A 12 North Rhine-Westphalia civil servant pay 2026: gross and net
A 12 North Rhine-Westphalia: basic pay and net by step
| Step | Basic pay | Net single | Net married, 2 children |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | €4,504.78 | €3,349.36 | €4,491.82 |
| 5 | €4,701.47 | €3,476.72 | €4,632.01 |
| 6 | €4,898.95 | €3,603.03 | €4,772.15 |
| 7 | €5,099.22 | €3,729.39 | €4,913.42 |
| 8 | €5,233.52 | €3,813.19 | €5,007.56 |
| 9 | €5,367.79 | €3,896.29 | €5,101.49 |
| 10 | €5,502.12 | €3,978.62 | €5,194.99 |
| 11 | €5,636.43 | €4,060.18 | €5,288.13 |
| 12 | €5,770.65 | €4,140.98 | €5,380.85 |
Net single: tax class I. Net married with 2 children: tax class III with family allowance, rent level III, at the same own private health premium; premiums for spouse and children are not included. Civil servants (Beamte) pay no social insurance; state aid (Beihilfe) covers the rest of their medical costs. Your own net with your premium is in the civil servant pay calculator.
Status of the pay adjustment
Enacted by the law of 21 July 2026: basic pay rose 3.36% on 1 April 2026, so that even the lowest step gains at least €100. Also enacted are 2% from 1 March 2027 and 1% from 1 January 2028.
| Step | now | from 1 March 2027 (enacted) | from 1 January 2028 (enacted) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | €4,504.78 | €4,594.88 | €4,640.83 |
| 5 | €4,701.47 | €4,795.50 | €4,843.46 |
| 6 | €4,898.95 | €4,996.93 | €5,046.90 |
| 7 | €5,099.22 | €5,201.20 | €5,253.21 |
| 8 | €5,233.52 | €5,338.19 | €5,391.57 |
| 9 | €5,367.79 | €5,475.15 | €5,529.90 |
| 10 | €5,502.12 | €5,612.16 | €5,668.28 |
| 11 | €5,636.43 | €5,749.16 | €5,806.65 |
| 12 | €5,770.65 | €5,886.06 | €5,944.92 |
Steps and annual gross
| Step | after years | Annual gross single |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 | €54,057 |
| 5 | 2 | €56,418 |
| 6 | 5 | €58,787 |
| 7 | 8 | €61,191 |
| 8 | 11 | €62,802 |
| 9 | 14 | €64,413 |
| 10 | 18 | €66,025 |
| 11 | 22 | €67,637 |
| 12 | 26 | €69,248 |
The entry step depends on the grade: A 5 to A 11 step 3, A 12 step 4, A 13 and A 14 step 5, A 15 and A 16 step 6. Steps up to 5 take 2 years each, up to 9 three years each and then 4 years each. Performance steps and suspensions can shift progression. Annual gross assumes the same pay at the current rate all year. Since 2017 there is no December bonus; it is built into the monthly amounts.
Family allowance and working hours
Family allowance: €167.26 to €173.50 for married staff depending on grade. Child amounts depend on the rent level (Mietenstufe I to VII) of the main residence. On application there is a top-up if the spouse earns very little. The working week is 41 hours, 40 from age 55 and 39 from age 60.
Frequently asked questions
What does a A 12 North Rhine-Westphalia civil servant earn net?
Single and with a €300 private health premium, about €3,349 at step 4 to €4,141 at step 12 a month. Exact net pay depends mainly on your own premium, tax class and family allowance.
Why do civil servants pay no social insurance?
Beamte are exempt from health, pension and unemployment insurance. Instead of a state pension they later receive a civil service pension, and instead of an employer health subsidy they get state aid (Beihilfe). That is why their net pay is usually well above that of employees with the same gross.
Is child benefit included?
No. Child benefit is paid separately by the Familienkasse; the family allowance for children is part of pay and taxable.
Next grade up: A 13 North Rhine-Westphalia. Next grade down: A 11 North Rhine-Westphalia. All values: North Rhine-Westphalia pay table. Working week: 41 hours.
Sources: NRW State Pay Act Anlagen 6, 13 and 14, law of 21 July 2026 (GV. NRW. 2026 p. 474), Sections 29, 42 and 47 LBesG NRW, Section 2 AZVO, BMF program 2026, BMF letter on the Vorsorgepauschale of 14 August 2025. Values taken by script from the official tables and checked against the statutory increases. Updated 2026-11-04.