Is the 13th-month salary mandatory in Germany?

No. There is no general legal right to a 13th-month salary or Weihnachtsgeld in Germany. It arises from your employment contract, a collective agreement (Tarifvertrag), a works agreement, or established custom (betriebliche Übung). Public-sector TVöD staff receive a Jahressonderzahlung, and many private contracts include one.

How is the pro-rated amount worked out?

If you did not work the whole calendar year, the entitlement is usually reduced in proportion to the months worked: full amount × months worked ÷ 12. Some agreements use a qualifying date instead, so check your specific contract.

What percentage is a 13th-month payment?

A classic 13th-month salary equals one full extra month, so 100 percent of monthly pay. Weihnachtsgeld and TVöD Jahressonderzahlung are often a percentage of monthly pay, ranging from around 30 to 90 percent depending on pay group and sector. Enter your contract's percentage.

Is the 13th-month salary taxed?

Yes. It is treated as a one-off payment (sonstiger Bezug) and is subject to income tax and social contributions, often pushing that month into a higher effective deduction. This calculator shows the gross entitlement before tax and social contributions.

Does it affect my holiday or sick pay?

Generally a 13th-month salary is a separate special payment and does not change your monthly base or holiday pay. However, whether it is owed in full when you leave mid-year depends on contract clawback (Rückzahlungsklausel) and qualifying-date rules.

Germany 13th Month Salary Calculator

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A 13th-month salary (13. Monatsgehalt) or Weihnachtsgeld is an extra payment many German employers make once a year. It is not a statutory right but comes from your contract or a collective agreement. This calculator shows the full entitlement and pro-rates it for a partial year.

How it works

The full payment is a percentage of your monthly salary. If you worked only part of the year it is reduced in proportion to the months worked:

full payment = monthly salary × (percentage ÷ 100)
pro-rated    = full payment × (months worked ÷ 12)

A true 13th-month salary uses 100 percent, giving one whole extra month. Weihnachtsgeld or a TVöD Jahressonderzahlung often uses a lower percentage.

Example

A monthly salary of 4,000 EUR with a 100 percent 13th-month entitlement gives a full 4,000 EUR. An employee who joined in July and worked 6 months would receive 4,000 × 6 ÷ 12 = 2,000 EUR.

Notes

The result is gross, before income tax and social contributions, which are deducted as for a one-off payment. Qualifying-date rules and clawback clauses vary by contract. Everything is computed in your browser.