Short answer: Tutoring has no statutory hourly rate of its own. The reliable floor is this: if you teach as an employee, you are entitled to at least the statutory minimum wage of 13.90 euros gross per hour (as of 1 January 2026). From 1 January 2027 it is 14.60 euros. Self-employed tutors set their own rate, based on preparation time, travel and cancellations (last updated: November 2026).
Anyone who gives private lessons quickly notices that the price per hour shows only part of the bill. Preparation, travel, cancellations and the gaps between two appointments are part of the work, yet often go unpaid. This guide explains which floor applies, how to calculate an hourly rate and how tax and social security fit into the picture. It cannot set market prices, but it gives you a sound calculation for your own situation.
Key points at a glance
- Floor: employees are entitled to the minimum wage, which is 13.90 euros gross per hour in 2026.
- Self-employed tutors: without an employment relationship there is no statutory minimum rate, so the rate is freely calculable.
- Effective hourly pay: the total paid time counts, not only the minutes spent teaching.
- Tax: allowances for part-time teaching activities do not apply in every case.
- Mini-job: the limit is 603 euros a month in 2026 and 633 euros in 2027.
Which floor applies to tutoring?
The minimum wage is the statutory minimum hourly pay for employees. The Fifth Minimum Wage Adjustment Ordinance sets it at 13.90 euros gross per hour for 2026 and 14.60 euros for 2027. The source is the page of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs on the minimum wage adjustment (in German).
| Year | Minimum wage per hour | Mini-job limit per month |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 13.90 euros gross | 603 euros |
| 2027 | 14.60 euros gross | 633 euros |
Last updated: November 2026. The mini-job limit follows from the minimum wage under § 8 para. 1a SGB IV, see gesetze-im-internet.de, § 8 SGB IV (in German).
Assumption: you teach as an employee of a tutoring institute for ten hours a week at the minimum wage of 13.90 euros, over 52 weeks. Your annual income is then 7,228 euros, which is about 602.33 euros per month on average. That is just below the mini-job limit of 603 euros. For tutoring as an employee, the same logic applies as for other mini-jobs.
Why the minimum wage is only a floor
The minimum wage refers to paid working time. Whether preparation, travel and waiting time count depends on how the employment is structured. A self-employed tutor has to build this time into the price, because nobody pays it separately. This is the most common mistake: many students calculate only the lesson and are surprised later by low earnings.
Cancellations matter as well. If pupils cancel at short notice or appointments fall away during the semester, you earn nothing for time you have kept free. A rate must therefore allow for lost appointments, otherwise less remains at the end of the month than you expected.
How to calculate your hourly rate
- Determine how long an appointment actually takes, for example 60 minutes of teaching.
- Record the time for preparation, travel and documentation per appointment, for example 20 minutes of preparation and 10 minutes of travel.
- Divide your desired price per lesson by the total time in hours.
- Add a buffer for cancellations and check the figure against your real numbers after a few months.
Assumption: you charge 20 euros per 60-minute lesson. Each appointment also needs 20 minutes of preparation and 10 minutes of travel, so 90 minutes in total. Arithmetically, 20 euros divided by 1.5 hours gives 13.33 euros per hour actually spent. That figure is the honest comparison with the minimum wage, not the price per lesson.
Tax and allowances for tutoring
Part-time teaching activities can benefit from tax allowances. Under § 3 no. 26 EStG, income up to 3,300 euros a year is tax-free, and the expense allowance under no. 26a is 960 euros a year. The wording is on gesetze-im-internet.de, § 3 EStG (in German); the version was not dated when checked in November 2026.
Whether these allowances apply to your tutoring depends on whom you teach and in what framework. For purely private tutoring they often do not apply. When income tax becomes due is explained in our guide on tutoring and tax. For net examples we refer to the tax calculator of the Federal Ministry of Finance.
Employed or self-employed: what changes the rate
As an employee of a tutoring institute you usually receive a fixed hourly wage or a fee per lesson. The employer handles organisation, advertising and contracts, so you do not set the price yourself. As a self-employed tutor you set the price, but also handle client acquisition, cancellations and admin. The calculation for your rate therefore differs fundamentally, even if the hour in class looks the same.
In both cases, anyone who works regularly for the same client and receives instructions on times and content should check their status. A status assessment at the pension insurance (in German) can create clarity before misunderstandings arise.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I earn from tutoring per month?
That depends on hours, subject, region and demand. Calculate with your own model of teaching, preparation and cancellations, rather than with averages from the internet.
Does the minimum wage apply to private tutoring?
The minimum wage applies to employees. If you teach self-employed, there is no statutory minimum hourly pay for your activity. The distinction depends on the contract and on how the work is actually organised.
When does tutoring turn into a mini-job with a limit?
If you are employed and your regular monthly pay exceeds the limit of 603 euros in 2026, the situation changes. From 2027 the limit is 633 euros.
Do I have to declare my income?
Tutoring income can be relevant for tax even when it is small. Whether you must declare it depends on the amount and the kind of activity. If in doubt, ask your tax office.
Can I charge different rates for different subjects?
Yes. Subjects with high exam pressure, such as mathematics or foreign languages, are often in higher demand than others. Whether you charge different rates is a pricing decision based on your time and demand. What matters is that every rate also includes preparation time.
What to do now
- Decide whether you teach as an employee of an institute or self-employed.
- Calculate teaching, preparation and travel time for a typical appointment.
- Work out the effective hourly rate and compare it with the minimum wage.
- Set a cancellation buffer and review your model after three months.
Related reading
- Founding alongside your studies: funding programmes and advice
- Tutoring and tax: when income tax becomes due
- Comparing tutoring platforms
- Side jobs with high hourly pay
- Side jobs and tax (in German)
Sources: Fifth Minimum Wage Adjustment Ordinance, Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (in German; values for 2026 and 2027), § 3 no. 26 and 26a EStG, gesetze-im-internet.de (in German; checked November 2026) and § 8 SGB IV, gesetze-im-internet.de (in German; checked November 2026).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
