How much pension does a bus driver get in Germany?
€1,396 net a month, at today's prices: that is the German state pension a bus driver gets after 45 years full time on the job's median pay of €3,840 gross. Before health and care insurance and tax it is €1,698, 55% of today's take-home pay of €2,519.
- Median pay, gross a month
- €3,840
- Gross pension after 45 years
- €1,698
- Net pension
- €1,396
- Saving from 35 for 80% of take-home pay
- €115
How the number is built
- Median monthly pay in 2025
- €3,733
- + 2.9% wage growth to 2026
- €3,840
- Pension points a year€46,083 a year ÷ €51,944 average earnings
- 0.887
- × 45 years
- 39.92
- × €42.52 pension value
- €1,698 gross
- − Health and care insurance, tax€149 + €71 + €82
- −€302
- Net pension a month
- €1,396
The person is 35 today, has worked full time since 22 and retires in 2058 at 67: single, no children, no church tax. The pay is the median of full-time employees in the Federal Employment Agency's Entgeltatlas (as of 31 December 2025, one-off payments included). Pension points depend on pay relative to average earnings, so the pension is shown at 2026 wage levels: at today's prices, if wages and pensions keep pace with prices.
The range within the job
A quarter of full-time employees earn less than €3,403 gross, a quarter more than €4,118 (2025). After 45 years that gives €1,294 to €1,511 of net pension for the middle half of the job.
What each year is worth
Each year full time in this job adds €38 a month of gross pension, for life. Five missing years, from longer studies or time out of work, cost €189 a month. Ten years at half time cost the same.
Closing the gap
To have 80 % of today's take-home pay in retirement, €2,015 a month, €619 is missing. For the money to last until 90, that needs €103,873 at today's prices when the pension starts. From 35, that is €115 a month until retirement, rising each year with inflation, at a 7 % return and 2 % inflation, before tax.
Work it out with your numbersWhat the Altersvorsorgedepot adds
Compared: Transport and logistics
Among 61 jobs, Bus and tram driver ranks 32 by net pension.
| Job | Gross pay | Gross pension | Net pension |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train driver | €4,373 | €1,933 | €1,551 |
| Bus and tram driver | €3,840 | €1,698 | €1,396 |
| Warehouse specialist | €3,479 | €1,538 | €1,287 |
| Truck driver | €3,288 | €1,453 | €1,228 |
| Postal and parcel carrier | €3,271 | €1,446 | €1,223 |
| Warehouse worker | €2,980 | €1,317 | €1,131 |
| Average earnings (standard pension) | €4,329 | €1,913 | €1,538 |
Questions
How much pension after 40 years?
After 40 instead of 45 years full time on the median pay, it is €1,509 gross and about €1,267 net a month. Each year adds €38 of pension.
Can a bus driver retire at 63?
Yes, with 35 insured years, but with a lifelong deduction of 14.4 %. After 41 years of contributions it would be €1,324 gross instead of €1,698, about €1,140 net. Without a deduction, people born in 1964 or later can retire at 65 at the earliest, and only with 45 insured years.
Is the pension taxed?
Yes. A pension starting in 2058 is fully taxable. Under today's rules that is €82 a month here, plus €149 for health and €71 for care insurance.
Sources
- Entgeltatlas: Bus and tram driver (occupation code 52132)
- Entgeltatlas, Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit (median pay by occupation)
- Bundesagentur für Arbeit: Help for the Entgeltatlas (who is counted, Stichtag, ceiling)
- Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 (Fassung 2020): directories of occupations
- Deutsche Rentenversicherung: pension adjustment 2026 (pension value €42.52)
- Sozialversicherungs-Rechengrößenverordnung 2026: average earnings and contribution ceiling
- § 22 EStG: taxable share of pensions by start year