What changes in 2027 for new graduates? From 1 January 2027, several changes affect your first job directly, including the minimum wage, the minijob limit and retirement provision. This overview explains what has been passed and what is still open, and lists the dates that matter in your first months at work.
Short answer: From 1 January 2027 the minimum wage is 14.60 euros gross per hour, and the minijob limit is 633 euros per month. The retirement savings account (Altersvorsorgedepot) has been passed and is expected to start on 1 January 2027. The statutory notice periods under § 622 BGB (German Civil Code) remain unchanged. Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- The minimum wage rises from 13.90 to 14.60 euros gross per hour on 1 January 2027.
- The minijob limit rises from 603 to 633 euros per month. It applies to side jobs next to your first job.
- The retirement savings account has been passed and is expected to apply from 1 January 2027.
- The reform provides a one-off new-graduate bonus of 200 euros if the contract is signed before your 25th birthday.
- The average additional contribution for 2027 is an estimate of 2.9 percent. The rate set by your health insurer applies.
- The statutory notice periods under § 622 BGB continue to apply regardless of the change of year.
What changes for pay at the start of your career?
The statutory minimum wage is the floor for every wage. For new graduates on full-time contracts with pay above the collective agreement, it often plays no role. For part-time work, short-term jobs and working student positions (Werkstudentenjobs), it is decisive. From 1 January 2027 the floor is 14.60 euros gross per hour.
| Item | 2026 | From 1 January 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage per hour | 13.90 euros | 14.60 euros |
| Gross per month at 173 hours (assumption, full time) | 2,404.70 euros | 2,525.80 euros |
The calculation is an assumption of 173 working hours per month, a simplified full-time figure. Your actual pay may be higher, but not lower than the minimum wage.
Minijob next to your first job: what applies from 2027?
Many new graduates keep a minijob, for example as a side activity or during a transition period. From 2027 the earnings limit is 633 euros per month, compared with 603 euros in 2026. The limit follows from the minimum wage under the formula of § 8 SGB IV (German Social Code, Book IV): minimum wage times 130, divided by 3, rounded up to the next whole euro.
Since 1 July 2026, an exemption from pension insurance in a minijob can be revoked once. The German Pension Insurance Fund (Deutsche Rentenversicherung) published this in a press release of 5 June 2026. If you revoke the exemption, keep an eye on the contributions and pension entitlements that follow.
If your pay is above the minijob limit, the transition zone (Midijob) applies. It extends up to regularly 2,000 euros per month (§ 20 para. 2 SGB IV). From 2027 it starts at 633.01 euros. Social insurance contributions then follow different rules than in a minijob, so it is worth calculating before a contract starts.
What changes in retirement provision for new graduates?
The retirement savings account (Altersvorsorgedepot) is a new, state-supported form of private retirement provision. The Bundestag passed the reform on 27 March 2026, and the Bundesrat approved it on 8 May 2026. The start is planned for 1 January 2027, though this date is expected rather than confirmed.
| Own contribution per year | Basic allowance under the passed reform (calculated) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 360 euros | 180 euros | 50 cents per euro |
| 1,200 euros | 390 euros | Assumption for an example |
| 1,800 euros | 540 euros | Maximum per year |
The basic allowance is calculated as 50 cents per euro up to 360 euros of own contribution, plus 25 cents per euro for the further 1,440 euros. The reform also provides a one-off new-graduate bonus of 200 euros if the contract is signed before your 25th birthday (Bundesrat paper 206/26).
How existing Riester contracts will be transferred in detail is best clarified with your provider. A personal assessment of your retirement planning is available from Academycon, see How we work (in German).
Which deadlines matter during the probation period?
The notice period for employees is four weeks to the 15th or to the end of a calendar month under § 622 para. 1 BGB. During an agreed probation period of at most six months, § 622 para. 3 BGB sets a notice period of two weeks. The full overview with a worked example is in Key deadlines at the start of your career.
The probation period is also the time to clarify holiday, working hours and pay. If the contract is unclear on any point, ask. A pay rate below the minimum wage is not permitted, even during probation.
What does the 2027 additional contribution mean for new graduates?
The average additional contribution for 2027 is 2.9 percent on a calculated basis (Schätzerkreis, October 2026). The official determination by the Federal Ministry of Health is announced for early November 2026. The rate of your health insurer may differ. If the rate is raised, you have a special right of termination effective from the end of the month in which it applies (§ 175 para. 4 sentence 6 SGB V). The overview on health insurance in 2027 explains the questions.
Frequently asked questions
Does the new minimum wage also apply to part-time work?
Yes. The minimum wage applies to every hour worked, whether the contract is full-time or part-time. A lower hourly wage is not permitted. More figures on pay can be found in the article on work and pay in 2027.
Do I have to open a retirement savings account before it starts?
No. A contract only makes sense if its conditions suit your situation. Because the start is expected rather than confirmed, check the current status of the reform before you sign.
How long can a probation period last?
Under § 622 para. 3 BGB a probation period may last at most six months. During this time the notice period is two weeks. After the probation period, the general notice periods apply again.
Can I keep a minijob alongside a full-time job?
Yes, a minijob alongside a main employment is possible. What matters are the limits for marginal employment and the rules on pension insurance. Whether an exemption from pension insurance makes sense for you depends on your retirement planning.
What should I do if my health insurance additional contribution changes?
Check the notification from your health insurer. If the rate is raised, you can terminate within the statutory period without observing the twelve-month minimum binding period.
What to do now
- Compare your salary with the minimum wage of 14.60 euros and check whether your contract provides for part-time work.
- Note the probation period and the two-week notice period in your calendar.
- Check whether you keep a minijob next to your first job and how pension insurance is affected.
- Clarify the terms of a retirement savings account before you sign, and consider getting advice.
Related articles
- What changes in 2027? The full overview with all key dates
- What changes in 2027 for students?
- Key deadlines at the start of your career
- Minijob or student job: limits in figures compared
- Starting your career after university (in German)
Sources: Fifth Minimum Wage Ordinance, Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (status: 2026); § 622 BGB, notice periods (current version); Bundesrat paper 206/26, retirement provision (status: 2026); German Pension Insurance Fund, press release on the minijob exemption (status: June 2026).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
