Employer cost of €6,500 gross in Germany (2026)
Employer cost breakdown
| Item | Month | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | €6,500.00 | €78,000 |
| Health insurance | €508.59 | €6,103 |
| Care insurance | €104.63 | €1,256 |
| Pension insurance | €604.50 | €7,254 |
| Unemployment insurance | €84.50 | €1,014 |
| U1 levy (sick pay) | €156.00 | €1,872 |
| U2 levy (maternity) | €28.60 | €343 |
| U3 insolvency levy | €9.75 | €117 |
| Accident insurance (average) | €70.20 | €842 |
| Total cost | €8,066.77 | €96,801 |
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 €8,066.77 in employer cost, the employee receives €3,914.82 net; the rest goes to social insurance, levies and the tax office. Each extra euro of gross costs the employer about €1.24 at this level. The employee side is in €6,500 a month after tax.
Other gross salaries
Frequently asked questions
What does an employee on €6,500 gross cost?
About €8,066.77 a month or €96,801 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 €7,910.77 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.