3,000 euros pension - only a few achieve this standard of living

Created: 12/02/2022, 12:00 p.m

By: Anna Heyers

A pension of 3,000 euros a month is possible, but unfortunately remains a dream for most people.

Because that requires certain conditions.

Enjoy your retirement carefree and relaxed - and ideally with enough money in your account to be able to experience a lot more.

That's probably what most employees in Germany like to dream of.

In theory, this is even possible: with a monthly pension of more than 3,000 euros.

But only those who pay the highest possible contribution to the statutory pension insurance for at least 45 years receive the maximum pension.

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Maximum pension: There is a monthly maximum

In 2021, the average German pension was just 1,089 euros per month.

In order for there to be more, you need more so-called pension points.

Because they determine at the end of working life how high the monthly pension will be.

Looking positively into the future is definitely easier if you don't have to worry about money in retirement.

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At the moment there is 36.02 euros for one pension point in the west (east: 35.52 euros).

Your own income determines the number of pension points.

With an average salary of 38,901 euros (as of 2022), for example, you would get exactly one pension point.

However, there is also a maximum limit.

In 2022, this will be 84,000 euros per year.

Dividing this sum by the average salary gives the maximum number of possible pension points for the year (2022 = 2.17).

3,000 euros pension: how can you achieve it?

First of all, it should be said: It is difficult to receive a pension of more than 3,000 euros.

In 2020, just 40 pensioners made it, according to statistics from the German pension insurance.

A monthly pension of 2,000 euros would be much more feasible.

However, if one were to calculate with the maximum amounts, the following example would result: Max Mustermann works for 45 years and earns two pension points in each of these years.

At the end, they are multiplied by the current pension value of 36.02 euros and result in a monthly pension of around 3,242 euros.

Calculating the pension using the pension formula

Pay points (max. 2.17) x access factor (contribution years) x current pension value (36.02 euros) = monthly gross pension.

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Conversely, according to this calculation, you need 1.85 pension points per year for a monthly gross pension of 3,000 euros with 45 years of contributions.

Retirement: Average pension far from 3,000 euros

Getting more than 3,000 euros a month in pension payments will probably remain a dream for most retirees.

The standard gross pension for someone who has paid contributions for an average salary for 45 years is currently around €1,539 in the West.

Health and long-term care insurance are deducted from this, leaving around EUR 1,369 net (before taxes).

By the way: periods of raising children can also be counted towards the pension.

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For those who retire in 2020, there is an average of 1,182 euros (women: 774 euros).

The widow's pension (widower: 316 euros/month, widows: 692 euros/month) is even lower, but is added to the pension.

Important: The nursing care and health insurance have already been deducted from this, but not the income tax.