, opens in a new tab
Federal Ministry of Health
Current GKV contribution rate, contribution ceiling and compulsory-insurance threshold.
Social-insurance calculation values for 2026, opens in a new tab
Deutsche Rentenversicherung
Official 2026 contribution ceilings for pension, unemployment, health and long-term care insurance.
This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes and does not replace professional tax advice.