if you want to check the taxes and social security on your income in Germany try this link
http://www.focus.de/finanzen/steuern/gehaltsplaner
there you can enter your income (per month=pro Monat or per year=pro Jahr/ brutto=before tax or netto=after tax/ single (Steuerklasse I) or married (Steuerklasse III) and number of kids=Zahl der Kinder)
Bundesland (Bayern for Munich, Badenw. for Karlsruhe and Hessen for Frankfurt/Langen)
health insurance=Krankenkasse (privat most of the time for ATCOs)
and you get your income after tax (without extra pay for shift penalties of course)
and you can live with the money since you are way above the average income here in Germany. And yes, it ain't bad to speak a little of the language, but as long as you stay in the urban area you can survive with english alone. And you can ask for help anytime. We had some folks of Ireland working on a 5 year contract and I think they enjoyed the experience, maybe you find some of them to chit-chat a bit.
and further questions are welcome
even via PM if you want to ask for something special or secret
Have fun
Saigor