Gross-Net Salary Calculator for Germany (2026)
In Germany, taxes and social contributions take roughly 30–45 % of a gross salary, depending on income and tax class, as of 2026. A single earner on €4,000 gross per month keeps about €2,600 net. Enter your gross salary and tax class to see your estimated net pay and every deduction.
Last updated: August 8, 2026
Amounts in German number format: 2.617,00 € = €2,617. You can type a comma as decimal separator.
Estimate based on the 2025 income tax formula and 2026 social insurance values (contribution ceilings partly projected) — not tax or legal advice. Tax classes V/VI, child allowances, private health insurance and some regional specifics are not modelled. Your employer's payroll statement is authoritative.
What is left of your gross salary?
A German payslip takes two blocks off your gross pay: social insurance contributions (employee share around 20–21 %) and income tax (Lohnsteuer) plus, where applicable, solidarity surcharge and church tax. This calculator itemises every position, so you can see exactly where the money goes — and what a raise would actually be worth net.
| Social insurance | Employee share (2026) | Assessed up to |
|---|---|---|
| Health (Krankenversicherung) | 7.3 % + half the supplementary rate | €69,750/year |
| Long-term care (Pflegeversicherung) | 1.8 % (+0.6 % if childless over 23) | €69,750/year |
| Pension (Rentenversicherung) | 9.3 % | €101,400/year |
| Unemployment (Arbeitslosenversicherung) | 1.3 % | €101,400/year |
Tax classes in a nutshell
Your Steuerklasse (tax class) controls how much income tax is withheld each month. Singles get class I, single parents II. Married couples pick IV/IV for similar salaries or III/V when one earns much more — class III means low monthly deductions for the higher earner, class V high ones for the other. The class changes your monthly cash flow, not your final annual tax, which is settled with the tax return.
Progression: why raises shrink
Because of the progressive tariff, less of every raise arrives the more you earn — the marginal rate climbs from 14 % at the tax-free minimum to 42 % from about €68,500 of annual taxable income. Of a €100 raise on a mid-level salary, typically only €50–60 arrive net. Run both salaries through the calculator and compare.
Where it is handled
You do not apply for anything: your employer withholds tax and contributions automatically and pays them to the Finanzamt (tax office) and the social insurance funds. Tax class changes and the annual tax return (Steuererklärung), which often yields a refund, also go through the Finanzamt — online via ELSTER.
Frequently asked questions
What is deducted from a gross salary in Germany?
Two blocks: taxes (income tax, possibly solidarity surcharge and church tax) and social insurance (health, long-term care, pension and unemployment insurance). Together they usually take 30–45 % of gross, depending on salary and tax class.
Which tax class do I get as an expat?
Single employees get class I, single parents II. Married couples choose between IV/IV (similar salaries) and III/V (one salary much higher). Newly arrived married couples are typically assigned IV/IV automatically; since 2025 the factor method (IV with factor) is promoted as a fairer alternative to III/V. You change classes at the Finanzamt (tax office).
Do I have to pay church tax in Germany?
Only if you are a registered member of a tax-collecting church — 8 % of your income tax in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, 9 % elsewhere. What you state as your religion at the Anmeldung (address registration) decides: many expats pay unintentionally because they named a denomination there. Leaving the church (Kirchenaustritt) ends the tax.
Why does the result differ from my payslip?
This calculator is an estimate: it uses the 2025 income tax formula, the average supplementary health insurance rate and no individual features such as child allowances, company pension schemes, private health insurance or benefits in kind. Your employer’s payroll statement is authoritative.
When does the 42 % top tax rate start?
The 42 % rate starts in 2025 at about €68,500 of taxable annual income — roughly €6,600 gross per month. The 45 % “wealth tax rate” only applies from €277,826. Important: it only hits the income above the threshold, not your whole salary.