In Germany, there are two very different ways people get a pension.
- Typical workers (employees in companies, shops, factories, etc.)
- Beamte (civil servants: teachers, police officers, judges, professors, many office workers in ministries, etc.)
Beamte get much higher pensions than typical workers. This has triggered a debate on whether it’s fair.
How pensions work for typical workers
- Every month, you and your employer pay money into the state pension system (about 18–19% of your salary).
- When you retire, you get a pension from the government.
- On average, this pension is only about 48% (as of 2026) of the salary you earned before retirement.
- Many people also save extra (company pension, private savings) because the state pension alone is often not enough.
How pensions work for Beamte (civil servants)
- Beamte do not pay into the normal state pension system.
- Instead, the government promises: “Work for us your whole life, and when you retire, we pay you a good pension directly from the state budget.”
- This pension is usually 71.75% of your final salary (the maximum).
- They also get this pension for life, and it rises every year with inflation.
- They never paid a cent into a pension fund for this. The money comes directly from taxes.
How much money does Germany collect in taxes ->
Why are many people angry about the pensions of civil servants?
Critics say:
- It’s unfair: typical workers pay for their own pensions, while paying taxes that fund high civil servant pensions.
- A teacher (Beamter) and a nurse (normal worker) may earn similar wages, but the teacher receives almost double the pension.
- The system is very expensive for the government (it costs tens of billions every year).
- Younger generations will get lower state pensions, while Beamte keep their high ones.
Sample calculation showing the difference in pension of a typical person and a civil servant
Let’s say two people earn €4,000 gross per month:
| Typical worker (Angestellter) | Civil servant (Beamter) | |
|---|---|---|
| Pension contributions per month | Pays ~€380 | Pays €0 |
| Take-home pay (net) | ~€2,400 | ~€2,800 |
| Pension at retirement | ~€1,900 (48%) | ~€2,800–€3,000 (71.75%) |
So the civil servant has more money every month while working and a much higher pension later.
What do people want to change?
Many Germans (especially younger ones) say that new civil servants should also contribute to the normal pension system like everyone else. Or at least lower the 71.75% pension rate.
But Beamte and their unions fight hard to keep the old system because they see it as fair payment for a lifetime of public service.
