Working student pay in 2027 follows the minimum wage, which rises to €14.60 gross per hour on 1 January 2027. With the same number of hours, you earn a little more than in the previous year. This guide shows what that means per month, where the limits lie, and which deductions you should plan for.
Short answer: From 1 January 2027, working students receive at least the minimum wage of €14.60 gross per hour. At 20 hours per week, this works out to roughly €1,265 gross per month (assumption: 52 weeks per year). Insurance exemption depends on the number of hours, not on the amount of pay. Last updated: November 2026.
Key points
- The minimum wage in 2027 is €14.60 gross per hour, up from €13.90 in 2026.
- At 20 hours per week, gross pay in 2027 is roughly €1,265 per month.
- The working-student privilege depends on the number of hours, not on the pay.
- With more than 20 hours per week, the insurance exemption generally ends.
- For the net amount, use the calculator of the German Federal Ministry of Finance (bmf-steuerrechner.de).
How much do you earn as a working student at different hours?
| Working time | Hours per month | Gross 2026 (€13.90) | Gross 2027 (€14.60) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 hours per week | about 43.3 | €602.33 | €632.67 |
| 15 hours per week | about 65.0 | €903.50 | €949.00 |
| 20 hours per week | about 86.7 | €1,204.67 | €1,265.33 |
| 25 hours per week | about 108.3 | €1,505.83 | €1,581.67 |
Assumption for the table: 52 weeks per year, even hours, gross amounts before deductions. The monthly amount equals weekly hours times 52 divided by 12, multiplied by the hourly wage.
Which rules determine how much you may work?
The working-student privilege depends on the number of hours. During the lecture period, the limit is 20 hours per week. Evening, night and weekend work can go beyond 20 hours if your studies take priority. In the lecture-free period a separate rule applies: work that falls only in the lecture-free period is generally exempt from insurance. Once the work exceeds 20 hours per week for more than 26 weeks in the year, the privilege no longer applies.
Which deductions come off the gross pay?
If the 20-hour rule applies, you are exempt from health, long-term care and unemployment insurance. You remain subject to pension insurance. The pension contribution rate for 2026 is 18.6 percent. The rate for 2027 will be published officially, and until then the 2026 rate is only a reference point, not a value for 2027. Income tax depends on your tax class and allowances, so for the net amount we refer you to the calculator of the German Federal Ministry of Finance.
What does the minimum wage of 2027 mean for your month?
Assumption: 20 hours per week, 52 weeks per year, €14.60 per hour. That gives about 86.7 hours per month and therefore about €1,265 gross. For comparison, at €13.90 in 2026 it would be about €1,205. The difference is about €61 per month before deductions.
What does the increase mean over a whole year?
Over one year, 20 hours per week at €14.60 works out to roughly €15,184 gross. Assumption: 52 weeks with 20 hours each. In 2026 at €13.90, it would be about €14,456, so the difference is roughly €728 gross per year. This calculation shows only the gross amount, and deductions come on top.
What does the semester break mean for planning?
During the semester you often plan fewer hours, and in the lecture-free period more. The working-student privilege looks at both periods, and the rule for the lecture-free period is tied to the weeks in the calendar year. Assumption for an example: you work 30 hours per week in the semester break, which is about 120 hours in a month of four weeks. At €14.60 that gives roughly €1,752 gross in that month.
Therefore, do not look only at the monthly amount. Also add up the weeks with more than 20 hours across the year. The threshold of 26 weeks is the decisive figure there.
How does a working-student job differ from a part-time post?
A regular part-time post follows the general rules of social insurance, where both the number of hours and the amount of pay play a role. The working-student job is a special case, controlled by the number of hours. If you compare the two, look at the insurance rules as well as the pay.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a working student earn at least in 2027?
At least €14.60 gross per hour. That applies to every paid hour, regardless of how many hours you work in a month.
Does the minimum wage also apply to working students?
Yes, the minimum wage generally applies to working students too. Your status as a working student does not change that. Insurance exemption depends on the number of hours, not on the pay.
Does a higher wage affect my insurance exemption?
No. The amount of pay plays no role in the working-student privilege. The number of hours is decisive.
Can I work more than 20 hours in exceptional cases?
Yes, in the cases mentioned, such as evening, night or weekend work, if your studies take priority. For the lecture-free period, the limits described above apply.
Do I have to file a tax return as a working student?
Not automatically. Whether you must file depends on your income. The guide on tax returns for working students explains the rules (in German).
Which deductions belong in your monthly budget?
In your monthly budget, include pension insurance and possible income tax alongside the gross pay. How high income tax is depends on your tax class and allowances. For that reason, calculate the amount with the calculator of the German Federal Ministry of Finance and plan with the net amount, not the gross.
Whether you are covered as a family member, insured on your own or privately insured also affects your monthly amount. The guide Working student and health insurance (in German) explains the costs by age group.
How can an overview help with planning?
A simple table with weekly hours, monthly pay and semester phase shows early when you reach the 20-hour limit. Each month, enter the gross amount and compare it with the year before. That shows how strongly the minimum wage of 2027 affects your daily life, and helps you align working hours with exam periods.
Also check that your employer records the hours correctly. If the payslip and your own notes do not match, clarify it promptly, before small errors add up over several months.
What to do next
- Check your contract: from 2027 the hourly wage must be at least €14.60 gross.
- Count your weekly hours separately for the lecture period and the lecture-free period.
- Run your monthly hours through the calculator of the German Federal Ministry of Finance.
- If you are unsure about your insurance status, ask your health insurer or get 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
- Working student: 20-hour rule, pension insurance and semester breaks (in German)
- Working student and health insurance: costs under 25, over 25 and over 30 (in German)
- Do I have to file a tax return as a working student?
Sources: 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); § 8 SGB IV, gesetze-im-internet.de, as of November 2026 (in German)
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
