Germany’s Minimum Wage, Explained for Newcomers

This guide is for internationals who have recently moved to Germany and are starting work, whether in a full-time post, a part-time role or a mini-job. After reading it, you will know what the statutory minimum wage is, who it covers, what the official sources leave open and where to find help when an employer pays less.

• What the statutory minimum wage is
• How much it is and where to check
• Who the minimum wage covers
• Exceptions and special rules
• Where to get help when an employer pays less
• FAQ

What the statutory minimum wage is

Germany has a general statutory minimum wage, the Mindestlohn (minimum wage). The Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS) describes it as the minimum wage level that may not be undercut. It went into effect on 1 January 2015 under the Minimum Wage Act (Mindestlohngesetz).

According to the ministry, the minimum wage was introduced to protect workers in Germany from unreasonably low wages. It aims to protect people in low-paying jobs from wage dumping and to guarantee appropriate social participation. It is also meant to stop businesses competing by agreeing ever lower wages, so that they compete on better products and services instead. The ministry adds that it supports greater stability in Germany’s social security systems.

Many practical matters in Germany are decided by the federal states (Länder), cities or local offices, such as address registration, schools and childcare. The general minimum wage is different. It is set out in a federal law and explained by a federal ministry, so the rule itself is the same everywhere in Germany. What does vary is local support: the counselling centres listed below differ from city to city.

How much it is and where to check

Neither of the two sources used for this guide gives the current hourly rate. The BMAS page sends readers to its Questions and Answers section and to a brochure on the Minimum Wage Act, and the hourly amount is published there. Because the rate is reviewed over time, it makes sense to read the figure directly from the ministry and not from older articles or word of mouth.

One figure on the Handbook Germany page on mini-jobs does show how the minimum wage affects other rules. The monthly earnings limit for mini-jobs is linked to the minimum wage. As of 2026 it is €603 per month, and it is set to rise to €633 in 2027.

For readers whose German is still developing, the BMAS page offers translated information about the minimum wage in German, Arabic, Bulgarian, French, Greek, Italian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Ukrainian and Hungarian.

Who the minimum wage covers

The BMAS describes the minimum wage as protection for workers in Germany. Handbook Germany states that labour law applies to mini-jobbers in the same way as to other employees, so people in mini-jobs are entitled to the statutory minimum wage and to holiday. It also states that people in midi-jobs are entitled to the statutory minimum wage. Working part-time or for only a few hours therefore does not, on its own, remove the right to the minimum wage.

Many newcomers start with smaller jobs, so the main types are worth knowing:

• Minijob mit Verdienstgrenze (mini-job with an income limit): you earn a maximum of €603 per month or €7,236 per year as of 2026. Some months can be higher if the annual total, including one-off payments such as holiday pay or a Christmas bonus, stays within €7,236.
• Kurzfristige Beschäftigung (short-term employment): you work less than three months, or 70 working days if you work fewer than five days a week, per year. The amount you earn during that time does not matter for this category.
• Midijob (midi-job): earnings above the mini-job limit, up to an upper limit explained on the Handbook Germany page. Unlike a mini-job, a midi-job is subject to social security contributions, though at a lower rate than for regular employees.

Handbook Germany also explains that there is no lower or upper limit on working hours in a mini-job. What counts is the income limit, or the time limit for short-term employment. If you earn more only exceptionally and without prior planning, for example when covering for a sick colleague, up to three times in a year, you still count as a mini-jobber, as long as annual earnings stay within 14 times the monthly limit, which is €8,442 as of 2026.

Exceptions and special rules

The two sources used here do not list any groups of people who are excluded from the minimum wage. The BMAS calls it a general minimum wage, and the official rules on any exceptions are found in the Minimum Wage Act and the ministry’s Questions and Answers section. Where this guide’s sources are silent, the law and the ministry’s own explanations decide.

The BMAS page does show that some sectors have additional rules. It refers to separate minimum wages and additional annual leave in the nursing care sector. Anyone working in care can therefore find sector-specific information alongside the general rule.

Whether you are allowed to work in Germany at all, and in which kind of job, depends on your residence status. That is not a minimum wage question. Specific residence questions are handled by the Ausländerbehörde (foreigners’ authority) or can be discussed with a migration advice service.

Where to get help when an employer pays less

The sources used for this guide do not describe a formal complaint procedure or any deadlines for claiming unpaid wages. They do point to several places where workers can get information and support:

1. Learn the basics of your rights. Handbook Germany has chapters called “Labour rights” and “Employment Contract”, which cover employee rights and the minimum wage in more detail.
2. Contact a counselling centre. Handbook Germany links to Faire Integration (fair integration), a network where you can find a counselling centre nearby that helps with employee rights and working conditions. Which centres are available depends on where you live.
3. Use the official sources. The BMAS Questions and Answers section and its translated material explain the rules in several languages. The BMAS website also has a section called Fair mobility within its pages on working in another EU country.
4. Check mini-job details. Handbook Germany links to the Federal Employment Agency’s website, which has detailed information on mini-jobs.

Questions about time limits for claims, or about which authority is responsible in a particular case, are best taken to a counselling centre, which can explain the rules that apply.

FAQ

Does the minimum wage apply to mini-jobs?

Yes. Handbook Germany states that labour law applies to mini-jobbers as it does to other employees, which means they are entitled to the statutory minimum wage and to holiday. The same source states that midi-jobbers are also entitled to the statutory minimum wage.

What is the current hourly minimum wage?

The two sources used for this guide do not state the hourly rate. The Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs publishes it in its Questions and Answers section and in its brochure on the Minimum Wage Act. Handbook Germany notes that the mini-job earnings limit is linked to the minimum wage: €603 per month as of 2026, rising to €633 in 2027.

Can I take a mini-job while receiving support from the Jobcentre?

Handbook Germany says this is possible, but you must notify the Jobcentre before you start, otherwise your benefits will be reduced. Part of the extra income is deducted from Bürgergeld (basic income support), while the first €100 is always exempt. People receiving unemployment benefit I must also notify the Jobcentre and can work a maximum of 14 hours and 59 minutes a week.

Who can help if my employer pays less than the minimum wage?

Handbook Germany refers workers to the Faire Integration network, which has counselling centres for employee rights and working conditions in many places. The BMAS website explains the rules in several languages. For questions about your residence status, the Ausländerbehörde or a migration advice service is the right contact.

Sources: bmas.de · handbookgermany.de

Last verified: 19 October 2026 against the pages linked above. Rules and fees change; the responsible authority always has the final word.

This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. For your own situation, ask the foreigners’ authority (Ausländerbehörde) of your city, a recognised migration advice service or a lawyer (Rechtsanwalt).