How much pension does a veterinary assistant get in Germany?
€1,146 net a month, at today's prices: that is the German state pension a veterinary assistant gets after 45 years full time on the job's median pay of €3,027 gross. Before health and care insurance and tax it is €1,338, 55% of today's take-home pay of €2,069.
- Median pay, gross a month
- €3,027
- Gross pension after 45 years
- €1,338
- Net pension
- €1,146
- Saving from 35 for 80% of take-home pay
- €94
How the number is built
- Median monthly pay in 2025
- €2,942
- + 2.9% wage growth to 2026
- €3,027
- Pension points a year€36,319 a year ÷ €51,944 average earnings
- 0.699
- × 45 years
- 31.46
- × €42.52 pension value
- €1,338 gross
- − Health and care insurance, tax€117 + €56 + €19
- −€192
- Net pension a month
- €1,146
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 €2,602 gross, a quarter more than €3,369 (2025). After 45 years that gives €1,030 to €1,283 of net pension for the middle half of the job.
What each year is worth
Each year full time in this job adds €30 a month of gross pension, for life. Five missing years, from longer studies or time out of work, cost €149 a month. Ten years at half time cost the same.
Closing the gap
To have 80 % of today's take-home pay in retirement, €1,656 a month, €510 is missing. For the money to last until 90, that needs €85,583 at today's prices when the pension starts. From 35, that is €94 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: Health and care
Among 61 jobs, Veterinary assistant ranks 52 by net pension.
| Job | Gross pay | Gross pension | Net pension |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered nurse | €4,719 | €2,086 | €1,650 |
| Paramedic | €4,575 | €2,022 | €1,609 |
| Geriatric nurse | €4,566 | €2,018 | €1,606 |
| Occupational therapist | €3,801 | €1,680 | €1,384 |
| Nursing assistant | €3,699 | €1,635 | €1,354 |
| Physiotherapist | €3,551 | €1,570 | €1,309 |
| Geriatric care assistant | €3,431 | €1,517 | €1,272 |
| Medical assistant (MFA) | €3,425 | €1,514 | €1,271 |
| Pharmacy technician (PTA) | €3,411 | €1,508 | €1,266 |
| Veterinary assistant | €3,027 | €1,338 | €1,146 |
| Dental assistant (ZFA) | €2,923 | €1,292 | €1,112 |
| 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 €1,189 gross and about €1,035 net a month. Each year adds €30 of pension.
Can a veterinary assistant retire at 63?
Yes, with 35 insured years, but with a lifelong deduction of 14.4 %. After 41 years of contributions it would be €1,043 gross instead of €1,338, about €908 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 €19 a month here, plus €117 for health and €56 for care insurance.
Sources
- Entgeltatlas: Veterinary assistant (occupation code 81142)
- 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