You can find a student side job fastest through your university job board, job portals with a working student filter, and speculative applications to companies near you. Two limits decide which position suits you: a minijob ends at €603 per month, and a working student job allows at most 20 hours per week during the lecture period.
The statutory minimum wage in 2026 is €13.90 gross per hour. If you check hours, pay and type of contract before you apply, you avoid nasty surprises with BAföG and health insurance.
The most important points in brief
- Good starting points are the job board and career service of your university, job portals with a working student filter, speculative applications and your personal network.
- The minijob ends at €603 per month (from 1 January 2027: €633). The working student job allows up to 20 hours per week during the lecture period.
- Minimum wage: €13.90 per hour in 2026, €14.60 from 1 January 2027. Student assistants without a degree receive €15.20 under the state guidelines.
- Ask about weekly hours, the rota during exam periods and the type of contract in the interview. Have everything confirmed in writing.
Which student side job suits you: minijob or working student?
If you want few, fixed hours, a minijob suits you. If you want to earn more and work in a field related to your studies, a working student position suits you. The differences lie in the limit, pension insurance and health insurance.
| Criterion | Minijob | Working student |
|---|---|---|
| Limit | Up to €603 per month (2027: €633) | Up to 20 hours per week during the lecture period |
| Pension insurance | 3.6 % own share, can be waived on request | Mandatory, 18.6 %, split equally with the employer (reduced own share between €603.01 and €2,000) |
| Health, long-term care and unemployment insurance | Family insurance remains possible with a pure minijob up to €603 | Exempt from contributions in the job, you remain insured through student health insurance |
| Suits you if you … | are looking for fixed, manageable hours | want more hours and work related to your field |
Both forms are side jobs. Our article on earning money alongside your studies (in German) gives an overview of all routes and their effects on BAföG and child benefit. The limits for family insurance are explained in our article on income limits for family insurance (in German).
Where can you look for a side job?
Use several channels at the same time. Many positions are filled through personal contacts before they are advertised publicly.
- University: The job board and career service of your university list positions aimed at students. Notices in your faculty and the canteen show local offers.
- Job portals: General job portals and portals for student jobs let you filter by location, activity and type of employment. Set the filter to working student or minijob.
- Speculative application: Write to companies near you, even without an advertised position.
- Network: Ask fellow students, lecturers, family and friends about open positions.
- Local businesses: Cafés, restaurants and small shops often look for student staff by notice.
There are also positions as student assistant directly at the university. Our separate article explains how working as a student assistant at university (in German) works. If you want to work independently of location, you will find ideas for home office jobs during your studies (in German). The overview of industries for student jobs (in German) shows which sectors fit with a timetable.
What hourly wage does a student earn?
Students are subject to the statutory minimum wage: €13.90 gross per hour in 2026 and €14.60 from 1 January 2027. Exceptions are compulsory internships prescribed by the study regulations. A voluntary internship is generally paid at least the minimum wage once it lasts longer than three months. Student assistants without a degree receive €15.20 under the guidelines of the federal states.
Worked example: at the minimum wage of €13.90, you reach the €603 of a minijob after just over 43 hours per month, which is around 10 hours per week. With 15 hours per week as a working student, you earn around €907 gross over 4.35 weeks per month. This puts you above the BAföG limit of €603 gross and above the family insurance limit of €565.
How do you apply for a student job?
The application is similar to one for a full-time position, but shorter. Employers want to know when you have time.
- CV: Up to date, clear and ideally one to two pages. Include your degree programme, internships, volunteer work and skills.
- Cover letter: Short and related to the position. Say why you are applying, what you bring and how many hours per week you can work.
- Documents: Certificate of enrolment, references from previous jobs and a current overview of grades if the position is related to your field.
In the interview, preparation and clarity count. Read up on the company and think about answers to typical questions. Ask about induction, tasks and team structure, as well as weekly hours, the rota during exam periods and the type of contract.
What should you check regarding working hours and contract?
- Have the hours per week or per month confirmed in writing. For working student status, the weekly hours during the lecture period count, and several jobs are added together.
- More than 20 hours are possible if you work mainly at weekends, in the evening or at night, or only in a limited position during semester breaks, in each case for no more than 26 weeks per year.
- Before accepting, clarify whether you can work less during exam periods.
- Check the hourly wage, term and notice period in the employment contract.
- Report higher earnings to the BAföG office. During a first degree, your earnings do not affect child benefit.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find a student side job quickly?
The quickest way is through your university job board, job portals with a working student filter and speculative applications to companies nearby. Also tell fellow students and lecturers, because many positions are filled through contacts.
Minijob or working student: which pays off more?
It depends on your time and your target earnings. The minijob ends at €603 per month. The working student job allows up to 20 hours per week and therefore usually more earnings. In return, you pay pension insurance contributions, and family insurance ends if your total income exceeds €565 per month.
How many hours may I work alongside my studies?
As a working student, at most 20 hours per week during the lecture period. In a minijob, the earnings limit of €603 per month restricts the working time. How much work your studies can handle depends on your timetable and exam periods.
What is the minimum hourly wage for a student?
The statutory minimum wage is €13.90 gross per hour in 2026 and €14.60 from 1 January 2027. Compulsory internships prescribed by the study regulations are excluded.
How to proceed now
- Decide how many hours per week fit your timetable, and calculate your earnings against the limits of €565 and €603.
- Search the job board, the career service and two to three portals, and also send one speculative application.
- Prepare your CV, a short cover letter and your certificate of enrolment.
- Have hours, pay and type of contract confirmed in writing before you start.
Related articles
- Earning money alongside your studies: these routes pay off (in German)
- Best student jobs: these industries fit your studies (in German)
- Remote jobs for students: opportunities, platforms and tips (in German)
- Becoming a student assistant: tasks, pay and application (in German)
- Working student and health insurance (in German)
- Child benefit and side job: what your child may earn (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
