€18,000 after tax in Germany (2026)

A gross salary of €18,000 per year in Germany leaves €14,527 net per year (that is €1,211 per month) in 2026, as a single person (tax class I) with statutory health insurance and no church tax.

Net pay by tax class at €18,000

Tax classWhoNet / monthNet / year
I Single €1,210.58 €14,527
III Married, higher earner €1,219.83 €14,638
IV Married, similar incomes €1,210.58 €14,527
V Married, lower earner €1,067.00 €12,804

Midi-job: At €1,500.00 gross a month the pay falls in the transition zone from €603.01 to €2,000. Employee social contributions are reduced, pension points still count on the full pay, and wage tax is unchanged. More in the midi-job calculator.

Where the money goes (tax class I)

DeductionMonthlyAnnual
Wage tax (Lohnsteuer)€9.25€111
Solidarity surcharge€0.00€0
Health insurance€112.37€1,348
Long-term care insurance€31.68€380
Pension insurance€119.43€1,433
Unemployment insurance€16.69€200
Net pay€1,210.58€14,527

Effective deduction rate: 19.3%. Adjust tax class, children, church tax and your insurer's surcharge in the Germany salary calculator.

Nearby salaries

Frequently asked questions

Is €18,000 a good salary in Germany?

The average full-time gross salary in Germany is roughly €54,000-58,000 a year, i.e. €4,500-4,800 a month (2026). €18,000 is below that average. Purchasing power varies a lot between cities.

What assumptions does this page make?

Tax year 2026, tax class I, statutory health insurance at the 2.9% average surcharge, childless (care-insurance surcharge applies), no church tax, North Rhine-Westphalia, 12 equal salary instalments.

Why might my payslip differ?

Common reasons: your Krankenkasse charges a different surcharge, you pay church tax, you have children, private health insurance, or a 13th-month salary changes the monthly arithmetic.

Wage tax computed with the official BMF Programmablaufplan 2026. Last updated 2026-11-04. Also available in German.