Salary Calculator Germany

Tax Year: 2025 – 2026

If you live in Berlin and earn a gross annual salary (Bruttogehalt) of €53,748, or €4,479 per month, your monthly net salary (Nettogehalt) will be €2,854. This results in an effective tax rate of 36%, as estimated by our German salary calculator (Brutto Netto Rechner).

The table below shows how your monthly take-home pay would vary across different eurozone countries based on the gross salary you entered.

The following chart outlines your earnings relative to the national average salary and minimum wage in Germany.

Please note that the national figures assume full-time employment for the entire year, while your salary is calculated according to the settings you selected.

The average salary for full-time workers in Germany is €4,479 per month, or €53,748 per year (source: Federal Statistical Office). If we include bonuses and special pay, gross annual earnings rise to €56,334. Note that the average gets distorted by high earners, which explains why it is higher than the German median salary of €43,842 (€3,654 per month).

Germany is known for its high taxes and contributions, so these figures are far from what is actually hitting your bank account. The average German salary of €4,479 per month equates to only €2,854 after taxes, if you are not married and have no dependents.

The national minimum wage in Germany is €12.82 per hour, which works out to a gross salary of €2,222 a month or €26,666 a year, if we consider the typical full-time work week of 40 hours. Exceptions include certain internships, mandatory traineeships, and anyone under age 18 who has not completed vocational training.

Although this is one of the highest rates in the EU, a monthly gross wage of €2,222 translates to a take-home pay of €1,601 if we run the numbers in Berlin using our net salary calculator. In other words, a full-time minimum wage earner in Germany should expect to part with almost €7,452 in taxes and contributions per year.

The minimum wage also affects marginal employment — so-called "mini-jobs" that are generally exempt from income tax and social security contributions. The monthly pay for these part-time jobs is capped at €538, which translates to an annual mini-job salary limit of €6,456 including any bonuses.

In Germany, taxes are levied at the federal, state, and sometimes even municipal levels. These include Income Tax, Solidarity Surcharge, and several types of Social Insurance. If you are employed, then all taxes and contributions are automatically deducted from you gross salary by your employer each month, so your paycheck is generally net of tax.

If you run your own business, have multiple professions, or are self-employed, then you have to calculate your own taxes and send in an annual tax return.

• Income Tax (Lohnsteuer): Germany uses a progressive tax rate, which means your rate increases as your income grows. The 2025 rates range from 0% for incomes below €12,096 up to 45% for the highest salaries.
• Solidarity Surcharge (Solidaritätszuschlag): The Solidarity Surcharge is an additional charge, capped at 5.5% of your income, that goes toward improving infrastructure and the economic situation nationwide.
• Social Insurance: You also must make contributions to various social insurance plans, such as pension (Rentenversicherung), health insurance (Krankenversicherung), unemployment insurance (Arbeitslosenversicherung), and long-term care insurance (Pflegeversicherung).
• Church Tax (Kirchensteuer): This tax is applicable to members of registered religious communities, with rates varying by state. If you are affiliated with a German church, please click on More Options More Options in our calculator to enable this tax.