Hourly Wage Calculator

Germany's minimum wage (Mindestlohn) is €12.41 per hour as of January 2024, increased from €12.00 in 2023. For a standard 40-hour work week (160 hours/month), this equates to approximately €1,985/month gross, or about €1,555/month net after taxes and social contributions (Tax Class 1).

Most German full-time employees work 38–40 hours per week, with 40 hours being the most common standard. Germany has 365 calendar days, with ~250 working days after subtracting weekends and an average of 10 public holidays. Total annual working hours are typically around 1,900–2,080 hours, depending on holidays, sick days, and vacation (minimum 20 days by law, usually 25–30 days in practice).

At €20/hour working a standard 40-hour week for 52 weeks: Annual gross = €20 × 8 hours × 5 days × 52 weeks = €41,600/year. Monthly gross = €3,467. In Tax Class 1 with standard deductions, this results in approximately €2,250–€2,400 net per month. Our calculator shows all these conversions instantly.

Yes. A freelancer's hourly rate (Stundensatz) must cover not just their working time but also non-billable hours, business expenses, holiday time, periods without clients, health insurance, and pension provisions. As a rule of thumb, freelancers often multiply their desired annual net income by 1.7–2.0 and divide by billable hours (~1,400–1,600/year) to arrive at a minimum hourly rate.

Bruttostundenlohn is your gross hourly wage before deductions. Nettostundenlohn is your effective take-home hourly rate after income tax and social security contributions. For example, if you earn €20/hour gross in Tax Class 1 with a 40h/week job, your effective net hourly rate is approximately €12.50–€13.50/hour after all deductions.