Short answer
An internship after graduation is usually entitled to the statutory minimum wage. It is €13.90 gross per hour in 2026 and rises to €14.60 on 1 January 2027. Social insurance contributions are also usually due, because you then count as an employee and not as a student. The exceptions only apply to internships before or during studies.
| Key fact | Value | Status and source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage 2026 | €13.90 gross per hour | Fifth Minimum Wage Adjustment Ordinance, BMAS |
| Minimum wage 2027 | €14.60 gross per hour | Fifth Minimum Wage Adjustment Ordinance, BMAS |
| Exception for an orientation internship | Up to three months for orientation before training or studies | Section 22(1) sentence 2 no. 2 MiLoG, retrieved 20 October 2026 |
| Exception for an accompanying internship | Up to three months during studies | Section 22(1) sentence 2 no. 3 MiLoG, retrieved 20 October 2026 |
| Compulsory internship | Required by the study or examination regulations | Section 22(1) sentence 2 no. 1 MiLoG, retrieved 20 October 2026 |
Does the minimum wage apply to an internship after graduation?
Yes, as a rule the minimum wage also applies to an internship after graduation. The exceptions in the Minimum Wage Act are narrowly drafted. An orientation internship must serve orientation for vocational training or studies. An accompanying internship runs alongside training or studies. An internship after graduation usually does not meet these conditions. If the employer only pays you an expense allowance, check the contract closely, because it can count as earnings.
When am I subject to social insurance contributions?
An internship after graduation is usually an employment relationship subject to social insurance. You then pay contributions to health, long-term care, pension and unemployment insurance, and the employer pays the other share. The advantages that students enjoy during an internship, such as exemption from insurance for compulsory internships, no longer apply after graduation. The long-term care surcharge for people without children from age 23 is borne by you alone.
What remains net? A worked example
The example shows an internship of 35 hours per week at the statutory minimum wage of 2026. It applies to a person without children aged 23 or over, with no further special circumstances.
- Gross monthly pay: €13.90 × 35 hours × 52 weeks divided by 12 months gives €2,108.17.
- Health insurance, employee share: (14.6 percent plus 2.9 percent) divided by 2 gives 8.75 percent. That is €184.46.
- Long-term care insurance with the childless surcharge: 1.8 percent plus 0.6 percentage points gives 2.4 percent. That is €50.60.
- Pension insurance, employee share: 18.6 percent divided by 2 gives 9.3 percent. That is €196.06.
- Total of the three deductions: €184.46 + €50.60 + €196.06 = €431.12 per month. Unemployment insurance is not included.
Income tax is not included in this calculation. Your actual payout also depends on your tax class and the additional contribution rate of your health insurer.
Is an unpaid internship after graduation permitted?
An unpaid internship after graduation is only permitted if it falls under one of the statutory exceptions. A voluntary internship as a way into work usually does not. In that case you are entitled to at least the statutory minimum wage. A record of the hours worked and the pay helps you enforce your claims.
What effect does an internship have on unemployment benefit?
An internship after graduation with social insurance contributions counts towards the entitlement to unemployment benefit. The rule requires twelve months of insured employment within 30 months. Compulsory internships you complete during your studies do not count. The guide Unemployment benefit after studies (in German) explains how this works in practice.
How to proceed
- Read the contract and check whether the pay is stated in euros per hour or per month.
- Convert the pay into an hourly rate and compare it with €13.90 in 2026 or €14.60 from 2027.
- Ask about social insurance and have your registration with the health insurer confirmed.
- Record your working hours in a simple list, so that you can prove your claims.
- Clarify insurance gaps before you start the internship. The guide on health insurance when entering work (in German) can help.
What to keep for your records
Whether an internship falls below the minimum wage often only becomes clear when you look at the paperwork. Keep the contract, the hours records, the pay slips and a certificate of the activity. Also note whether you completed a compulsory internship in your study plan or worked voluntarily. This difference decides the exceptions and the social insurance. If you need to check claims later, these documents are the basis.
Frequently asked questions
Does the minimum wage apply to internships after graduation?
As a rule, yes. The exceptions in the Minimum Wage Act concern internships before or during studies and compulsory internships. An internship after graduation usually does not fall under them.
Do I pay social insurance contributions on an internship after graduation?
Usually yes. The internship then counts as an employment relationship subject to social insurance, and you pay shares towards health, long-term care, pension and unemployment insurance.
What about an unpaid internship after graduation?
An unpaid internship is only permitted in the statutory exceptions. In case of doubt, you are entitled to the minimum wage.
Can I accept an internship with mini-job pay (Minijob)?
Pay up to the mini-job limit of €603 per month (2026) is not automatically exempt from social insurance if the activity is an internship after graduation. Have the insurance obligation confirmed before the contract starts.
Related guides
- Internship during studies: compulsory, duration and pay (in German)
- Starting work after studies: how to get off to a good start (in German)
- Health insurance when entering work (in German)
Sources and checks
- Section 22 MiLoG (exceptions for internships), gesetze-im-internet.de, retrieved 20 October 2026, numbers 1 to 3 checked word for word
- Fifth Minimum Wage Adjustment Ordinance (MiLoV5), Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, status as stated by the ministry 2026/2027
- Calculation values 2026 (contribution rates, mini-job limit), GKV-Spitzenverband fact sheet, status 1 January 2026
- Pension insurance contribution rate 2026, contribution rate announcement
- Childless surcharge, Federal Ministry of Health, status 2026
Information, not individual advice.
Editorial team: Academycon · Last updated: October 2026
If you want to go through your contract with an expert, the Academycon online check gives you a suitable starting point.
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
