Minijob 2027: the limit rises to 633 € — check your hours now
A question many people in our community are asking right now: "Bhai, Minijob ki limit kitni ho gayi?" The official answer came from the Minijob-Zentrale on 7 October 2026. Here is what it means for you, in plain words.
The new numbers for 2027
| 2026 | From 1 Jan 2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage (Mindestlohn) | 13,90 €/hour | 14,60 €/hour |
| Minijob limit per month | 603 € | 633 € |
| Minijob limit per year | 7.236 € | 7.596 € |
| Midijob range (Übergangsbereich) | 603,01 – 2.000 € | 633,01 – 2.000 € |
The minimum wage for 2027 is already law. It is written in the Fünfte Mindestlohnanpassungsverordnung (MiLoV5). So this is not a rumour or a plan — it will happen.
How the 633 € is calculated
The limit is tied to the minimum wage. The idea is simple: a Minijob should allow about 10 hours a week at minimum wage. The formula is minimum wage × 130 ÷ 3. For 2027 that is 14,60 × 130 ÷ 3 = 632,67 €, rounded up to 633 €.
At minimum wage, 633 € means roughly 43 hours a month. If your boss pays you more per hour, you can work fewer hours before you hit the limit. Example: at 15 € per hour, 633 € is about 42 hours.
Who needs to be careful
1. People with a fixed monthly amount
Many kitchen and shop Minijobs say "603 € per month" in the contract — and the hours just grow over time. From January, every hour must be paid at least 14,60 €. Do the maths: 603 € ÷ 14,60 € = about 41 hours. If you work 43 hours for a fixed 603 €, your hourly pay is only about 14,02 € — that is below the 2027 minimum wage. Your employer must then pay more or plan fewer hours.
2. People who already work close to the limit
Good news first: someone who works 43 hours at minimum wage earns 597,70 € now and 627,80 € in 2027. Both are under the limit. But if you work extra shifts, you can go over 633 € faster than you think.
3. People who sometimes work more
Going over the limit is only allowed in special cases. The Minijob-Zentrale says the overrun must be unforeseeable and occasional — for example, you cover for a sick colleague. "Occasional" means in up to two calendar months within 12 months. In such a month you may earn at most double the limit, so 1.266 € in 2027. If your boss plans extra hours every month, that is not "unforeseeable". Then it is no longer a Minijob.
Your pension share (the 3,6 %)
A Minijob is pension-insured by default. If you stay in, you pay a small share yourself — 3,6 % with a normal company employer. At 633 € that is about 22,79 €, so around 610 € reaches your bank account. You can ask to be exempt (Befreiung), but think first: these months count towards your German pension later. If you once opted out, you may now reverse it, by telling your employer.
There are also draft laws that could raise the employer's flat-rate costs for Minijobs in 2027. These are not final yet. They are the boss's cost, not money taken from your pay — but they may make some employers more strict about hours.
Your 5-minute check before January
- Find your contract. Does it say an hourly wage or a fixed monthly amount?
- Count your real hours for the last three months. Our free working-time tracker helps with that.
- Divide pay by hours. Is the result at least 14,60 € for January?
- Check your January payslip (Lohnabrechnung) in February. The new rate must be there.
- If something is wrong, ask in writing. Many contracts have an Ausschlussfrist — often only three months to claim missing pay.
Brutto-Netto, Minijob and Midijob Minijob rights
Holidays, sick pay, notice Track your hours
Compare with your payslip Find a job
Live search from the Arbeitsagentur
Sources
- Minijob-Zentrale: Minijob-Grenze 2027 (7 Oct 2026)
- Fünfte Mindestlohnanpassungsverordnung: gesetze-im-internet.de
- Midijob range 2027: Lexware
- Pension share and draft changes: lohn-info.de
- § 45c AufenthG information duty: migrando.de
This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules can change — always check the official source linked above, or ask a free advice service like Faire Integration.