A minijob is one of the simplest forms of legal employment in Germany. It is often used by students, newcomers, parents, pensioners and people who want to earn extra money without committing to part-time or full-time employment. The idea sounds easy: you work a limited number of hours and earn up to a fixed monthly amount. In practice, however, a minijob has several important rules — especially in 2026, after the income limit rose again.
In 2026, the regular minijob income limit is €603 per month. This limit is linked to the statutory minimum wage, which rose to €13.90 gross per hour on 1 January 2026. As a result, a person working at the minimum wage can usually work around 43 hours per month without exceeding the minijob threshold.
What Is a Minijob?
A minijob is a form of marginal employment in Germany. The employee earns only up to a legally defined monthly limit, while the employer registers the job with the Minijob-Zentrale and pays simplified social security contributions and taxes.
A minijob is not limited to one industry. It can be found in restaurants, hotels, offices, supermarkets, logistics, cleaning services, private households, elderly and home care support, delivery services, and even administrative work. What matters is not the job title, but the income limit and correct registration of the job.
For many foreigners in Germany, a minijob is a practical first step into the labor market. It can help newcomers improve their German, understand workplace culture, and earn income while studying, attending language courses or preparing for vocational training.
Minijob Rules in 2026
The most important figure in 2026 is the monthly earnings limit of €603. This is a gross amount. If the employee opts out of pension insurance, the net amount can be very close to the agreed gross salary. If the employee remains in pension insurance, a contribution is deducted from the salary.
| Rule | 2026 Value |
| Monthly minijob limit | €603 |
| Annual limit | €7,236 |
| Statutory minimum wage | €13.90 gross per hour |
| Approximate working time at minimum wage | 43.4 hours per month |
| Employee pension contribution | Usually 3.6% |
| Flat-rate wage tax | Usually 2%, often paid by the employer |
| Midijob starts from | €603.01 per month |
| Upper midijob limit | €2,000 per month |
The annual limit is also important. If a person earns €603 every month, the yearly total is €7,236. Regular payments such as holiday pay, Christmas bonuses or predictable extra payments may count towards this annual amount. If these payments push the income above the limit, the job may lose its minijob status.
Occasional and unforeseeable excess earnings can be allowed in certain situations — for example, if an employee temporarily replaces a sick colleague. This exception is limited: it generally applies only twice within a rolling twelve-month period and should not become regular practice. Both the employee and employer should document working hours and payments carefully.
How Many Hours Can You Work in a Minijob?
There is no fixed legal number of hours for every minijob. The number depends on the hourly wage. The higher the hourly wage, the fewer hours can be worked before reaching the monthly limit.
The formula is simple:
Monthly minijob limit ÷ hourly wage = maximum monthly hours
For example, if the hourly wage is €13.90, the calculation is:
€603 ÷ €13.90 = about 43.4 hours per month
If the hourly wage is €15, the worker can work about 40.2 hours per month. If the wage is €18, the limit is about 33.5 hours per month.
This is why a proper employment contract should clearly specify both the hourly wage and the expected working hours. A contract that only states a monthly salary without clearly stated working hours can create problems. If the actual working hours are too high, the hourly wage may fall below the legal minimum wage, or the income may exceed the minijob limit.
Taxes and Social Security Contributions
A minijob is attractive because taxation is simplified. In many cases, the employer pays a flat-rate wage tax of 2%. For the employee, this means there is usually no separate income tax deduction from the minijob salary.
Pension insurance works differently. Minijobbers are generally included in pension insurance and usually pay a small employee contribution of 3.6%. The employee can apply for exemption from this contribution. If they do so, they receive a slightly higher net salary, but they also give up some pension-related advantages.
Health insurance is a common source of confusion. A minijob alone does not automatically provide full health insurance coverage for the employee. The employer may pay a flat-rate contribution, but the employee still needs valid health insurance through another route — for example, family insurance, student insurance, another main job, voluntary statutory insurance, or support from the Jobcenter.
Minijob and Midijob: What Is the Difference?
If monthly earnings regularly exceed €603, the employment usually becomes a midijob. In 2026, the midijob range starts at €603.01 and goes up to €2,000 per month.
The main difference is social security. A midijob is subject to contributions for health insurance, pension insurance, unemployment insurance and long-term care insurance. The employee pays more than in a minijob, but the contributions increase gradually. This prevents a sudden loss of income when someone earns slightly more than the minijob limit.
For many workers, a midijob can be a better long-term option. It offers stronger social protection, access to statutory health insurance through employment, and better pension rights. A minijob is simpler, but it is not always the best choice for someone who wants to build a stable career in Germany.
Can Foreigners Work in a Minijob?
Foreigners can work in a minijob if their residence permit allows employment. The key terms to look for are usually “Erwerbstätigkeit erlaubt” or “Beschäftigung erlaubt.” If the residence document includes one of these permissions, a minijob is generally possible.
Foreign workers in minijobs have the same basic labor rights as German employees. They are entitled to at least the statutory minimum wage, paid holidays, continued pay during illness, and proper registration by the employer.
For non-EU students, work is often limited by student residence rules. In many cases, they may work up to 140 full days or 280 half days per year. A minijob can be a suitable option, but students should check how their working days are counted and whether the job fits their residence conditions.
For Ukrainians with temporary protection under Section 24 of the Residence Act, minijobs are generally possible if employment is permitted. If the person receives Bürgergeld or other Jobcenter support, the job must be reported immediately.
Minijob and Bürgergeld
A minijob does not automatically cancel Bürgergeld, but it usually reduces the monthly payment from the Jobcenter. The system allows part of the income to remain with the worker, while the rest is counted against the benefit.
In a standard case, the first €100 of monthly income does not count against the benefit. Above that, the exemption rates change: 20% of the income between €100 and €520 remains with the worker, and 30% of the income between €520 and €1,000 remains with the worker. For example, if someone earns €603 from a minijob, they keep the initial €100, plus €84 (20% of €420), plus €24.90 (30% of the remaining €83). This equals €208.90 not counted against Bürgergeld. The rest reduces the benefit accordingly.
An important exception applies to young people: school pupils, university students and trainees (Azubis) under the age of 25 can usually keep their entire minijob income (up to the €603 limit) without it reducing their Bürgergeld.
Where to Find a Minijob in Germany
Minijobs are often found through online job portals, local advertisements and direct contact with employers. Common places to search include supermarket career pages, restaurant windows, hotel websites, delivery services, local Facebook groups, Kleinanzeigen, Indeed, StepStone and the official Minijob-Zentrale household job portal.
For newcomers, offline search can be surprisingly effective. Many cafés, bakeries, shops and small businesses advertise vacancies with signs such as “Aushilfe gesucht” or “Mitarbeiter gesucht.” A short CV and a polite personal visit can work better than sending dozens of online applications.
Conclusion
A minijob in Germany is a useful and flexible way to earn money legally in 2026. The key limit is €603 per month, based on the statutory minimum wage of €13.90 per hour. This usually means around 43 hours of work per month at minimum wage.
For foreigners, students and people receiving Bürgergeld, the minijob system can be helpful — but only if the rules are followed correctly. The job must be registered, working hours must be documented, health insurance must be clarified, and any income must be reported to the Jobcenter if benefits are involved. A minijob is simple, but it is still real employment — with rights, obligations and consequences if the limits are ignored.
