After school or training, many of them flirt with the voluntary military service of the Bundeswehr.
But how much money do soldiers earn there?
What is the salary?
The voluntary military service of the German Armed Forces (FWD) was launched in 2011 after compulsory military service in Germany was suspended.
With voluntary military service, those interested can "get a taste of the life of a soldier" without having to commit to working with a weapon.
Training in the Bundeswehr takes seven to 23 months.
The federal government has around 8,000 volunteers doing military service.
But do you also earn well?
We did the salary check.
Also read:
Career in the Bundeswehr: What civilian positions are there?
Basic salary and bonuses: This is how much soldiers earn in voluntary military service
Since January 1, 2020, the
monthly military salary
, as the basic salary is called in the federal government, has been
1,500 euros gross
in the lowest rank
.
Before that, those doing military service received around 840 euros plus around 500 euros in benefits in kind.
The higher the rank, the higher the basic salary: In the highest rank as a corporal in voluntary military service, you earn
1,900 euros gross
per month
.
Rank | Military salary base amount per month (gross) |
|---|---|
Grenadier, hunter, tank gunner, tank grenadier, tank destroyer, gunner, tank gunner, pioneer, tank engineer, radio operator, tank radio operator, rifleman, aviator, medic, sailor | 1,500 euros |
Private | 1,550 euros |
Corporal | 1,650 euros |
Corporal | 1,900 euros |
Source: Bundeswehr; As of 2021
In addition, FWD military service providers receive
separate surcharges between 305 and 350 euros per month
for
deployments abroad
(as of 2021).
Parents receive a child
surcharge of 100 euros
per child per month.
At the end of the service period
will also
a
dismissal
allowance
of 100 euros per month of service is
paid, provided that the period of service is longer than 6 months.
FWD soldiers can also
look forward
to some
free extras
.
For example, 2nd class train journeys between the Bundeswehr location and your home are free, as is medical care.
More on the topic:
Salaries in the Bundeswehr: How much do soldiers actually earn?
Examples of gross and net salaries in voluntary military service
On its website, the Bundeswehr lists some case studies of how the payment of soldiers for voluntary military service can look like
(according to the 2021 wage tax table)
:
Gunner, aviator, sailor (m / f / d), 18 years old, single, no children
, lives in shared accommodation, income tax class I: 1,500.00 euros gross /
1,391.19 euros net
.
Corporal (male /
female
), 23 years old, married, 1 child,
lives in his own apartment, income tax class IV, 1 child allowance: 1,750.00 gross (incl. 100 euros child surcharge) /
1,589.63 euros net
.
Principal private (
male
/
female
), 25 years, married, 2 children
, lives in his own apartment, income tax class IV, 2 child allowances: EUR 2,100.00 gross (incl. EUR 200 child
surcharge
) /
EUR 1,846.86 net
.
By the way, a new
voluntary military service in homeland security
started in April 2021
.
You can read here how much salary is paid there and what differences there are.
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