A student assistant job (studentische Hilfskraft, SHK, colloquially “Hiwi”) means working alongside your studies at the university, for example in tutorials, research, marking or in the library. Under the guideline of the Confederation of German Länder (Tarifgemeinschaft deutscher Länder), the hourly rate for student assistants without a degree has been €15.20 since the summer semester 2026, and €15.90 from the summer semester 2027.
Contracts usually run for one year. How much you take home and what the job means for BAföG, child benefit and health insurance depends mainly on the number of hours per week.
Key facts at a glance
- Student assistants do not yet have a university degree. Research assistants (wissenschaftliche Hilfskräfte) have a bachelor’s or master’s degree and are paid more.
- The guideline of the Länder sets €15.20 per hour for student assistants (from the summer semester 2027: €15.90). Individual Länder may differ.
- The contract usually runs for one year. Hours per week, term and hourly rate are stated in the employment contract.
- At €15.20 you exceed the €603 limit (BAföG, mini job) from a little over 9 hours a week.
- Up to 20 hours a week during lectures means no contributions to health, long-term care and unemployment insurance, but compulsory pension insurance.
What does a student assistant job involve?
Student assistants support teaching, research and administration. Typical tasks are preparing seminars, helping with marking, literature research and running tutorials. Posts in libraries and secretariats also belong to this group.
The post determines how the hours are distributed. Tutorials take place at fixed times, while research and marking can often be organised more freely.
What is the difference between a student and a research assistant?
The difference lies in the degree. The guideline of the Confederation of German Länder distinguishes assistants without a degree, with a bachelor’s and with a master’s degree. Anyone who already holds a university degree and continues to work at the university is a research assistant (wissenschaftliche Hilfskraft) and receives a higher rate.
| Group | Maximum rate per hour from summer semester 2026 | Maximum rate per hour from summer semester 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Student assistant without a degree | €15.20 | €15.90 |
| Research assistant with a bachelor’s degree | €15.81 | €16.51 |
| Research assistant with a master’s degree | €21.03 | €21.73 |
The guideline has applied since 1 April 2026 to assistants at universities. They are exempt from the collective agreement for the Länder (TV-L) under § 1 (3) TV-L, so their pay follows this guideline. For student assistants without a degree, the maximum rate and the minimum amount are the same. Individual Länder may depart from the guideline (in German). Your university states the actual pay in the contract.
How much does a student assistant earn?
At €15.20 an hour, the rate is above the statutory minimum wage of €13.90. What you earn each month depends on the agreed hours.
Worked example: Ben, 22, is doing a bachelor’s degree and works as a student assistant at €15.20 gross an hour. The assumption is 4.35 weeks per month.
| Hours per week | Gross per month | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | €330.60 | Below all limits |
| 8 | €528.96 | Below €565 and €603 (BAföG, mini job) |
| 10 | €661.20 | Above €603, no longer a mini job, BAföG may be offset |
| 15 | €991.80 | Above €603, family insurance ends |
| 20 | €1,322.40 | Upper limit for the working student privilege during lectures |
You reach €603 at €15.20 after just under 40 hours a month, which is a little over 9 hours a week. From 2027 the rate rises to €15.90. The mini job limit will then be €633, so the number of hours hardly changes. If wage tax was withheld, you can get it back through your tax return. Income tax only becomes due above the basic allowance of €12,348 a year.
What does the assistant contract say?
The contract governs the start and end, the area of work, the hourly rate and the agreed hours. As a rule it runs for one year. Clarify with the post whether it will be extended.
Before you sign, check whether the hours are stated per week or per month, and whether they apply equally during lectures and in the semester break. This decides social insurance, because the weekly hours during lectures are what count.
How is a student assistant insured?
The rules for employees alongside their studies apply. With no more than 20 hours a week during lectures, you are exempt from health, long-term care and unemployment insurance. Pension insurance is always compulsory. The contribution is 18.6%, which you share equally with the university. Between €603.01 and €2,000 a month you pay reduced contributions, but your pension entitlement is still based on the full pay. Several jobs are added together.
Up to €603 a month the post counts as a mini job. The employer then pays flat-rate contributions, and you pay 3.6% into pension insurance unless you apply in writing for an exemption. Clarify with the university’s personnel office which rule applies to you when you sign the contract.
For health insurance, your total income counts. Family insurance (Familienversicherung) ends above €565 total income a month, and for a pure mini job only above €603. For employment, a lump sum of €102.50 for work-related expenses is deducted, so that earnings of up to €667.50 remain possible. Above that you are insured through the student health insurance. If you were exempted from compulsory insurance at the start of your studies, you are privately insured. The exemption generally applies to the entire course of study and is irrevocable. What applies to a working student job then is explained in our article on private health insurance for working students (in German).
Does the assistant job affect BAföG and child benefit?
For BAföG, €603 gross a month remains exempt from offset. Anything above that is checked by the BAföG office at the Studierendenwerk. During a first course of study, your earnings do not affect child benefit. After a completed first course of study, up to 20 hours a week and a mini job are generally harmless. This applies, for example, to a master’s degree after working life.
How do you apply for an assistant post?
Posts are often awarded directly at institutes and chairs. Ask lecturers whose courses you completed well, the student council (Fachschaft) and the career centre. In addition, watch for job advertisements from the university and the library.
For an application, a CV, a list of grades and a short cover letter that addresses the subject of the post are usually enough. State in it how many hours a week you can work and from when you can start.
What are the alternatives to an assistant post?
If no post is free at your university, our overview of jobs for students (in German) lists further options, from mini jobs to self-employment. If you want to work independently, read the article on freelancing as a student (in German).
Frequently asked questions
How much does a student assistant earn per hour?
Under the guideline of the Confederation of German Länder, student assistants without a degree receive €15.20 from the summer semester 2026 and €15.90 from the summer semester 2027. Individual Länder may differ, so your university states the binding hourly rate in the contract.
Is an assistant post a mini job?
It depends on your earnings. Up to €603 a month the post counts as a mini job. At a rate of €15.20, that is just under 40 hours a month. If your pay is higher, the post falls under the rules for employees alongside their studies, such as the working student privilege at up to 20 hours a week.
How long does an assistant contract run?
As a rule for one year. The start and end are stated in the contract. The post decides whether it is extended, so speak to it in good time before the end if you want to keep working.
What does Hiwi mean, and is it the same as SHK?
Hiwi is the colloquial term for assistants at the university (the abbreviation is usually explained as “Hilfswissenschaftler”). It mostly refers to student assistants, meaning students without a degree. Research assistants already hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree and are paid more under the guideline.
So what do you do now?
- Ask institutes, lecturers, the student council or the career centre about open posts.
- Decide how many weekly hours fit your timetable, and calculate the monthly pay against the limits of €565 and €603.
- Have the term, hourly rate and weekly hours confirmed in the contract before you sign.
- Report higher earnings to the BAföG office and, if you receive child benefit after your first course of study, to the family benefits office.
Related reading
- Earning money alongside your studies: the options that pay off (in German)
- Freelancing as a student: how to start without risk (in German)
- Studying from anywhere: distance learning, hybrid and remote work (in German)
- Digital nomad as a student: travelling, working and studying (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
