How much pension does an industrial clerk get in Germany?
€1,687 net a month, at today's prices: that is the German state pension an industrial clerk gets after 45 years full time on the job's median pay of €4,847 gross. Before health and care insurance and tax it is €2,143, 55% of today's take-home pay of €3,052.
- Median pay, gross a month
- €4,847
- Gross pension after 45 years
- €2,143
- Net pension
- €1,687
- Saving from 35 for 80% of take-home pay
- €139
How the number is built
- Median monthly pay in 2025
- €4,712
- + 2.9% wage growth to 2026
- €4,847
- Pension points a year€58,169 a year ÷ €51,944 average earnings
- 1.120
- × 45 years
- 50.39
- × €42.52 pension value
- €2,143 gross
- − Health and care insurance, tax€187 + €90 + €178
- −€455
- Net pension a month
- €1,687
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 €3,720 gross, a quarter more than €6,179 (2025). After 45 years that gives €1,392 to €2,113 of net pension for the middle half of the job.
What each year is worth
Each year full time in this job adds €48 a month of gross pension, for life. Five missing years, from longer studies or time out of work, cost €238 a month. Ten years at half time cost the same.
Closing the gap
To have 80 % of today's take-home pay in retirement, €2,441 a month, €754 is missing. For the money to last until 90, that needs €126,362 at today's prices when the pension starts. From 35, that is €139 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: Office, administration and law
Among 61 jobs, Industrial clerk (Industriekaufmann) ranks 10 by net pension.
| Job | Gross pay | Gross pension | Net pension |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR officer | €5,454 | €2,411 | €1,860 |
| Industrial clerk (Industriekaufmann) | €4,847 | €2,143 | €1,687 |
| Public administration clerk | €4,575 | €2,022 | €1,609 |
| Office administrator | €4,138 | €1,829 | €1,482 |
| Legal assistant | €3,572 | €1,579 | €1,315 |
| 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 €1,905 gross and about €1,532 net a month. Each year adds €48 of pension.
Can an industrial clerk retire at 63?
Yes, with 35 insured years, but with a lifelong deduction of 14.4 %. After 41 years of contributions it would be €1,671 gross instead of €2,143, about €1,386 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 €178 a month here, plus €187 for health and €90 for care insurance.
Sources
- Entgeltatlas: Industrial clerk (Industriekaufmann) (occupation code 71302)
- 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