Your pay is agreed gross. You receive net pay – after taxes and social insurance are deducted.
The essentials
- The statutory minimum wage is €13.90 gross per hour.
- Your employer must give you a payslip in text form, for example on paper or digitally.
- The payslip shows gross pay, all deductions and the amount paid out.
- 💶 Gross
- ➖ Taxes + social insurance
- ✅ Net
Terms on the payslip
Income tax (Lohnsteuer), health, long-term care, pension and unemployment insurance are deducted from gross pay. Extra pay (Zuschläge, e.g. for night work) and special payments (Sonderzahlungen, e.g. Christmas bonus) exist if your contract or collective agreement provides for them.
My pay is missing
- 1Check your payslip
- 2Check your bank account
- 3Keep records of hours and documents
- 4Read your contract and collective agreement
- 5Ask your employer in writing
- 6Get advice if needed
MeaNext explains general rules about work in Germany. This information does not replace individual legal advice. In a specific case, your employment contract, collective agreement, works agreement and personal circumstances can be decisive.
Last expert review: 09/10/2026
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