In short: On a gross salary of EUR 3,862.80 (TVöD-P pay group P 8, step 3, from May 2026), a nurse in tax class I without children, without church tax and with the average health-insurance add-on keeps about EUR 2,531 net per month. Use the calculator below to estimate your own net pay. Wage tax follows the official 2026 algorithm of the German Federal Ministry of Finance exactly; social insurance uses the statutory 2026 rates.
Your estimated net pay
| Gross salary | |
|---|---|
| Wage tax (Lohnsteuer) | |
| Solidarity surcharge | |
| Church tax () | |
| Health insurance | |
| Long-term care insurance () | |
| Pension insurance | |
| Unemployment insurance | |
| Net per month |
Net × 12 months (without bonuses):
Note: up to EUR 2,000 gross, reduced employee contributions apply (transition zone, 'Midijob'). In this range the estimate is too high.
Note: tax class II requires at least one child living in your household.
An estimate, not tax advice. Your payslip may differ, e.g. because of allowances, tax-free amounts, one-off payments, private health insurance or your insurer's exact add-on rate. Only your employer's payslip and your tax office's assessment are binding.
An estimate, not tax advice. Your payslip may differ, e.g. because of allowances, tax-free amounts, one-off payments, private health insurance or your insurer's exact add-on rate. Only your employer's payslip and your tax office's assessment are binding.
How the calculator works
Wage tax, the solidarity surcharge and the base for church tax follow the official 2026 program flow chart (Programmablaufplan) of the Federal Ministry of Finance one to one (XML pseudocode, version of 23 Oct 2025). We compared our implementation with the ministry's test interface in 50 cases (tax classes I–VI, EUR 1,500 to 12,000 gross, with and without children, Saxony, church tax): all 150 values matched to the cent.
Social insurance uses the statutory 2026 employee shares up to the contribution ceilings. Assumptions: statutory insurance, full-time, no personal tax allowances, no extra pay. Child allowances are counted in a simplified way (0.5 per child in classes I/II, 1.0 in III/IV); they only affect solidarity surcharge and church tax.
2026 values
| Item | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Basic tax-free allowance (§ 32a EStG) | EUR 12,348 per year |
| Solidarity surcharge exemption limit | EUR 20,350 wage tax per year |
| Contribution ceiling, health and care insurance | EUR 5,812.50 per month |
| Contribution ceiling, pension and unemployment insurance | EUR 8,450 per month |
| Health insurance | 14.6% + add-on (average 2.9%), split half and half |
| Long-term care insurance (employee) | 1.8% (Saxony 2.3%), +0.6% if childless from 23, −0.25% per child from the 2nd (up to the 5th) under 25 |
| Pension insurance (employee) | 9.3% |
| Unemployment insurance (employee) | 1.3% |
| Church tax | 8% in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, otherwise 9% |
Where do the example values come from?
The TVöD-P values come from the pay table for nursing staff in public employment (TVöD VKA, valid from 1 May 2026, without the nursing allowance or shift premiums). P 7 and P 8 are typical pay groups for registered nurses; step 2 is the entry step. The Entgeltatlas values of the Federal Employment Agency are for skilled nurses (occupation code KldB 81302), full-time, reference year 2025. Many private and church employers pay under their own agreements.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nurse earn net in Germany?
It depends mainly on gross pay and tax class. Example: on EUR 3,862.80 gross (TVöD-P, P 8, step 3), a nurse in tax class I without children or church tax keeps about EUR 2,531 net. At the Entgeltatlas median of EUR 4,587, it is about EUR 2,917 in the same situation.
Which tax class will I have as an international nurse?
Single people are in tax class I. Married couples usually get IV/IV and can choose III/V if both spouses are fully taxable in Germany. If your spouse lives outside the EU, class I usually applies. The tax office decides.
What is not included in the net figure?
Allowances (such as the TVöD nursing allowance), shift and night premiums, the annual bonus, capital-forming benefits, personal tax allowances and private health insurance. Tax-free premiums can increase your actual net pay.
Do I have to pay church tax?
Only if you are a member of a religious community that levies church tax in Germany and register as such. Members of other religions and people without a religion do not pay church tax.
How accurate is the calculator?
Wage tax is calculated exactly per the official 2026 algorithm; in 50 test cases against the ministry's test interface every value matched to the cent. Social insurance follows the statutory 2026 rates. Differences mainly come from allowances, tax-free amounts and your insurer's add-on rate.
Related guides
- Check: Can I work as a nurse in Germany?
- Nurse salary in Germany: official figures
- Cost of living in Germany
- How to work as a nurse in Germany
Apply as a healthcare professional
Sources (official, as of October 2026)
- BMF-Steuerrechner: Pseudocode Lohnsteuer 2026 (Programmablaufplan)
- § 32a EStG – Einkommensteuertarif
- § 242a SGB V – durchschnittlicher Zusatzbeitragssatz
- BMG: durchschnittlicher Zusatzbeitragssatz 2026 (BAnz AT 10.11.2025 B7, PDF)
- KAV Hessen: Tabelle TVöD VKA Pflegedienst ab 1. Mai 2026 (PDF)
- Bundesagentur für Arbeit: Entgeltatlas