A mini-job (Minijob) is one of the simplest ways for students in Germany to earn money alongside their studies. Many people overlook pension insurance. As a student with a mini-job, you are generally subject to statutory pension insurance unless you apply for an exemption. This guide explains what your contribution costs, what it gives you, and when an exemption makes sense.
Kurz beantwortet: In a mini-job you pay 3.6 percent of your earnings into statutory pension insurance (Rentenversicherung), and the employer pays a flat rate of 15 percent in the commercial sector. You can apply to your employer for an exemption, which removes your share. The employer flat rate still applies. Last updated: October 2026, source: German Minijob Centre.
The Most Important Points at a Glance
- In a mini-job you are subject to pension insurance unless you apply for an exemption.
- You pay 3.6 percent of your earnings, and the employer pays a flat rate of 15 percent in the commercial sector.
- You can apply for an exemption at any time during a mini-job. It usually takes effect from the start of the calendar month in which you apply.
- An exemption moves money from your pension into your monthly budget. Whether that is worth it depends on your overall retirement planning.
- Working-student jobs have no exemption. You remain subject to pension insurance there, even though health and unemployment insurance do not apply.
How High Are the Contributions in a Mini-Job?
A job only counts as a mini-job if earnings stay within the earnings limit. For 2026 the limit is 603 euros per month, rising to 633 euros from 1 January 2027 (last updated October 2026, Minijob Limit 2027 for Students and § 8 SGB IV). For pension insurance, two shares apply: you pay 3.6 percent, the employer pays 15 percent as a flat rate. Together that is 18.6 percent, the full statutory pension contribution for 2026.
| Monthly earnings | Your share (3.6 percent) | Employer flat rate (15 percent) |
|---|---|---|
| 300 euros | 10.80 euros | 45.00 euros |
| 603 euros (2026 limit) | 21.71 euros | 90.45 euros |
The table assumes constant monthly earnings and rounds to the cent. The employer flat rate is not visible on your payslip, but it counts toward your pension.
What Does the Pension Contribution Give You?
Every month with a contribution earns you pension points (Entgeltpunkte). How many depends on your earnings compared with the average earnings of all insured people. Mini-job earnings are low, so the points are small. You can check your personal status in your pension information from the German Pension Insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung). A mini-job is one building block of retirement provision, and these blocks add up over the years.
More on contribution periods during your studies is in our guide Rentenversicherung im Studium (in German).
When Does an Exemption Make Sense?
An exemption is a trade-off between take-home pay and pension points. With an exemption you have more money each month, but you give up the points that your share would have earned. Whether that is sensible depends on your overall situation, for example whether you save for retirement in other ways.
Assumption: you earn 400 euros per month in a mini-job for twelve months. Your 3.6 percent share is 14.40 euros per month, or 172.80 euros per year. With an exemption, those 172.80 euros stay in your account.
Does a Mini-Job Help Your Pension at All?
A mini-job is mainly a supplement to your pension. It does not replace later full-time employment or private retirement provision. Still, every month with a contribution is a small gain that you collect without extra effort. If you already set money aside, it makes sense to treat the pension contribution from your mini-job as a fixed part of your planning rather than a cost to cut automatically.
How long you study and when you move into full-time work also matter. Contribution periods stay on your pension account, even if you later change employers. If you are unsure, ask once before applying for an exemption, rather than deciding without an overview.
How Do You Apply for an Exemption?
You apply for the exemption through your employer, not directly with the pension insurer. According to the German Minijob Centre, you can apply at any time during a mini-job with an earnings limit (Minijob Centre, FAQ on pension insurance (in German)). The legal basis is § 6 SGB VI. Here is what to do:
- Check your payslip. If it shows a 3.6 percent pension contribution, you are subject to insurance.
- Submit the exemption application to your employer in writing and keep a copy.
- Note the month from which the exemption applies. As a rule, this is the start of the calendar month in which you apply.
- Check your next payslip. Your share should be missing, while the employer flat rate remains.
Common Questions
Do I have to pay pension contributions in a mini-job?
In principle yes. In a mini-job you are subject to pension insurance and pay your 3.6 percent share. You can apply to be exempted from it through your employer. The exemption does not affect your health insurance.
Does this also apply to a working-student job?
Yes. The working-student privilege exempts you only from health, long-term care and unemployment insurance, not from pension insurance. There is no mini-job style exemption there.
What happens to my pension contributions after my studies?
Contribution periods from your mini-job stay on your pension account. They count toward your later pension entitlements. The German Pension Insurance shows in your pension information how many months you have and what they are worth so far.
Can I cancel an exemption later?
According to the German Minijob Centre, an exemption applies for the entire duration of the mini-job. Their FAQ does not clearly describe a withdrawal, so ask the Minijob Centre or the German Pension Insurance before you decide.
What You Should Do Now
- Look at your latest payslip and check whether 3.6 percent pension contribution is deducted.
- Calculate what an exemption would give you net each month.
- If you decide to opt out, submit the application to your employer in writing.
- Request your pension information from the German Pension Insurance when you need it.
Related Guides
- Minijob or Student Job: Limits in Figures Compared
- Student Job 20-Hour Rule, Pension and Semester Breaks
- Part-Time Jobs and Taxes for Students in Germany
- Rentenversicherung im Studium (in German)
Sources: Minijob Centre: FAQ on pension insurance in mini-jobs (retrieved October 2026), Minijob Centre: Minijob limit 2027 (retrieved October 2026), § 8 SGB IV, § 6 SGB VI.
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
