What “salary after tax” means
Your gross salary is the figure in your contract. What reaches your bank account is smaller: the employer withholds income tax and, in most European countries, mandatory social insurance contributions before paying you. The remainder is your net salary, also called take-home pay.
Each country page on this site applies the official withholding rules of that country for the tax year shown at the top of the page. The result is the full breakdown your payslip would show, for a whole year and per month, together with what the employer pays on top of your gross.
Why the same gross salary lands differently in each country
Three things drive the difference. First, how progressive the income tax is and where the tax-free allowance ends. Second, whether social insurance is a percentage of your salary up to a ceiling, a flat contribution, or funded through general taxation. Third, which personal circumstances the payroll system recognises, such as marital status, children or church membership. A country with a low headline tax rate can still leave you with less if its contributions are high, which is why comparing net figures is more useful than comparing tax rates.
Employer cost
Employers pay their own share of social insurance on top of your gross. The country pages show that share too, so you can see the total cost of employing you. In several European countries it adds a substantial amount to the gross salary; this matters when you negotiate as a contractor or compare an offer against an employer’s budget.
How to use the results
The numbers are withholding estimates for a regular monthly salary. They do not replace a tax return, which can add deductible expenses, other income or credits. Treat the result as a reliable first answer to “how much will I actually get?”, and verify details that depend on your situation with the tax authority or an adviser.