A Brutto/Netto calculator (Gehaltsrechner) converts your German gross salary into net take-home pay after all mandatory deductions. Germany's payroll deductions include progressive income tax (Einkommensteuer), solidarity surcharge (Solidaritaetszuschlag), optional church tax (Kirchensteuer), and four social security contributions: health, pension, unemployment, and nursing care insurance. Use this calculator to understand exactly what lands in your bank account each month.
Your Salary Details
Affects church tax rate (8% in BW/BY, 9% elsewhere)
Affects nursing care insurance rate
Average is 1.7% — varies by insurer
Monthly Breakdown
Where Your Salary Goes
Annual Summary
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only. Actual net salary may vary depending on your specific tax situation, employer contributions, and individual circumstances. For official calculations, consult a Steuerberater (tax advisor) or use the official BMF Lohnsteuerrechner.
How to Use This German Brutto/Netto Calculator
Understanding your German net salary (Netto) from your gross salary (Brutto) is essential for financial planning, whether you are negotiating a job offer, budgeting for expenses, or comparing compensation packages across countries. Germany's payroll deduction system is complex, with progressive income tax, a solidarity surcharge, optional church tax, and four mandatory social security contributions. This Brutto/Netto calculator applies all of these deductions in the correct order to show you exactly what you take home.
Step 1: Enter Your Gross Salary
Enter your monthly or annual gross salary (Brutto) in euros. This is the amount stated in your employment contract before any taxes or social security contributions are deducted. If your contract specifies a monthly salary, select "Monthly" as the period. For annual figures, select "Annual" — the calculator will divide by 12 to compute monthly deductions.
Step 2: Select Your Tax Class (Steuerklasse)
Your Steuerklasse determines how much income tax is withheld. Class I applies to single, divorced, or widowed employees. Class II is for single parents with at least one child in the household. Married couples typically choose between Classes III/V (for unequal earners) or IV/IV (for similar incomes). Class VI applies to second jobs. The tax class significantly impacts your monthly net — a Class III employee takes home considerably more than Class V on the same gross salary.
Step 3: Configure Church Tax and State
If you are a registered member of a recognized church in Germany, toggle church tax on. The rate depends on your federal state: Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg charge 8%, while all other states charge 9% of your income tax. If you have officially left the church (Kirchenaustritt), leave this toggled off. The state selection also determines the applicable church tax rate.
Step 4: Set Children and Health Insurance
The number of children affects your nursing care insurance (Pflegeversicherung) rate. Childless employees over 23 pay an additional 0.6% surcharge. The health insurance supplementary rate (Zusatzbeitrag) varies by insurer — the national average is around 1.7%, but your specific health insurer may charge more or less. Check your health insurance card or website for the exact rate.
Reading Your Results
The results show a complete monthly breakdown with every deduction itemized in two categories: taxes (income tax, solidarity surcharge, church tax) and social security (health, pension, unemployment, nursing care). The visual bar chart shows at a glance how your gross salary is distributed. The annual summary provides totals for the full year and your effective tax rate — the percentage of your gross salary that goes to all deductions combined. Use this to compare offers, plan your budget, or understand where every euro of your German salary goes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this German salary calculator free?
Yes, this Brutto/Netto calculator is completely free with no signup, no account, and no limits. All calculations run locally in your browser. You can calculate your net salary for any gross amount, tax class, and state as many times as you like.
Is my salary data private?
Absolutely. All calculations run entirely in your web browser using client-side JavaScript. No salary figures, tax details, or personal information are ever sent to any server or stored anywhere. Your data stays completely private on your device.
What are the German tax classes (Steuerklassen)?
Germany has six tax classes: Steuerklasse I for single/divorced, II for single parents, III for married (higher earner), IV for married (equal earners), V for married (lower earner paired with III), and VI for second or additional jobs. Your tax class determines how much income tax is withheld from your paycheck each month.
How does church tax work in Germany?
If you are a registered member of a church (Catholic, Protestant, or other recognized religious body) in Germany, you pay church tax (Kirchensteuer) as a percentage of your income tax. The rate is 8% in Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg, and 9% in all other German states. You can opt out by officially leaving your church.
What social security contributions are deducted from my German salary?
German employees pay four mandatory social security contributions: health insurance (Krankenversicherung, ~7.3% + supplementary), pension insurance (Rentenversicherung, 9.3%), unemployment insurance (Arbeitslosenversicherung, 1.3%), and nursing care insurance (Pflegeversicherung, 1.7% or 2.3% if childless over 23). Employers match these contributions.
What is the solidarity surcharge (Solidaritaetszuschlag)?
The solidarity surcharge (Soli) is an additional 5.5% tax on top of your income tax, originally introduced to fund German reunification. Since 2021, most taxpayers are exempt — it only applies when your annual income tax exceeds approximately 18,130 EUR for single filers. High earners still pay it in full.
Are these tax rates accurate for 2026?
This calculator uses 2026 German tax parameters including the basic tax-free allowance (Grundfreibetrag) of 12,096 EUR and current social security contribution rates. Tax laws may change annually, so for official filings always verify with your Finanzamt or a Steuerberater. This tool provides estimates for planning purposes.
Does this calculator account for the Beitragsbemessungsgrenze?
Yes, the calculator applies contribution ceilings (Beitragsbemessungsgrenzen) for social security. In 2026, the ceiling for health and nursing care insurance is 66,150 EUR/year, and for pension and unemployment insurance it is 96,600 EUR/year (West Germany). Income above these thresholds is not subject to the respective contribution.