How much pension does a machinist get in Germany?
€1,534 net a month, at today's prices: that is the German state pension a machinist gets after 45 years full time on the job's median pay of €4,316 gross. Before health and care insurance and tax it is €1,908, 55% of today's take-home pay of €2,774.
- Median pay, gross a month
- €4,316
- Gross pension after 45 years
- €1,908
- Net pension
- €1,534
- Saving from 35 for 80% of take-home pay
- €127
How the number is built
- Median monthly pay in 2025
- €4,195
- + 2.9% wage growth to 2026
- €4,316
- Pension points a year€51,787 a year ÷ €51,944 average earnings
- 0.997
- × 45 years
- 44.86
- × €42.52 pension value
- €1,908 gross
- − Health and care insurance, tax€167 + €80 + €127
- −€374
- Net pension a month
- €1,534
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 €3,509 gross, a quarter more than €4,952 (2025). After 45 years that gives €1,327 to €1,758 of net pension for the middle half of the job.
What each year is worth
Each year full time in this job adds €42 a month of gross pension, for life. Five missing years, from longer studies or time out of work, cost €212 a month. Ten years at half time cost the same.
Closing the gap
To have 80 % of today's take-home pay in retirement, €2,219 a month, €685 is missing. For the money to last until 90, that needs €114,844 at today's prices when the pension starts. From 35, that is €127 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: Industry and engineering
Among 61 jobs, Machinist ranks 22 by net pension.
| Job | Gross pay | Gross pension | Net pension |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical engineer | €7,446 | €3,291 | €2,411 |
| Mechanical engineer | €7,288 | €3,221 | €2,369 |
| Chemical plant operator | €5,256 | €2,323 | €1,804 |
| Industrial mechanic | €4,704 | €2,079 | €1,646 |
| Machinist | €4,316 | €1,908 | €1,534 |
| Mechatronics technician | €4,223 | €1,867 | €1,507 |
| 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 €1,696 gross and about €1,394 net a month. Each year adds €42 of pension.
Can a machinist retire at 63?
Yes, with 35 insured years, but with a lifelong deduction of 14.4 %. After 41 years of contributions it would be €1,488 gross instead of €1,908, about €1,258 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 €127 a month here, plus €167 for health and €80 for care insurance.
Sources
- Entgeltatlas: Machinist (occupation code 24232)
- 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