What are the contribution rates to social security in Germany?

Social security	Total contribution rate	Employer's share of the total contribution rate
Health insurance	17.29%	8.645%
General contribution rate	14.6%	7.3%
Reduced contribution rate*	14.0%	7.0%
TK-specific supplementary contribution rate	2.69%	1.345%
Average supplementary contribution rate	2.9%	2.45%
Long-term care insurance **	3.6%	1.8% ***
Surcharge for childless individuals aged 23 and above	0.6%	0%
Pension insurance	18.6%	9.3%
Unemployment insurance	2.6%	1.30%

* for example this applies to the self-employed who have insurance cover but who are not entitled to sick pay

** This contribution rate may be even less if you have more than 1 child. More information on long-term care insurance costs .

*** in Saxony: 1.3%

Employer contributions and pension contributions

The employer pays half of the contribution rate for employees, apprentices and trainees. The German Statutory Pension Insurance Scheme pays half of the contributions for retirees who have statutory insurance cover.

Here you can calculate your personal contribution rate:

Calculate your contribution rate