A mini-job in 2027 has no fixed hour cap. Instead, it has an earnings limit of €633 per month. At the €14.60 minimum wage, that works out to roughly 43 hours per month. This guide shows how to get to that figure, why it stays almost the same over time, and what happens if you go over the limit.
Short answer: From 1 January 2027, the mini-job limit is €633 per month. At the €14.60 minimum wage, that is roughly 43.4 hours per month (calculation: €633 divided by €14.60). There is no hour cap, because the regular earnings count. The limit follows from § 8 SGB IV. Last updated: November 2026.
Key points
- What counts is your regular monthly earnings, not the number of hours on its own.
- At €14.60 per hour, €633 works out to about 43 hours per month.
- In 2026 the limit was €603, which again meant about 43 hours, because the minimum wage was €13.90.
- The earnings limit applies on a regular basis. An unforeseeable excess is allowed only within narrow limits.
- If you have several jobs, the earnings are added together.
How do you calculate the hours for your mini-job?
- Take the earnings limit for the year, which is €633 per month in 2027.
- Divide it by your hourly wage, which must be at least €14.60.
- The result is the number of hours per month at which you exactly reach the limit.
- Plan with a buffer so that you do not exceed the limit when you work extra hours.
| Hourly wage | Earnings limit per month | Hours per month (calculated) |
|---|---|---|
| €14.60 (minimum wage 2027) | €633 | about 43.4 |
| €15.00 (assumption) | €633 | about 42.2 |
| €16.00 (assumption) | €633 | about 39.6 |
| €13.90 (minimum wage 2026) | €603 | about 43.4 |
The rows with €15 and €16 are assumptions for a higher hourly wage. All values are rounded and refer to the monthly limit, not to the year.
Why does the number of hours stay almost the same?
The earnings limit depends on the minimum wage. Under § 8 Abs. 1a SGB IV, the limit is the minimum wage multiplied by 130 and divided by 3, rounded up. The implied number of hours is therefore 130 divided by 3, or about 43.3 hours per month. That holds regardless of the minimum wage in a given year. Only the rounding to the full euro shifts the figure slightly. This is a calculation based on the formula, not a fixed number of hours set by law.
What happens if you exceed the limit?
A short-term excess is possible within narrow limits. Under § 8 Abs. 1b SGB IV, an unforeseeable excess is allowed in at most two calendar months per calendar year, up to double the limit. In 2027, the double limit is €1,266 per month. If you regularly earn more, you exceed the limit permanently, and the general rules for employment subject to social insurance then apply. Clarify the consequences in your case with the Minijob-Zentrale or in personal advice.
What applies to working students?
For working students (Werkstudierende), the number of hours matters rather than the earnings limit. The rule is 20 hours per week. Within that limit, they remain exempt from health, long-term care and unemployment insurance. They remain subject to pension insurance. If a mini-job and a working-student job run side by side, administrative practice adds the employments together. The administrative practice is set out in the joint circular of 23 November 2016 (in German).
Frequently asked questions
Is there a maximum number of hours in a mini-job?
No. What counts is the regular monthly earnings, which in 2027 must not exceed €633. If you earn more per hour, you reach the same limit with fewer hours.
How many hours are €633 at €14.60?
About 43.4 hours per month, which is roughly 10 hours per week. This is a calculation based on the formula, not a fixed requirement, because the number of working days varies from month to month.
Does the limit also apply during the semester break?
The earnings limit applies every month. For working students, a separate rule applies during the lecture-free period, and it depends on the number of hours. The guide on the 20-hour rule (in German) explains the details.
What changes if the minimum wage rises again later?
The limit rises with the minimum wage, so the number of hours stays roughly the same while the monthly amount grows.
Worked examples for a monthly plan
Example 1: You earn €14.60 and work 40 hours per month. That gives €584 gross, which is €49 below the limit of €633. Example 2: You earn €16 and work 39 hours. That gives €624, also below the limit. Example 3: You earn €14.60 and work 45 hours. That gives €657, which is above the limit. Assumption for all examples: the number of hours stays the same each month.
The third example falls under the excess rule above. If you regularly sit above the limit, plan your hours before the month starts rather than correcting them afterwards.
Common pitfalls when planning hours
- Several mini-jobs are added together, even when they have different employers.
- A wage above the minimum wage reduces the number of hours you can work before reaching the limit.
- With a fixed monthly salary, work backwards to the hours so that pay does not quietly grow past the limit.
What to do if you unexpectedly exceed the limit
Plan the month again as soon as the hours start to pile up. Tell your employer early if you can take on fewer shifts. An unforeseeable excess is covered only by the two-month rule in § 8 Abs. 1b SGB IV. If you repeatedly sit above the limit, discuss the situation with the Minijob-Zentrale before the next payslip is prepared.
What to do next
- Calculate your monthly maximum in hours using €633 and your hourly wage.
- Enter your planned hours into a monthly plan and check it before each month.
- If you have several jobs, add the earnings together before you agree to new hours.
- If the limit is likely to be exceeded, clarify the consequences with the Minijob-Zentrale or in personal advice.
Related guides
- Working student, mini-job or midi-job: the comparison in figures (in German)
- Minimum wage 2027: €14.60 gross and what it means monthly
- Minijob Limit 2027 for Students: €633 a Month
- Minijob or Student Job: Limits in Figures Compared
- Mini-job pension exemption: what has applied since July 2026
Sources: § 8 SGB IV, gesetze-im-internet.de, as of November 2026 (in German); Minijob limit 2027, Minijob-Zentrale, as of November 2026 (in German); Fifth Minimum Wage Adjustment Ordinance (MiLoV5), Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, as of November 2026 (in German); Joint circular on the insurance status of employed students and interns, 23 November 2016 (in German)
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
