Minimum Wage & Minijob 2026 in Germany
€13.90 hourly wage and €603 minijob limit, plus the 2027 outlook at €14.60.
Last updated: 17 May 2026 · Author: Checkalle
Germany's statutory minimum wage has been €13.90 gross per hour since 1 January 2026. The minijob threshold (Geringfügigkeitsgrenze) rose at the same time to €603 per month, or €7,236 per year. Both figures come from the Fifth Minimum Wage Adjustment Ordinance (MiLoV5), published in the Federal Law Gazette in November 2025 (BGBl. 2025 I Nr. 268).
Key Takeaways
- Minimum wage 2026: €13.90/hour (up from €12.82)
- Minijob limit 2026: €603/month, €7,236 per year
- Max minijob hours: around 43.4 per month (€603 ÷ €13.90)
- Midijob zone: €603.01 to €2,000, social contributions rise gradually
- Already set: €14.60/hour from 1 January 2027
€13.90
Minimum wage per hour
€603
Minijob limit per month
~43.4 h
Max hours/month (minijob)
How many hours can you work in a minijob?
At €13.90 minimum wage and €603 earnings cap, the answer is about 43.4 hours per month. What counts is the yearly average, not each single month. Peak-season overtime is fine as long as the annual total stays under €7,236.
| Hourly wage | Max hours/month | Max hours/week |
|---|---|---|
| €13.90 (minimum) | 43.4 | around 10 |
| €15.00 | 40.2 | around 9.3 |
| €18.00 | 33.5 | around 7.7 |
| €22.00 | 27.4 | around 6.3 |
The higher your hourly wage, the fewer hours fit into a minijob. The monthly euro cap stays the same, only the hour count changes.
Minimum Wage Development 2024 to 2027
| Year | Minimum wage/hour | Minijob limit |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | €12.41 | €538 |
| 2025 | €12.82 | €556 |
| 2026 | €13.90 | €603 |
| 2027 | €14.60 | around €633 |
Figures from the BMAS and the Minimum Wage Commission ruling. The 2025 to 2026 jump of 8.4% is the largest since the minimum wage was introduced in 2015.
What Minijobbers Need to Know in 2026
No income tax for you
You don't pay income tax. Your employer covers a 2% flat-rate tax (Pauschsteuer) to the Minijob-Zentrale.
Pension insurance optional
By default, 3.6% of your wage goes into the pension scheme. You can opt out, but the decision is final for the job.
Multiple minijobs allowed
You can have several minijobs as long as the total stays under €603/month. Exceeding the limit triggers backdated contributions.
Minijob alongside main job
One minijob next to a regular employment contract is contribution-free. The second side job already brings full deductions.
Need a buffer when the month-end gets tight? A small loan in Germany can bridge the gap. Foreign professionals may also want to check loans for foreign professionals.
The Midijob Transition Zone (€603.01 to €2,000)
Key figures 2026
- Lower limit:€603.01
- Upper limit:€2,000
- Employee contribution at start:close to 0%
- Employee contribution at €2,000:around 20%
Why the transition zone helps
Inside the zone (€603 to €2,000), social contributions rise gradually. At €603 you pay almost nothing, at €2,000 the full rate.
Important: You still earn full pension entitlements even though you pay less. The employer pays the full share regardless.
Looking Ahead: Minimum Wage Rises to €14.60 in 2027
In the same session in June 2025, the Minimum Wage Commission also set the 2027 figure: €14.60 per hour from 1 January 2027. The minijob limit would rise to around €633 per month under the same formula. The exact number will be set by ordinance in autumn 2026.
If you plan longer-term, keep both dates in mind. Together, 2026 and 2027 bring a wage increase of about 13.9% compared to 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the exact minimum wage in Germany for 2026?
The statutory minimum wage has been €13.90 gross per hour since 1 January 2026. For a 40-hour week, that works out to roughly €2,412 gross per month. The legal basis is the Fifth Minimum Wage Adjustment Ordinance (MiLoV5), BGBl. 2025 I Nr. 268.
Where does the 2026 minijob limit stand?
The minijob limit (Geringfügigkeitsgrenze, marginal employment threshold) is €603 per month in 2026, or €7,236 per year. It is dynamically linked to the minimum wage: minimum wage × 130 ÷ 3 = €602.33, rounded up to €603.
How many hours can you work in a minijob in 2026?
At €13.90 minimum wage you can work up to about 43.4 hours per month. The annual average matters, not each single month. You can pull longer hours in peak season as long as the yearly total stays under €7,236.
What happens if you exceed the €603 limit?
If you go over €603 unexpectedly in more than two months per year, the job stays a minijob. From the third overage onward, the job becomes retroactively subject to social security. If the overage is planned from the start, you fall straight into the midijob transition zone.
Do you pay tax as a minijobber?
Usually no. Your employer pays 2% flat-rate tax (Pauschsteuer) to the Minijob-Zentrale. Individual taxation by tax class is an option but rarely pays off, except in special cases like Steuerklasse III for married couples.
What is the difference between minijob and midijob?
Minijob: up to €603/month, no income tax, pension contributions optional. Midijob (transition zone): €603.01 to €2,000/month, reduced social contributions that rise gradually. From €2,000 onwards, full social security applies.
When does the minimum wage rise next?
On 1 January 2027 to €14.60 per hour. Already set by the Minimum Wage Commission's unanimous decision on 27 June 2025. The minijob limit will be adjusted in parallel and published by ordinance in autumn 2026.
Sources & Legal Basis
- § 9 Minimum Wage Act (MiLoG)
- MiLoV5: Fifth Minimum Wage Adjustment Ordinance, BGBl. 2025 I Nr. 268 (published 7 November 2025)
- BMAS, current minimum wage figures
- Minimum Wage Commission, decision of 27 June 2025
- Minijob-Zentrale, Geringfügigkeitsgrenze
- Federal Government, minimum wage announcement