Employer cost of €2,000 gross in Germany (2026)

A gross salary of €2,000 costs a German employer about €2,504.40 a month in 2026, or €2,456.40 at firms with more than 30 staff where the U1 levy does not apply. The employee nets €1,476.83 in tax class I, about 59% of the total cost.

Employer cost breakdown

ItemMonthYear
Gross salary€2,000.00€24,000
Health insurance€175.00€2,100
Care insurance€36.00€432
Pension insurance€186.00€2,232
Unemployment insurance€26.00€312
U1 levy (sick pay)€48.00€576
U2 levy (maternity)€8.80€106
U3 insolvency levy€3.00€36
Accident insurance (average)€21.60€259
Total cost€2,504.40€30,053

Assumptions: 2026 employer shares outside Saxony, 2.9% average health supplement, U1 at 2.4%, U2 at 0.44%, the 0.15% insolvency levy and the 1.08% average accident insurance rate. Enter your own rates in the employer cost calculator.

From total cost to net pay

Of €2,504.40 in employer cost, the employee receives €1,476.83 net; the rest goes to social insurance, levies and the tax office. Each extra euro of gross costs the employer about €1.25 at this level. The employee side is in €2,000 a month after tax.

Other gross salaries

Frequently asked questions

What does an employee on €2,000 gross cost?

About €2,504.40 a month or €30,053 a year including all employer shares and levies.

When does the U1 levy not apply?

At employers with more than 30 staff. The cost then drops to €2,456.40 a month.

What is not included?

Capital-forming benefits, company pensions, benefits in kind, holiday and Christmas pay, and sector levies.

Sources: SGB IV, SGB V, SGB XI, Section 360 SGB III, DGUV average rate 2025. Updated 2026-11-04.