Germany Salary Calculator (Gross → Net)
Enter your gross salary and get an easy-to-understand net salary estimate for Germany. This version focuses on clarity: taxes, solidarity surcharge, church tax, and employee social insurance — broken down so people can learn what’s happening.
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Results Gross → Net
How this Germany gross-to-net calculator works
In Germany, “net salary” is not just gross minus income tax. Your paycheck is usually reduced by income tax (Lohnsteuer), possibly solidarity surcharge (Soli), possibly church tax, and several social insurance contributions. The goal of this calculator is to show the logic in plain English, not to replace official payroll software.
First, we convert your input to an annual gross salary. Then we estimate employee social insurance (pension, unemployment, health, and long-term care). These contributions are capped by “contribution ceilings”: above the ceiling, you still pay contributions only up to that limit. This is why high earners often see their net-to-gross ratio improve slightly once they pass a ceiling.
Next, we estimate taxable income by subtracting (a) employee social contributions and (b) the standard employee allowance (the “employee lump sum”) from gross. If you tick “single parent relief”, we subtract the 2025 single-parent relief amount as well. We then apply Germany’s progressive income tax tariff for 2025. If you choose “married”, we apply the splitting method: income tax is calculated on half of the joint taxable income and doubled afterwards. Because this widget is used by individuals, we allocate the household income tax proportionally between both partners (a transparent approximation for learning).
Solidarity surcharge is then calculated from the income tax. Most people pay zero Soli; only above a tax threshold does it phase in and later become 5.5% of income tax. Church tax is a percentage of income tax (typically 8% or 9%, or 0% if you are not liable). Finally, we show net salary per month and per year, plus a visual breakdown.
Important: Real payroll can differ due to tax-free allowances, bonuses, company cars, private insurance, special expense deductions, regional rules, and individual ELStAM settings. Use this as an orientation tool and to understand the “why” behind your payslip.
FAQ
Is this the exact net salary I will get on my payslip?
No. This is a high-quality estimator for learning and planning. Your actual payroll depends on your ELStAM, your health fund’s exact additional rate, benefits in kind, bonuses, commuter costs, and other individual factors.
What if I’m privately insured (PKV)?
Private insurance premiums vary by plan, age, and coverage, so they can’t be estimated reliably without more inputs. Switch off “Statutory health insurance (GKV)” to see net pay before health/care premiums, then subtract your PKV costs.
Why is Saxony special for care insurance?
Saxony uses a different employer/employee split in long-term care insurance. The total care rate is the same, but employees typically carry a larger share than in other federal states.
Do children affect net salary?
In this calculator, children primarily affect long-term care insurance: from the second child (under 25), the employee care contribution rate can be reduced. Taxes and child benefits are more complex and not fully modeled here.
Why does net-to-gross improve at higher salaries?
Social contributions stop rising above contribution ceilings. Income tax continues to rise, but capped contributions can make total deductions grow more slowly after certain income levels.
Can I update the calculator for 2026 or later?
Yes. All core values (tax parameters, ceilings, rates) live in the CONFIG object in the script. Replace them with the new year’s official numbers and you’re done.