Gross salary is what your contract says; net is what lands in your account after income tax and social contributions. This calculator estimates take-home pay for EU countries.
Tax wedges differ a lot inside the EU — the same gross salary can produce a net that differs by hundreds of euros a month between countries.
The estimate uses simplified national rules for a single employee without special deductions. Family status, regional taxes and allowances shift the exact number; treat the result as a close first approximation.
The gross figure on a contract is not what the employer pays. Employer social contributions sit on top of it and vary from a few percent to over 30% across the EU, which is why the same total cost to a company produces very different net pay depending on the country the job sits in.
Comparing net pay across borders also needs the cost of living and what the contributions buy. A higher deduction that covers healthcare, childcare and a funded pension is not straightforwardly worse than a lower one that leaves those to be bought privately — the net figure alone cannot settle that.
Thirteenth and fourteenth monthly payments are standard in several countries and change the monthly comparison materially. An annual gross divided by twelve overstates the monthly amount where the contract actually pays it across fourteen instalments.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the net so much lower than gross?
Income tax plus employee social-security contributions (pension, health, unemployment) typically take 25–45% of gross pay in the EU, depending on the country and income level.
What is the tax wedge?
The gap between what employment costs the employer and what the employee takes home — income tax plus both sides' social contributions. In much of the EU it exceeds 40% of total labour cost.
Does the calculator include regional taxes and family deductions?
No — it applies simplified national rules for a single employee. Regional surtaxes, family allowances and special regimes shift the exact figure, so treat the result as a close first approximation.