Pension points are the everyday term for earnings points (Entgeltpunkte), which are used to calculate the statutory pension. Every year with compulsory contributions earns points, derived from your earnings in relation to the average of all insured persons. The following sections cover the calculation, the types of employment and how you can check your points.
Short answer: Pension points are officially called earnings points (Entgeltpunkte). If you earn exactly the average income of all insured persons, you collect 1 earnings point for that year. Lower earnings give fewer points and higher earnings give more, but only up to the contribution assessment ceiling (Beitragsbemessungsgrenze). Last updated: October 2026.
The key points in brief
- Pension points is the everyday term. Officially, they are called earnings points.
- One earnings point corresponds to one year at average earnings.
- Earnings above the contribution assessment ceiling do not earn any additional points.
- Working students collect points, and mini-job workers do too, unless they opt out of the requirement.
- Your points so far are shown in your pension statement from the German Pension Insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung).
How are earnings points calculated?
The calculation follows the ratio of your income to the average income of all insured persons in the same year. The German Pension Insurance describes earnings points mainly as the result of this ratio. For the pension calculation, the total of all points feeds into the pension formula. The pension formula converts the points into a monthly pension amount.
Assumption: your annual earnings are half the average income. That year then gives you 0.5 earnings points. Earnings above the average give more than 1 point, but only up to the contribution assessment ceiling. This calculation is simplified and leaves out special rules.
Which employment earns pension points?
Contribution periods count towards your pension. The table shows how this works in typical situations.
| Employment | Statutory pension insurance | What you should know |
|---|---|---|
| Working student job of up to 20 hours a week | Compulsory insurance, no special exemption | The working student privilege only exempts you from health, long-term care and unemployment insurance. You remain insured for the pension. |
| Mini-job | Generally compulsory insurance | An exemption is possible on application (§ 6 para. 1b SGB VI). The application is submitted to your employer. |
| Full-time or part-time employment subject to social insurance | Compulsory insurance | Points arise from gross earnings up to the contribution assessment ceiling. |
How can you check your points?
The earnings points you have collected so far are shown in your pension statement from the German Pension Insurance. You can retrieve them through your online account with the German Pension Insurance. Check that all periods of employment are recorded. Gaps can only be clarified with the evidence from your employers.
Why the points matter for students
Contributions from working student jobs count towards your pension calculation because they generate earnings points. Low earnings produce correspondingly few points. Whether a side job earns you points therefore depends on your earnings and on the type of employment. Our guide to pension insurance for students explains compulsory insurance and exemption in detail.
Frequently asked questions
Are pension points and earnings points the same thing?
Yes. In everyday language, people speak of pension points. Notices and pension statements use the term earnings points. The same value is meant.
Do I earn the same number of points every year?
No. The points depend on your earnings in that year, compared with the average for that year. Higher earnings give more points, up to the contribution assessment ceiling.
What happens to earnings above the ceiling?
The part of your earnings above the contribution assessment ceiling does not count towards your pension. In 2026, the ceiling is €8,450 per month (last updated: October 2026, source: German Pension Insurance). You can find more on this limit in our guide to the contribution assessment base.
Can I make voluntary contributions?
Voluntary contributions to the statutory pension insurance are possible under certain conditions. Whether they are worthwhile depends on your age, income and tax situation. The German Pension Insurance offers advice on this, independently of whether you seek advice from a provider.
Related reading
- Pension insurance for students in Germany: rules
- Student job 20-hour rule, pension and semester breaks
- Glossary: Versorgungswerk explained simply
- Contribution assessment base 2026: ceiling and floor
- Part-time jobs and taxes for students in Germany
Sources: German Pension Insurance: glossary entry on earnings points (accessed October 2026), § 6 SGB VI: Exemption from compulsory insurance (accessed October 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
