Employer cost of €6,000 gross in Germany (2026)

A gross salary of €6,000 costs a German employer about €7,493.42 a month in 2026, or €7,349.42 at firms with more than 30 staff where the U1 levy does not apply. The employee nets €3,641.57 in tax class I, about 49% of the total cost.

Employer cost breakdown

ItemMonthYear
Gross salary€6,000.00€72,000
Health insurance€508.59€6,103
Care insurance€104.63€1,256
Pension insurance€558.00€6,696
Unemployment insurance€78.00€936
U1 levy (sick pay)€144.00€1,728
U2 levy (maternity)€26.40€317
U3 insolvency levy€9.00€108
Accident insurance (average)€64.80€778
Total cost€7,493.42€89,921

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 €7,493.42 in employer cost, the employee receives €3,641.57 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 €6,000 a month after tax.

Other gross salaries

Frequently asked questions

What does an employee on €6,000 gross cost?

About €7,493.42 a month or €89,921 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 €7,349.42 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.