Average Salary for Part-Time Jobs in Germany
How much can you make with a part-time job in Germany? Can you earn enough money to sustain yourself as a student? A part-time job is a great way to earn money on the side, whether you are a student or already have a primary job.
The average salary for part-time jobs in Germany is between 12 EUR and 19 EUR per hour, depending on the position, industry, and location. The regulated minimum wage of 12 EUR (October 2022) applies to most part-time jobs, but the pay is higher if the requirements for candidates are higher.
Part-time jobs offer not only flexibility in terms of time but also income. Germany has various types of part-time employment which offer different earning potentials.
Salary for part-time jobs in Germany
According to one of the largest German job boards, the average part-time salary in Germany for a 30 hours work week is 30,153 EUR gross per year or 2,512 EUR per month. At the same time, for typical student jobs, a common hourly wage is 12 EUR.
Part-time jobs are widespread in Germany and are popular among students and adults, especially working moms and retirees.
Almost everyone can work part-time in Germany regardless of their residence permit. Part-time jobs are common among students, both local and international.
When working part-time in Germany, you can expect a minimum wage (12 EUR in 2022) as the minimal salary, but the numbers are usually higher. Hence, you can earn more depending on the job, qualifications, company and industry.
In most cases, part-time workers earn between 12-15 EUR per hour. Jobs in catering usually provide the lowest salary, which is equal to the minimum wage.
You also need to keep in mind the restrictions regarding the working hours for international students. They can take up employment only for up to 20 hours per week.
Hence, with a salary of 12 EUR per hour and while working up to 20 hours per week, you can earn:
- 12 EUR*20*4 = 960 EUR gross per month
Salary for partial employment in Germany
Furthermore, in Germany, you can also work in a good position in a part-time capacity. Many companies allow employees to reduce working hours for better work-life balance or when they have children.
It’s very common when a woman returns from maternity leave and continues her job just in a part-time capacity.
Since requirements for such jobs are higher and the necessary level of education & experience, the salary is also significantly higher than typical part-time jobs provide. For instance, in 2022, the average salary for part-time employment was 30,153 EUR gross.
Yet, even when taking the salary of an average university graduate in Germany, you still can make a significant living while working a part-time job.
According to the StepStone Salary Report 2022, the average salary of a university graduate is 44,836 EUR for a full-time position.
Assuming you have a job with that pay and want to reduce your hours to 20 per week. How much will you make then?
In that case, partial employment will apply to you. This is how you calculate your hourly and monthly wage.
Hourly wage (gross) = 3 × your full-time monthly salary (gross) / 13 / the number of hours you work per week.
Here is an example of a salary for a partial employment case in Germany:
- Gross annual salary: 44,836 EUR
- Monthly full-time gross salary: 3,736 EUR
- Hours worked per week: 40
- The average number of hours per month = (40 hours per week x 13 weeks) / 3 months = 173.33 hours.
- Hourly gross wage = 3,736 EUR / 173.33 hrs = 21,55 EUR/hr.
So when working a regular full-time job, your hourly wage is 21,55 EUR. So how much will you get when working the same job in a limited capacity, e.g., just 20 hours per week?
- Where the average number of working hours per month is = (20 hours per week x 13 weeks) / 3 months = 86,7 hours
- Gross monthly salary = 21,55 EUR x 86,7 hours = 1,868 EUR
- Gross annual income = 1,868 EUR x 12 months = 22,420 EUR
Therefore, you will earn around 1,868 EUR gross per month when working 20 hours per week.
Currently, there are over 4,000 open part-time employment positions in Germany.
Minimum wage in Germany in 2022
The salary for part-time jobs in Germany is often equal to the current minimum wage. In 2021 – 2022, these numbers were:
- From 1 January to 30 June 2021: 9.50 EUR
- From 1 July to 31 December 2021: 9.60 EUR
- From 1 January 2022: 9.82 EUR
- From 1 July 2022: 10.45 EUR
- From 1 October 2022: 12.00 EUR
In October 2022, the minimum wage was increased to 12 EUR per hour. With that, a tax-free salary for part-time workers has increased from 450 EUR to 520 EUR per month.
Hourly wage for part-time jobs
The typical hourly wage for part-time jobs in Germany is 12 EUR. Regular jobs like waiter, courier, cashier, etc., might only pay a minimum hourly wage of 12 EUR in 2022.
What is Minijob?
Minijob is limited employment, not in terms of hours but in salary. You may earn up to 520 EUR per month or 6,240 EUR per year.
Usually, a regulated minimum wage applies when it comes to hourly pay, which is 12.00 EUR in 2022.
Minijobs are common among students but also pensioners or school students willing to make some money on the side. In fact, around 6 million people in Germany earn money that way. Also, a classic part-time job is the Minijob.
At that rate, you will you able to work a maximum of around 11 hours per week or roughly 47 hours per month. As a student, you don’t have to pay taxes or social security contributions with that income.
Furthermore, you can work on a minijob and earn more than 520 EUR per month, but the employment time is limited – up to 3 months or 70 working days per year. Many students take this opportunity to earn a good income during the summer holidays.
What is midijob?
More than a minijob, less than full-time – the midijob lies in between. The main difference is that you can earn more money, but you also need to contribute to health, unemployment, and pension insurances in taxes.
