Short answer
The minimum wage of €13.90 gross per hour does not always apply to a student internship. Exempt are a compulsory internship, an orientation internship and an accompanying internship, each for up to three months. For social insurance, what matters is whether the internship is required and whether it is paid. The governing rules are the Minimum Wage Act and the joint circular of 2016.
| Point | Figure | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage 2026 | €13.90 gross per hour | MiLoV5, retrieved 20 October 2026 |
| Minimum wage 2027 | €14.60 gross per hour | MiLoV5, retrieved 20 October 2026 |
| Exception for a compulsory internship | No minimum wage if a regulation requires the internship | Section 22(1) sentence 2 no. 1 MiLoG |
| Exception for orientation and accompanying internships | No minimum wage for up to three months | Section 22(1) sentence 2 nos. 2 and 3 MiLoG |
| Social insurance for a compulsory internship | Exempt from health, long-term care and unemployment insurance; pension insurance exempt regardless of duration | Joint circular 2016, section 3.3 |
When does the minimum wage apply to a student internship?
Interns are generally regarded as employees within the meaning of the Minimum Wage Act. The law names three exceptions. The first covers an internship that is compulsory under school, vocational training or university law. The second covers an orientation internship of up to three months before vocational training or studies. The third covers an accompanying internship of up to three months alongside vocational or university training, provided that no internship relationship with the same training provider existed before.
A voluntary internship lasting longer than three months is not covered by the exception, according to the wording of the law. In that case the minimum wage applies.
How much does the student internship pay?
Where the minimum wage applies, the pay depends on the number of hours worked. The following calculation uses 20 hours per week and 4.33 weeks per month, which makes 86.6 hours.
- Hours per month: 20 times 4.33 gives 86.6 hours.
- Minimum wage 2026: 86.6 times €13.90 gives around €1,204 gross per month.
- Minimum wage 2027: 86.6 times €14.60 gives around €1,264 gross per month.
Which social insurance contributions apply?
That depends on whether the internship is compulsory and whether it is paid. A compulsory internship is exempt from insurance in health, long-term care and unemployment insurance. In pension insurance it remains exempt regardless of its duration. A voluntary paid internship is generally subject to insurance, and for an interim internship the rules for working students apply in health, long-term care and unemployment insurance.
A preliminary or follow-up internship with pay creates insurance obligations in all four branches under the circular. Without pay, the rule of Section 5(1) no. 10 SGB V applies to students. The guide on health insurance during an internship explains how this affects your health insurance.
Does the internship affect child benefit?
During a first degree there is no earnings limit for child benefit (Kindergeld), so employment does no harm. However, the family benefits office checks the entitlement case by case, especially for a second degree. There, a limit of 20 hours per week applies to paid work.
Frequently asked questions
Does a compulsory student internship have to be paid?
The statutory minimum wage does not apply to a compulsory internship. Pay can still be agreed. In that case it should be stated in the contract, and the social insurance contributions depend on the pay.
What applies if a voluntary internship lasts longer than three months?
According to the wording of the Minimum Wage Act, the exception no longer applies once the duration exceeds three months. The minimum wage then applies to the entire internship, not only from the fourth month.
How much do I earn at 20 hours per week?
At the 2026 minimum wage this is around €1,204 gross per month, and in 2027 around €1,264. These figures only apply if the minimum wage applies at all.
Do I pay social insurance contributions for a compulsory internship?
For a compulsory internship, health, long-term care and unemployment insurance are generally exempt. Pension insurance is exempt regardless of duration. Still check your payslip, because the exceptions depend on the exact circumstances.
How to proceed now
- Check whether your examination or study regulations require the internship, and have the placement confirmed in writing.
- Work out the duration in months. If a voluntary internship lasts longer than three months, the minimum wage applies.
- Agree hours, pay and duration in the contract, so that the pay statement can be checked.
- Tell the employer about your student status and ask which type of insurance applies.
- Check the pay statement for contributions, and ask your health insurer if anything is unclear.
Related guides
- Internship during studies: compulsory, duration and pay (in German)
- Health insurance during an internship: what students need to know (in German)
- Health insurance during an internship abroad (in German)
- Working student: 20-hour rule, pension and semester breaks (in German)
Sources and checks
- Section 22(1) sentence 2 nos. 1 to 3 Minimum Wage Act (MiLoG), gesetze-im-internet.de, retrieved 20 October 2026
- Fifth Minimum Wage Adjustment Ordinance (MiLoV5), Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, retrieved 20 October 2026
- Joint circular “Employment of students as working students, trainees and interns” of 23 November 2016, sections 1.3 and 3.2 to 3.6
- Section 5(1) no. 10 SGB V, gesetze-im-internet.de, retrieved 20 October 2026
Information, not individual advice.
Editorial team: Academycon · Last updated: October 2026
If you want to have your internship checked, the Academycon online check is the next step.
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
