Students in Germany who earn more than 603 euros from a mini-job often ask whether student health insurance (Krankenversicherung der Studierenden, KVdS) then ends. The answer does not depend on the amount alone. This guide explains the role of the 603 euro limit, what the transition zone (Übergangsbereich, midi-job) means, and when student insurance actually ends.
Short answer: A mini-job stays marginal up to 603 euros per month (2026). Above that, the transition zone (midi-job) begins. For student insurance, the hours matter most: up to 20 hours per week as a working student, KVdS usually continues, even above 603 euros. With more hours it usually ends. Last updated October 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- The mini-job limit in 2026 is 603 euros per month and rises to 633 euros in 2027 according to the Minijob-Zentrale.
- Above this limit, the transition zone (midi-job) runs up to 2,000 euros per month, where contributions rise in steps.
- For working students, the 20-hour weekly limit counts for health insurance, not the amount.
- Family insurance has a special rule for marginal employment up to 603 euros.
- Above 20 hours per week, compulsory insurance as an employee is usually established.
What does the 603 euro limit mean?
The limit of 603 euros for 2026 results from the statutory minimum wage of 13.90 euros: 13.90 times 130, divided by 3, rounded up (§ 8 para. 1a SGB IV). Employment up to this limit counts as marginal. From 2027 the limit rises to 633 euros because the minimum wage rises to 14.60 euros (Minijob-Zentrale, limit 2027 (in German)). The limit therefore classifies the job, but does not automatically decide health insurance.
What is the transition zone (midi-job)?
Above 603 euros, the transition zone runs up to 2,000 euros per month (§ 20 para. 2 SGB IV). Social insurance contributions rise in steps in this zone. For health insurance, however, the transition zone is not the only factor. For students, the working-student exemption applies regardless of the level of pay, as long as the hour limit is kept (§ 6 para. 1 no. 3 SGB V).
The table shows four examples with assumptions. The hours are chosen so that the hourly wage is above the minimum wage.
| Monthly earnings (assumption) | Hours per week (assumption) | Classification | Effect on KVdS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 450 euros | 7 | mini-job up to 603 euros | usually continues |
| 590 euros | 9 | mini-job up to 603 euros | usually continues |
| 1,100 euros | 15 | transition zone, working-student rule | usually continues |
| 1,600 euros | 25 | transition zone, over 20 hours | compulsory insurance as an employee, KVdS ends |
What role does family insurance play?
For family insurance, your total income in 2026 may not exceed 565 euros per month (§ 10 para. 1 SGB V). For marginal employment, a regular total income up to the marginal employment limit, that is up to 603 euros, is permitted. The limit applies to all family members, including children who are insured through their parents. If you earn more than 603 euros, you usually fall out of family insurance.
When does student insurance end?
KVdS does not end simply because a job pays more than 603 euros. It ends when a job creates its own compulsory insurance, which usually means more than 20 hours per week without the working-student exemption. Our German guide on studying alongside a job explains the rules on hours, lecture-free periods and full-time work (in German).
Example: two jobs in the same month
Many students hold more than one job. An example (assumption): a mini-job with 7 hours per week brings in 450 euros per month. A working-student job with 14 hours per week brings in 1,000 euros. Each amount looks unremarkable on its own, but the hours add up to 21 per week. That exceeds the 20-hour limit, and the health fund checks whether compulsory insurance as an employee arises. Then KVdS usually ends.
This example shows why you should look at pay and hours separately. The total of your earnings does not matter for the hour limit, but the total of your hours does. For family insurance, however, all income is counted together, so you need to keep both in view. Our guide Private Health Insurance for Working Students in Germany covers the wider picture of working students and insurance choices.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay tax if I earn more than 603 euros?
Tax depends on your annual income. The basic allowance for 2026 is 12,348 euros per year (§ 32a EStG). You can calculate your own tax with the tax calculator of the German Federal Ministry of Finance. This guide deliberately does not calculate taxes in euros.
What changes in 2027?
The mini-job limit rises to 633 euros. The family insurance limit for 2027 is derived from the new reference income and is around 590 euros in the draft regulation. These figures apply only after final adoption, so check them again before you sign a contract (Minijob-Zentrale (in German)).
What happens if I exceed the limit unexpectedly?
An unforeseeable exceedance of the mini-job limit is permitted if earnings rise above the limit in no more than two calendar months per year, up to double the limit. For 2027, this ceiling is 1,266 euros per month (§ 8 para. 1b SGB IV). If exceedances are regular, the health fund reassesses the employment.
Does the limit also apply to working students?
For working students, the 603 euro limit is not decisive for health insurance. The 20-hour weekly limit is. A job with higher pay but no more than 20 hours per week usually leaves health insurance unaffected under the working-student exemption.
What to do now
- Add up your monthly earnings and your weekly hours, for all jobs.
- Classify each job: a mini-job up to 603 euros, or the transition zone above.
- Check that you keep within the 20-hour limit, and plan lecture-free periods separately.
- If you are or want to be family-insured, check the 565 euro limit and the special rule up to 603 euros.
- Report changes in earnings or hours to your health fund and employer in good time.
Related reading
- Students over 30 with a mini-job: health insurance costs
- Part-Time Jobs and Taxes for Students in Germany
- Student health insurance 2026: costs and cover
Sources: § 8 SGB IV and § 20 SGB IV (both gesetze-im-internet.de, accessed October 2026); § 10 SGB V; § 6 SGB V; Minijob-Zentrale, marginal employment limit 2027 (in German).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
