To belong to the middle class in Germany, a single person needs to earn between €1 940 and €3 630 per month ‘net’, the experts at the Institute of the German Economy (IW) determined in a study presented on 19 October 2026. The information may be useful for Ukrainian readers because of its potential impact on exchange rates, prices and the labour market.
Income thresholds for a single adult
According to IW estimates, for a single person the middle-class threshold is from €1 940 to €3 630 net per month, that is after taxes. At the same time, an income of more than €6 050 per month puts someone among the richest 4% of the population.
The stated thresholds apply specifically to single individuals and are given in net income. The researchers note that many people assess their wellbeing by comparing themselves with friends and colleagues.
Distribution by education and household type
The median equivalised household income in Germany two years ago was €2 419 per month; this measure takes into account household composition and the needs of its members. For people with a university degree the median equivalised income was €3 140 per month, which corresponds to the upper third of the income distribution.
Childless couples where both partners work have higher incomes: almost 12% of such households had a joint net income from €9 070 per month. This, the study estimates, is roughly three times the share of affluent households in the population on average.
How Germans view their own income level
Most Germans consider themselves middle class and are less likely to see themselves as poor or wealthy. The researchers explain this by noting that people generally compare their wellbeing with the incomes of friends, colleagues and neighbours who are in similar life circumstances.
‘Other people primarily seem wealthy — that impression is understandable, but it can be misleading,’ explains IW economist Judith Nigus. According to her, many Germans underestimate their position in the overall income distribution, and employment and higher education offer good chances of earning a comparatively high income in the country.