One can make a gross salary between 520 EUR and 2,000 EUR per month. Similar to ordinary employees, you are entitled to holidays and sick leave.
Students are only allowed to earn up to 960 EUR per month; otherwise, they will lose their affordable health insurance.
Salary for part-time student jobs in Germany
For part-time student jobs, often a minimum hourly wage of 12.00 EUR applies, but rates can also be higher. In higher-skilled student positions, the pay ranges from 12-20 EUR per hour.
Overall, students in Germany earn, on average, between 12 EUR and 19 EUR per hour. You will get the minimum salary in catering.
The pay largely depends on the student’s skills as well as the industry they are employed in. Some jobs pay higher amounts while others pay less, depending on the regional labor market.
Students working in the IT sector get paid better than average – 15.23 EUR.
In larger German cities, you will have a higher wage than the same job in a smaller German city.
As a working international student, you are subject to the 20-hour rule. Hence, you cannot work more than 20 hours a week.
Can you finance your studies with a part-time job?
Be aware that student jobs in Germany won’t cover all your living expenses but can help you to pay bills. Usually, you need around 900-1,000 EUR available each month, where 520 EUR can be earned on a side job.
Therefore, it’s almost impossible for students to finance all their expenses in Germany through part-time jobs.
How many students can earn in Germany?
In Germany, working students are entitled to the minimum wage, which is 12 EUR, since October 2022. However, you can expect this salary in the worst case, many companies pay slightly higher compensation.
Assuming you work 20 hours per week, you will earn at least 960 EUR gross per month. International students aren’t allowed to work a maximum of 20 hours per week.
That said, students can earn only up to 520 EUR per month tax-free. Above that amount, they will need to pay social insurance contributions and, in some cases, income taxes.
The monthly salary you will be able to get will depend on how many hours you plan to work. Germany has implemented some limits there as well.
Germany has different regulations for working as a student, depending on your country of origin.
Students from EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland
Students can work as much as they would like; they also don’t need permission. But they must make insurance contributions when working more than 20 hours per week.
Students from non-EU countries
Students from the rest of the world can’t work more than 120 days a year or 240 half days. They need special permission from the employment agency (Agentur für Arbeit) and the immigration office to increase these limits.
Students from non-EU countries also cannot be self-employed or freelancers.
Furthermore, working too many hours can lead to students losing their health insurance. For instance, if you are insured with TK, you can earn up to 500 EUR per month.
Above that point, you must pay contributions for long-term nursing care and social security. They will significantly add to your total annual bills.
However, EU and non-EU students can take up full-time employment without consequences during semester breaks.
Exceptions to working hours for students
For research assistants
The 120-day rule doesn’t apply to students who work as student assistants within the university. There are also no restrictions for other university jobs.
Yet, you must inform the immigration office if you want to work more.
Internships
You can also work more hours without any consequences if it’s an internship. However, an internship during the semester break will count as regular work.
Therefore, it will be deducted from your 120-day annual work limit. Compulsory internships that are part of your university program don’t count and won’t be deducted from 120 days.
Nonetheless, working more than 20 hours a week is generally not advised. You might lose your focus on your studies and put it at risk.
When do you have to pay taxes as a student?
You can earn up to 520 EUR per month tax-free. But if they regularly make more than 520 EUR, a tax number is required.
This way, a certain amount will be deducted from your wage every month, but you will be able to get it back at the end of the year if you submit a tax return.
Here are the most common types of students jobs in Germany:
Generally, there are five main ways you can work as a student in Germany.
1. Working student
Working students work for a company in a field related to their studies. It’s by far the best way to earn money while studying at university.
Not only will you be able to learn more about your future profession and apply the knowledge, but also earn a better wage.
Yet, you will also have a chance to get hired for a full-time position by this company after graduation.
An example would be a mechanical engineering student working in a manufacturing company in a position related to their studies.
2. Minijob or classic part-time job
Such jobs are often in the service industry or other low-skill areas. With the minijob, you may earn up to 520 EUR per month. The main advantage of minijob is that you don’t have to pay taxes or social security contributions.
3. Midijob
Midijob gives you a higher income than minijob, but less than full-time. With the midijob, you can earn between 520 EUR and 2,000 EUR and will need to pay taxes or social security contributions.
However, you can enjoy entitled holidays, paid sick leave, and other perks.
4. Self-employed or freelancer
As an EU student, you have the freedom of becoming self-employed or working as a freelancer in Germany. Hence, you can utilize your skills and bill your clients directly.
As a non-EU student, you will need to get permission from the immigration office to become self-employed in Germany. However, in many cases, this option isn’t available for international students.
5. Internship
An internship is another great way to earn money as a student in Germany.
Various internship types are available, including compulsory, voluntary, and internships abroad.
A compulsory internship is a part of your studies and is required for graduation. Keep in mind that employers aren’t obliged to pay a minimum wage for mandatory internships in Germany.
So you might earn nothing or very little. They also often don’t last more than three months.
Voluntary internships are always paid and usually last longer.
Typical part-time student jobs in Germany
- Jobs at university:
- Library supervisor
- Literature researcher
- Tutorial assistant
- Off-campus jobs:
- Waiter/Waitress
- Promoter
- Courier
- Babysitter
- Bartender
- Cashier
- Filing office documents
- Call center agent
- Tutoring
- Production workers
Check out which jobs are in high-demand in Germany so that you will have a 100% chance of success.
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