The statutory minimum wage for 2027 is €14.60 gross per hour and applies from 1 January 2027. For students, working students and people starting their careers, this means every paid hour is worth at least that amount, whether in a mini-job or a part-time role. This guide shows what the rate means per month and which thresholds depend on it.
Short answer: From 1 January 2027, the statutory minimum wage is €14.60 gross per hour. Compared with 2026 at €13.90, it rises by 70 cents. At 40 hours per week, this works out to about €2,531 gross per month (assumption: 52 weeks per year). The basis is the Fifth Minimum Wage Adjustment Ordinance (Fünfte Mindestlohnanpassungsverordnung). Last updated: November 2026.
Key points
- From 1 January 2027, the minimum wage is €14.60 gross per hour, up from €13.90 in 2026.
- The mini-job earnings limit rises with it: €633 per month from 2027, compared with €603 per month in 2026.
- At 20 hours per week, gross pay in 2027 comes to roughly €1,265 per month.
- Net pay depends on your tax class and deductions. For that, use the calculator of the German Federal Ministry of Finance (bmf-steuerrechner.de).
- An agreed hourly rate below the minimum wage is void. You keep the right to the full minimum wage.
What do you earn in 2027 at different working hours?
The table below assumes the same number of hours each month and shows gross amounts. Assumption: 52 weeks per year and evenly distributed working hours.
| Working time | Hours per month | Gross 2026 (€13.90) | Gross 2027 (€14.60) | Difference per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 hours per week | about 43.3 | €602.33 | €632.67 | about €30.33 |
| 15 hours per week | about 65.0 | €903.50 | €949.00 | about €45.50 |
| 20 hours per week | about 86.7 | €1,204.67 | €1,265.33 | about €60.67 |
| 25 hours per week | about 108.3 | €1,505.83 | €1,581.67 | about €75.83 |
| 40 hours per week | about 173.3 | €2,409.33 | €2,530.67 | about €121.33 |
If your pay is a fixed monthly amount, work backwards: divide the monthly sum by the hours you actually work. If the result is below €14.60 from 2027 onward, you have a claim to the difference.
Why does the mini-job limit rise with the minimum wage?
The earnings limit for marginal employment (geringfügige Beschäftigung, known as a mini-job) is linked to the minimum wage. Under § 8 Abs. 1a of the Social Code Book IV (SGB IV), the limit results from the minimum wage multiplied by 130, divided by 3, and rounded up to the next full euro. At €14.60, that gives €633 per month. As a calculation, €633 times 12 months equals €7,596 per year.
What does the increase mean for students with a part-time job?
If you work alongside your studies, each hour pays more from 2027. With the same number of hours, your monthly income grows by the difference shown in the table above. The earnings limit still matters most. If a mini-job regularly pays more than €633 per month, it is no longer a mini-job. The guide on the mini-job limit for 2027 (in German) explains how many hours that means.
Working students are judged by a different measure. For them, the number of hours matters, not monthly earnings. The increase therefore does not change their insurance status, but it does change the amount on their bank statement.
How do you calculate your net pay?
Income tax depends on your tax class, allowances and family status. That is why we refer you to the calculator of the German Federal Ministry of Finance (bmf-steuerrechner.de) for the net amount. Here is how to proceed:
- Work out your gross pay: hours per month times €14.60.
- Check whether you have a mini-job, a working-student contract or a regular employment, because deductions depend on the type of job.
- Enter your tax class and allowances into the calculator.
- Compare the result with your payslip and clarify any difference.
Does the minimum wage also apply to student jobs?
Yes, the minimum wage generally applies to employees. That includes students with a part-time job as well as working students. What matters is the employment relationship, not your status as a student. Exceptions for certain groups and activities are set out in the Minimum Wage Act (Mindestlohngesetz). Internships follow separate rules that depend on type and duration.
Frequently asked questions
How high is the minimum wage in 2027?
The minimum wage is €14.60 gross per hour. It applies from 1 January 2027 and follows €13.90 in 2026. The basis is the Fifth Minimum Wage Adjustment Ordinance, which is based on a proposal by the Minimum Wage Commission.
Who sets the level of the minimum wage?
The Minimum Wage Commission makes a recommendation, and the federal government puts the adjustment into force by ordinance. The Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales) lists the current steps on its page for the ordinance.
What should you do if your pay is below the minimum wage?
An agreement below the minimum wage is void, and you can claim the difference. Speak to your employer first and keep a written record of hours and payments. If that does not resolve the issue, the competent authority is the next step.
Is the 2027 minimum wage already legally fixed?
Yes. The ordinance sets the steps for 2026 and 2027. The wording of the ordinance is what counts, not a news report about a possible change.
How is the minimum wage linked to the mini-job limit?
The mini-job limit is calculated from the minimum wage. When the minimum wage rises, the limit rises too, to €633 per month in 2027. The guide on mini-job hours for 2027 (in German) shows how to turn that into a number of hours.
What to do next
- Check your employment contract: from 2027 the hourly rate must be at least €14.60 gross.
- If you have a mini-job, multiply your monthly hours and compare the gross amount with €633.
- Use the calculator of the German Federal Ministry of Finance for your net amount.
- Clarify any difference first with your employer, then with the competent authority.
If you want help putting your situation into context, covering part-time work, health insurance and taxes, you can book personal advice with Academycon: How we work (in German).
Related guides
- Working student, mini-job or midi-job: the comparison in figures (in German)
- Mini-job 2027: how many hours at €14.60 fit under the limit
- Working student pay 2027: what the minimum wage means
- Minijob Limit 2027 for Students: €633 a Month
- Minijob or Student Job: Limits in Figures Compared
Sources: Fifth Minimum Wage Adjustment Ordinance (MiLoV5), Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, as of November 2026 (in German); § 8 SGB IV, gesetze-im-internet.de, as of November 2026 (in German); Minijob limit 2027, Minijob-Zentrale, as of November 2026 (in German)
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
