Pension gap: Civil servants' retirement pay far exceeds state pensions in Germany

A new analysis by the German Bundestag's scientific services reveals stark differences in retirement income between civil servants and those covered by the statutory pension system. The study, commissioned by the Left Party, shows that the 1.4 million civil servants in Germany receive an average monthly pension of 3,416 euros gross. In contrast, the approximately 20 million recipients of statutory pensions had an average net payment of 1,154 euros per month at the end of 2024.

“

We are exploring various measures to secure long-term competitiveness.

The figures indicate that about 60 percent of former civil servants and judges earn at least 3,000 euros gross per month. A significant portion, 8 percent, even exceed 5,000 euros monthly. For statutory pensioners, the situation is markedly different: around 37 percent receive less than 900 euros per month, with the largest group, 17 percent, falling between 900 and 1,200 euros. These figures for statutory pensioners are after deductions for health and nursing care contributions.

“

We fear this is purely a savings program ordered by the Spanish parent company, without a clear plan for how the company can develop positively in Germany.

However, the Bundestag's scientific services caution that a direct comparison between the two systems is difficult due to their fundamental differences. Civil servant pensions are financed by taxes, while statutory pensions rely on contributions. Furthermore, civil servants typically have uninterrupted career paths, whereas statutory pension calculations often include periods of part-time work, career breaks, or contributions from mini-jobs, leading to systematically lower average values. The Left Party advocates for a unified contribution-based insurance system for all workers, including civil servants, to address these disparities.

“

The goal for the future of the company is still unclear.