Key takeaways
- You pay social security contributions from your gross income. The Social Security contributions are for pension, unemployment, health, and long-term care insurance.
- The amount of social security contributions depends on your income.
- The employer pays half of the social security contributions.
- There is a cap on the income on which you pay social security. You don’t pay social security above that income limit. The income limit is called the contribution assessment ceiling.
- The German government increased the Social Security contribution assessment ceiling in 2025. Thus, you’ll get less net income in 2025.
This is how you do it
- You can check how much social security you paid on your payslip from last month.
- You can choose between public and private health insurance if you earn more than the compulsory health insurance limit. The compulsory health insurance limit is 73,800€ (as of 2025).
Table of Contents
What are social security contributions in Germany?
Germany has one of the best social security systems in the world. Germany offers its citizens various social security benefits like pensions, health coverage, unemployment benefits, etc.
To support the social security system, every earner in Germany contributes a part of their income to social security. These contributions are called social security contributions.
There are four main social security contributions you make in Germany.
- Statutory pension insurance (Gesetzliche Rentenversicherung in German)
- Statutory health insurance (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung in German)
- Unemployment insurance (Arbeitslosenversicherung in German)
- Nursing care insurance (Pflegeversicherung in German)
What percentage of gross salary do you pay as social security contributions in Germany?
In Germany, a percentage of your gross salary is deducted as social security contributions. You can also check your monthly salary slip to determine how much you pay as social security contributions.
An individual with no child pays around 42.5% of their gross salary in social security contributions. If you are employed, your employer will contribute almost half of the social security contribution.
The table below shows the percentage of your gross salary you contribute to different social securities in Germany.
| Social security type | Total Contribution Rate | Employer’s share | Employee’s share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statutory pension insurance | 18.6% | 9.3% | 9.3% |
| Unemployment insurance | 2.6% | 1.3% | 1.3% |
| Statutory health insurance | 14.6% + additional contribution (2.5%) | 7.3% + 1.25% | 7.3% + 1.25% |
| Long-term care insurance (no children) | 4.2% | 1.8% | 2.4% |
| Long-term care insurance (with 1 child) | 3.6% | 1.8% | 1.8% |
| Long-term care insurance (with 2 children) | 3.35% | 1.8% | 1.55% |
| Long-term care insurance (with 3 children) | 3.1% | 1.8% | 1.3% |
| Long-term care insurance (with 4 children) | 2.85% | 1.8% | 1.05% |
| Long-term care insurance (with 5 or more children) | 2.6% | 1.8% | 0.8% |
Example
Suppose you are single with no kids and earn 3500 € gross per month. The table below summarizes how much you’ll contribute to social security.
| Social Security Type | Monthly Contribution (€) | Employer Contribution (€) | Employee Contribution (€) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pension | 651.00 (3500 € * 18.6%) | 325.50 | 325.50 |
| Unemployment | 91.00 (3500 € * 2.6%) | 45.50 | 45.50 |
| Health Insurance | 511.00 (3500 € * 14.6%) | 255.50 | 255.50 |
| Long-Term Care Insurance | 147.00 (3500 € * 4.2%) | 63 (3500 € * 1.8%) | 84 (3500 € * 2.4%) |
| Total social security contributions paid | 1400.00 | 689.50 | 710.50 |
How high is the social security contribution assessment ceiling in Germany?
You pay social security contributions up to a certain income limit. This limit is called the Social Security Contribution assessment limit.
You don’t pay social security contributions on the salary above the contribution assessment ceiling. The contribution assessment ceiling is different for each type of insurance.
The German federal government adjusts the contribution assessment ceiling each year. The Social Security contribution assessment ceiling increases if the average income increases.
The table below shows the social security contribution assessment limit in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
| Social security type | 2023 (in €) Month (year) | 2024 (in €) Month (year) | 2025 (in €) Month (year) | Percentage Increase (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pension (West) | 7300 (87,600) | 7550 (90,600) | 8050 (96,600) | 6.6 |
| Pension (East) | 7100 (85,200) | 7450 (89,400) | 8050 (96,600) | 8.05 |
| Health & Long-Term Care | 4987.5 (59,850) | 5175 (62,100) | 5512 (66,150) | 6.5 |
| Unemployment (West) | 7300 (87,600) | 7550 (90,600) | 8050 (96,600) | 6.6 |
| Unemployment (East) | 7100 (85,200) | 7450 (89,400) | 8050 (96,600) | 8.05 |
Do you pay social security contributions on special payments?
Yes, you pay social security contributions on one-off or special payments. The one-off payments are added to your total income to calculate the social security contributions.
However, you don’t pay any Social Security on income above the assessment ceiling ( Section 23a Paragraph 3 SGB IV ).
Impact of rise in social security contributions
The increase in the contribution assessment ceiling reduces your net income, especially if you are a high earner. So, your net income in 2025 will be less than in 2024 if your gross income is the same.
Suppose you earned and are earning 8000 € gross per month in 2024 and 2025.
The table below shows the impact on your net income in 2025.
| Social Security Type | Monthly Contribution (€) 2024 | Monthly Contribution (€) 2025 | Increase in monthly contribution (€) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pension | 1404.3 (7550 € * 18.6%) | 1497.3 (8050 € * 18.6%) | 93 |
| Unemployment | 196.3 (7550 € * 2.6%) | 209.3 (8050 € * 2.6%) | 13 |
| Health Insurance | 756.45 (5175 € * 14.6%) | 804.75 (5512 * 14.6%) | 48.3 |
| Long-Term Care Insurance | 207 (5175 € * 4%) | 231.5 (5512 * 4.2%) | 24.5 |
| 178.8 (2145.6 per annum) |
If you are an employee, your employer will contribute around 50% to your social security contributions. This means you’ll get 89.4 € (178.8/2) less every month in 2025. It amounts to 1072.8 € of lost income in 2025.
What is the compulsory health insurance income limit (Versicherungspflichtgrenze)?
Everyone living in Germany must have health insurance. People who earn less than a set income limit are automatically insured with compulsory statutory health insurance.
Those who earn more than the income limit can choose between public and private health insurance.
Suppose you had private health insurance, but your salary is no longer above the income limit. In this case, you can return to public health insurance.
The compulsory public health insurance limit (Versicherungspflichtgrenze) is 73,800€ (as of 2025). It was 69,300€ (as of 2024).
The compulsory insurance limit is lower for people who took private health insurance before 2003. The income limit is 66,150€ per annum as of 2025. It was 62,100 € per annum gross in 2024.
German Healthcare Demystified – Free eBook
- The German healthcare system is complex. This is why we wrote this book to help you navigate it.
- Choosing health insurance is a life-long decision. If you pick the wrong plan, it may cost you dearly in the future.
- Learn what is covered in public and private health insurance and what is not.
- What supplement health insurance plans must you get based on your personal situation?
More topics
- Best private health insurance as per top rating agencies
- Private health insurance costs in Germany
- Private vs public health insurance
- Private health insurance cost in old age
- Why is private health insurance cheaper than public health insurance?
- Employer’s contribution to private health insurance
- Private health insurance for self-employed
- Health insurance for students
- Health insurance for children
- Healthcare in Germany
- Best public health insurance in Germany
