In Germany social security contributions are a set percentage of your earnings and are shared between the employer and employee. The numbers for 2025 are given in the table below.
More details
| Social security | Total contribution rate | Employer's share of the total contribution rate |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance | 17.05% | 8.525% |
| General contribution rate | 14.6% | 7.3% |
| Reduced contribution rate* | 14.0% | 7.0% |
| TK-specific supplementary contribution rate | 2.45% | 1.225% |
| Average supplementary contribution rate | 2.5% | 1.25% |
| Long-term care insurance ** | 3.6% | 1.8% *** |
| Surcharge for childless individuals aged 23 and above | 0.6% | 0% |
| Pension insurance | 18.6% | 9.3% |
| Unemployment insurance | 2.6% | 1.30% |
* for example this applies to the self-employed who have insurance cover but who are not entitled to sick pay
** This contribution rate may be even less if you have more than 1 child. More information in German on long-term care insurance contributions: Beiträge zur Pflegeversicherung
*** in Saxony: 1.3%
Employer contributions and pension contributions
The employer pays half of the contribution rate for employees, apprentices and trainees. The German Statutory Pension Insurance Scheme pays half of the contributions for retirees who have statutory insurance cover.
Here you can calculate your personal contribution rate: