How much pension does a joiner get in Germany?
€1,279 net a month, at today's prices: that is the German state pension a joiner gets after 45 years full time on the job's median pay of €3,451 gross. Before health and care insurance and tax it is €1,526, 55% of today's take-home pay of €2,306.
- Median pay, gross a month
- €3,451
- Gross pension after 45 years
- €1,526
- Net pension
- €1,279
- Saving from 35 for 80% of take-home pay
- €105
How the number is built
- Median monthly pay in 2025
- €3,355
- + 2.9% wage growth to 2026
- €3,451
- Pension points a year€41,417 a year ÷ €51,944 average earnings
- 0.797
- × 45 years
- 35.88
- × €42.52 pension value
- €1,526 gross
- − Health and care insurance, tax€133 + €64 + €49
- −€247
- Net pension a month
- €1,279
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 €2,892 gross, a quarter more than €3,857 (2025). After 45 years that gives €1,129 to €1,433 of net pension for the middle half of the job.
What each year is worth
Each year full time in this job adds €34 a month of gross pension, for life. Five missing years, from longer studies or time out of work, cost €170 a month. Ten years at half time cost the same.
Closing the gap
To have 80 % of today's take-home pay in retirement, €1,845 a month, €566 is missing. For the money to last until 90, that needs €94,936 at today's prices when the pension starts. From 35, that is €105 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: Skilled trades and construction
Among 61 jobs, Joiner ranks 41 by net pension.
| Job | Gross pay | Gross pension | Net pension |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician | €4,048 | €1,789 | €1,456 |
| Bricklayer | €4,006 | €1,771 | €1,444 |
| Plumber and heating engineer | €3,996 | €1,766 | €1,441 |
| Carpenter (timber frame) | €3,904 | €1,726 | €1,414 |
| Roofer | €3,892 | €1,720 | €1,411 |
| Car mechanic | €3,863 | €1,708 | €1,402 |
| Joiner | €3,451 | €1,526 | €1,279 |
| Painter and decorator | €3,423 | €1,513 | €1,270 |
| 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 €1,356 gross and about €1,159 net a month. Each year adds €34 of pension.
Can a joiner retire at 63?
Yes, with 35 insured years, but with a lifelong deduction of 14.4 %. After 41 years of contributions it would be €1,190 gross instead of €1,526, about €1,036 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 €49 a month here, plus €133 for health and €64 for care insurance.
Sources
- Entgeltatlas: Joiner (occupation code 22342)
- 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