Anyone looking into the new military service in Germany asks about pay first. The Bundeswehr names a basic salary for volunteers that varies with the length of service. This guide separates the amounts the Bundeswehr states from the points on which its page gives no figure.
Short answer: Volunteers in the new Wehrdienst receive, according to the Bundeswehr, about 2,600 euros gross per month as basic pay for six to eleven months of service. From twelve months as a temporary professional soldier, the page gives around 2,700 euros gross. Accommodation and uniform are provided. Source status: 19 December 2025. Status of this guide: November 2026.
The key points at a glance
- Volunteer Wehrdienst recruits serving six to eleven months receive about 2,600 euros gross per month.
- Temporary soldiers serving at least twelve months receive around 2,700 euros gross per month.
- Accommodation in barracks during training and uniform are provided free of charge.
- The page gives no amount for allowances or for promotion to Gefreiter.
- The driving licence grant requires at least twelve months of service.
How high is the basic pay in the new Wehrdienst?
The Bundeswehr distinguishes two groups. Volunteer Wehrdienst recruits (FWDL) usually serve up to eleven months, while temporary soldiers serve from twelve months onwards. For the first group the page states about 2,600 euros gross per month, for the second around 2,700 euros gross. According to the page, these rules apply since 1 January 2026.
The two amounts lie close together. The difference comes from the length of the commitment, not from a different task. Anyone who opts for more than eleven months changes to the status of a temporary soldier. The duration itself is covered in our guide on the length of the Wehrdienst (in German).
The amounts at a glance
The table below brings together the Bundeswehr’s figures. Where the page gives no amount, the row says so explicitly.
| Item | Duration or trigger | Figure stated by the Bundeswehr |
|---|---|---|
| Volunteer Wehrdienst recruits | 6 to 11 months | about 2,600 euros gross per month (basic pay) |
| Temporary soldier | from 12 months | around 2,700 euros gross per month |
| Promotion to Gefreiter | usually after three months | no amount on the page |
| Allowances for overtime or night work | ongoing | no amount on the page |
| Meals | during service | about 10 euros per day (full board) |
Which benefits the Bundeswehr provides in addition
Besides basic pay, the Bundeswehr names several benefits in kind. They affect your monthly expenses directly, because you do not carry certain costs yourself.
- Accommodation in barracks during training is free of charge.
- Meals are provided by the Bundeswehr, which the page puts at about ten euros per day.
- Health insurance contributions do not apply, because medical care within the unit is free of charge. Our guide on health insurance during service (in German) explains what this means in practice.
- Uniform and equipment are free of charge, and so are train journeys in uniform.
The driving licence grant in detail
A grant for a driving licence is tied to a minimum length of service. The page names twelve months and a start of service after 1 January 2026. Then up to 3,500 euros are available for a class B licence and up to 5,000 euros for a lorry licence.
The issue date of the licence may be at most one year after the end of service. If you plan to claim the grant, take the licence in good time after your service ends.
How to work out the net amount yourself
A net amount depends on taxes and other deductions, which vary from case to case. For this reason this guide does not calculate a net figure. The steps below show how to work with the verified amounts.
- Assumption: you receive the basic pay of about 2,600 euros gross per month.
- Enter the amount into the tax calculator of the Federal Ministry of Finance (bmf-steuerrechner.de) and select your tax class and family status.
- Consider the benefits in kind separately, because accommodation and uniform are not part of the salary.
- Check whether further deductions apply, and ask the responsible office where the page leaves something open.
Reading gross and net correctly
All figures from the Bundeswehr are gross amounts. Gross is the amount before taxes and deductions. Net is what arrives in your account, and this value depends on your personal situation. Anyone who confuses gross and net quickly overestimates the money available.
The benefits in kind add to the financial advantage, because they are not included in the salary figure. You do not pay for accommodation during training or for your uniform. Your expenses fall as a result, although the basic pay stays the same.
Which details remain open
The page leaves some points open. These include the level of allowances, the amount after promotion and the exact billing of meals. The page also does not say how the amounts will develop in future. The figures carry the status of 19 December 2025, so ask the Bundeswehr for the current position before you decide.
How to include the pay in your planning
For planning, a simple calculation works: take the net amount, subtract your fixed costs and check what remains. Free accommodation and uniform are a relief that does not appear in any net figure.
Frequently asked questions
Is the meal provision set off against the pay?
The page describes meals as a benefit in kind worth about ten euros per day. How this appears in your statement is for the responsible service office to clarify in your individual case.
Does the pay rise after a promotion?
According to the page, most volunteers are promoted to Gefreiter after three months, which raises the pay. The page gives no specific amount. The amount is said to follow from the pay tables, which you can consult there.
Are there allowances for night work or overtime?
The page mentions allowances for overtime or night work but gives no amount. The current rates are best obtained directly from the Bundeswehr.
Is the pay taxable?
The Bundeswehr’s figures are gross amounts. Whether taxes apply, and how much, depends on your personal situation. For an estimate, the tax calculator of the Federal Ministry of Finance is suitable.
What to do now
- Decide how long you want to serve, because the duration determines the basic pay.
- Work out the net amount with the tax calculator of the Federal Ministry of Finance.
- Check whether you will reach the twelve months needed for the driving licence grant.
- Confirm current allowances and pay tables with the Bundeswehr before you plan around them.
Related guides
- Military Service and Studies 2026: The Overview for Men and Women
- Wehrdienst duration: how long the new service lasts
- Voluntary Wehrdienst: how the contract works
- Wehrdienst and health insurance: who pays during service
- Wehrdienst and BAföG: does service affect funding?
Sources: Neuer Wehrdienst, bundeswehr.de (page status: 19 December 2025, section on pay and benefits).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
