Short answer: The statutory minimum wage in Germany rises to EUR 14.60 gross per hour on 1 January 2027 (last updated: November 2026, Fifth Minimum Wage Adjustment Ordinance). For student assistants covered by the collective agreement for the federal states (TV-L), the 2026 settlement sets a minimum hourly rate of EUR 15.90 from the summer semester 2027 (in German: Mindeststundenentgelt). Which amount applies to your post depends on your contract and on whether your university is bound by the collective agreement.
From 1 January 2027, the hourly pay of student research assistants in Germany (in German: studentische Hilfskräfte, often called Hiwis) changes first because of the statutory minimum wage. From that date, the floor is EUR 14.60 gross per hour. For many assistants, however, the collective agreement of their university is the more important benchmark, because it can sit well above the minimum wage. This guide explains which rule applies to which contract and how you can check your pay.
The most important points
- The statutory minimum wage has been EUR 13.90 gross per hour since 1 January 2026 and rises to EUR 14.60 gross per hour on 1 January 2027.
- The collective agreement for the federal states sets its own minimum hourly rate for student employees, which is above the statutory minimum wage in 2027.
- Hesse applies its own collective agreement (TV-H), so different figures apply there.
- What counts is always the contract you signed, read together with the collective agreement that covers your university.
- A pay rise does not always arrive automatically: check your contract and your payslip from January 2027 onwards.
What the statutory minimum wage of 2027 means for student assistants
The minimum wage sets a floor for every working hour. The Fifth Minimum Wage Adjustment Ordinance (MiLoV5) fixes the amount at EUR 13.90 gross per hour for 2026 and at EUR 14.60 gross per hour for 2027. The ordinance was issued on 5 November 2025 and takes effect on 1 January 2026.
| Valid from | Statutory minimum wage | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2026 | EUR 13.90 gross per hour | MiLoV5 |
| 1 January 2027 | EUR 14.60 gross per hour | MiLoV5 |
Pay below the minimum wage is generally not permitted where the Minimum Wage Act (in German: Mindestlohngesetz) applies to your work. Which exceptions exist, and whether they cover a research assistant post, is best clarified with your university’s HR department. The Federal Office of Justice publishes the text of the ordinance on gesetze-im-internet.de.
What the collective agreement says for student assistants
Many universities in states that apply the collective agreement for the federal states (TV-L) pay their student employees under this tariff. The settlement dated 14 February 2026 sets a minimum hourly rate of EUR 15.20 for student employees from the summer semester 2026 and EUR 15.90 from the summer semester 2027. The figures come from the wording the Senate of Bremen published.
| Summer semester | Minimum hourly rate | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | EUR 15.20 gross per hour | TV-L settlement |
| 2027 | EUR 15.90 gross per hour | TV-L settlement |
The collective agreement does not apply in every case. Whether it covers your post depends on the state in which your university is located, whether your employer is bound by the tariff, and which contract you actually signed. Hesse uses the TV-H, a separate collective agreement with its own amounts. If you work there, do not take the figures above at face value, but check the Hessian tariff instead.
The gap between the statutory minimum wage and the collective rate becomes noticeable in 2027. At EUR 14.60, the statutory floor sits clearly below the collective minimum of EUR 15.90. If your contract falls under a collective agreement that sets this rate, the statutory minimum is therefore not the figure that decides your pay.
How much your pay can change in 2027
The hourly rate is only part of the calculation. What matters just as much is the number of hours you work each month. The following example is an assumption, not a contract figure.
Assumption: 10 working hours per month. At EUR 14.60, gross pay comes to EUR 146.00; at EUR 15.90 it comes to EUR 159.00. The difference is EUR 13.00 gross per month. At 40 hours per month, the figures would be EUR 584.00 and EUR 636.00, a difference of EUR 52.00 gross.
How much of this remains as net pay depends on contributions and on your personal situation. To estimate your net pay, you can use the Hiwi net pay calculator (in German). Treat any such result as an estimate. Your payslip is the binding document.
When your pay actually changes
The statutory minimum wage rises on 1 January 2027, regardless of when your current contract ends. Collective pay steps apply from the date the agreement names, which for student employees means the summer semester 2027. If your contract runs out before then and is renewed, the new pay should be written into the contract.
Whether the university applies a change without a new contract depends on the collective agreement and on your contract. Ask in writing before you rely on a pay rise. A short email costs little and creates clarity.
Typical mistakes when checking your pay
Many assistants compare only the hourly rate in the contract with the transfer amount. That is often not enough, because other factors change the total. Three points are especially prone to errors or ambiguity.
- The hours in the contract do not match the time actually worked. Keep a record of your hours so you can document any difference.
- A month with public holidays or sickness is settled differently than expected. The guide on holiday and sickness explains how absence is treated (in German: Hilfskraft im Urlaub und bei Krankheit (in German)).
- A pay rise is provided for in the collective agreement but does not appear on the payslip. This can simply mean that no amendment to the contract has been signed.
Create a simple table with the date, the hours worked, the agreed hourly rate and the gross amount. If you compare it with each payslip, you will spot mistakes early, before they add up over several months.
Frequently asked questions
Does my student assistant pay rise automatically in 2027?
The statutory minimum wage rises to EUR 14.60 on 1 January 2027. If your hourly rate is below that figure, it must be increased where the Minimum Wage Act applies. A higher collective rate depends on whether your contract and the collective agreement cover your post.
What applies if my contract still states the old amount?
Raise the difference in writing with the HR department and ask for an amendment or an addendum to the contract. Keep your payslips so that you can document the period later.
Does the minimum wage apply to every student assistant?
Not without exceptions. The Minimum Wage Act contains special rules that depend on the individual case. The guide on the minimum wage for student assistants at university (in German) explains the main points.
How many hours am I allowed to work?
The upper limit is set by the university according to the collective agreement and your contract. The guide on the hours of a student assistant (in German) shows what such rules can look like.
What to do now
- Read your employment contract and note the hourly rate, the term and the collective agreement it refers to.
- Ask the HR department which collective agreement applies to your post.
- Check your payslips from January 2027 and compare them with the minimum wage.
- If there is a difference, ask in writing for a correction or an addendum to the contract.
Related guides
- TV-L 2026: What the collective agreement brings and what is still open
- Does the minimum wage apply to student assistants at university? (in German)
- Minijob limit 2027 for students (in German)
- Becoming a student assistant: tasks, pay and application (in German)
- Academic careers: contracts, collective pay and fixed terms overview
Sources: Fifth Ordinance on adjusting the level of the statutory minimum wage (MiLoV5), gesetze-im-internet.de, issued 5 November 2025 (in German), TV-L settlement of 14 February 2026, Senate of Bremen, status February 2026 (in German).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
