Part-time work after graduation raises two questions: which health insurance you fall under and what fewer working hours mean for your pension. In Germany the answer depends mainly on your regular salary, not on whether you work part-time or full-time.
Short answer: If your regular gross salary stays below the compulsory insurance threshold of 6,450 euros a month (2026), you are compulsorily insured with the statutory health insurance (GKV). The general contribution rate is 14.6 percent, the average additional contribution 2.9 percent (Federal Ministry of Health, status September 2026). You share the contribution with your employer.
The most important points at a glance
- What counts is your regular annual earnings. For 2026 the threshold is 77,400 euros a year, which is 6,450 euros a month.
- If your pay stays below that line, you belong in the statutory health insurance, even when you work part-time.
- With part-time work you usually remain subject to pension insurance. The total contribution in 2026 is 18.6 percent, shared between employer and employee.
- A mini-job up to 603 euros a month (2026) follows its own rules, which differ from a part-time contract.
- According to the current draft, the threshold rises to 7,012.50 euros a month in 2027. This has not been adopted yet.
When are you compulsorily insured in the statutory health insurance?
Health insurance compulsion does not depend on the number of hours but on pay. What matters is your regular annual earnings, meaning your monthly salary multiplied by twelve. One-off payments generally do not count, unless they are part of the usual monthly pay. The figures for 2026 at a glance:
| Monthly gross pay | Health insurance | Pension insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 603 euros (mini-job) | No compulsory insurance through this job. The employer pays flat-rate contributions. | Compulsory unless you apply for an exemption |
| Above 603 euros up to 6,450 euros | Compulsory in the statutory health insurance, contribution shared | Compulsory, contribution shared |
| Above 6,450 euros | Choice between statutory and private health insurance | Compulsory, contribution shared |
Sources for these values: GKV-Spitzenverband, fact sheet on 2026 calculation values (status 1 January 2026) and vdek, contribution rates 2026 (status 22 December 2025). The 2027 mini-job limit of 633 euros is listed by the German Minijob Center (in German).
What does the contribution look like with part-time work? A worked example
Assumption: you work part-time and earn 1,500 euros gross a month. Your health insurance fund charges the average additional contribution of 2.9 percent.
- Total health insurance contribution: 14.6 percent plus 2.9 percent additional contribution makes 17.5 percent. On 1,500 euros that is 262.50 euros.
- Your share is half of that: 262.50 euros divided by two gives 131.25 euros a month.
- Your employer pays the other half. The actual additional contribution depends on your fund, so check its current rate.
Long-term care insurance comes on top. If you have no children and have completed your 23rd year of life, you also pay the childless surcharge. For an exact calculation, compare the figures with your payslip, because contributions can be shown differently in individual cases.
What does part-time work mean for your pension?
With part-time work every month with contributions counts, and you earn pension points in line with your pay. The contribution rate for statutory pension insurance is 18.6 percent in 2026, and you pay half of it yourself. Lower earnings mean fewer pension points. Voluntary contributions or workplace pension schemes can offset this where they suit your situation. Read more in our guide on the student job 20-hour rule, semester breaks and pension.
How does a mini-job next to part-time work affect you?
A mini-job up to 603 euros a month (2026) is exempt from health and long-term care insurance. In pension insurance you are generally covered, but you can apply for an exemption. Earnings from several jobs are added together, so check the total. From 2027 the limit is 633 euros a month, according to the German Minijob Center.
What happens to student health insurance?
Student health insurance ends when the semester ends in which you are de-registered. This is set out in section 190(9) of the Social Code Book V (in German). A gap between graduation and the start of work should be avoided, because you then need your own cover. More on this is in our guide on health insurance after graduation.
What happens when your salary rises or falls?
The classification is not a snapshot. If your annual earnings rise above the compulsory insurance threshold, compulsory membership ends and you can choose. If pay falls below the threshold, for example after reducing your working hours, compulsory membership generally starts from the point of the reduction. A short dip can be treated differently. As a guideline, up to three months counts as short. Your health insurance fund clarifies the details case by case.
A pay rise at the turn of the year is a typical trigger. Check each January whether you are above or below the threshold.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to join the statutory health insurance when I work part-time?
If your regular annual earnings are below 77,400 euros (2026), you are compulsorily insured in the statutory health insurance. Working hours do not matter for this, only pay does. Only above the threshold can you choose between statutory and private insurance.
Can I be exempted from compulsory pension insurance?
For mini-jobs an exemption is possible. In a regular part-time job with contributory pay you are generally compulsorily insured. An exemption affects your pension entitlements, so weigh it up carefully before you decide.
What changes in 2027?
The federal government’s draft ordinance sets the 2027 compulsory insurance threshold at 7,012.50 euros a month (cabinet decision of 7 October 2026). The Bundesrat still has to agree. Until then the 2026 threshold applies.
Does my employer pay the whole contribution?
No. Employer and employee generally share health and pension contributions equally. The exact split is shown on your payslip.
Do I need to tell my health insurance about my salary?
Your employer reports your employment to social insurance. It is important that you tell your employer about changes such as a pay rise or a second job in good time, because the classification may depend on them.
What to do now
- Multiply your regular gross monthly salary by twelve and compare it with the threshold of 77,400 euros.
- Check your payslip for health, long-term care and pension contributions and compare them with the example above.
- Ask your employer which health insurance fund you are registered with and which additional contribution applies.
- If you combine a mini-job with part-time work, decide deliberately about pension insurance before you apply for an exemption.
- If you are unsure, have your situation checked by your health insurance fund or by a personal adviser.
Related guides
- First Job Health Insurance: Statutory or Private?
- Minijob Limit 2027 for Students: 633 Euros a Month
- Part-Time Jobs and Taxes for Students in Germany
- Statutory Health Insurance (GKV) Explained
Sources: GKV-Spitzenverband, fact sheet on 2026 calculation values, status 1 January 2026; Federal Ministry of Health, contributions to the GKV, status September 2026 (in German); Federal Ministry of Labour, draft 2027 social insurance calculation values, status October 2026 (in German); section 241 Social Code Book V (in German).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
