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Minijob 633 € and minimum wage €14.60: what changes in January 2027
Checked on 12 October 2026 · applies from 1 January 2027
Two numbers change on 1 January 2027. The minimum wage goes up from €13.90 to €14.60 per hour. And the Minijob limit goes up from €603 to €633 per month.
Many people in our community work in kitchens, warehouses, cleaning and delivery. For them, these two numbers matter more than almost any other news this year. Here is what changes, what stays the same, and what you should check in January.
The short version
Minimum wage: €13.90 → €14.60 per hour.
Minijob limit: €603 → €633 per month (€7,596 per year).
Midijob range: €633.01 to €2,000 per month.
Hours in a Minijob at minimum wage: still about 43 hours a month.
Is this sure, or only a plan?
It is decided. The federal cabinet approved the minimum wage ordinance on 29 October 2025. It raised the wage in two steps: €13.90 from January 2026, and €14.60 from January 2027.
The Minijob limit is not a separate decision. It is tied to the minimum wage by a formula. The Minijob-Zentrale confirmed the new limit of €633 in an article on 7 October 2026.
How the €633 is calculated
The formula is simple: minimum wage × 130 ÷ 3, rounded up to full euros. The idea behind it is 10 hours of work per week at minimum wage.
€14.60 × 130 ÷ 3 = €632.67. Rounded up, that is €633.
This also means something good: every time the minimum wage rises, the Minijob limit rises with it. You do not have to cut your hours just because your hourly pay went up.
What it means for you in a Minijob
If you are paid the minimum wage, your hours stay almost the same. In 2026 you can work about 43 hours a month (603 ÷ 13.90 = 43.4). In 2027 it is also about 43 hours (633 ÷ 14.60 = 43.4).
If you earn more than the minimum wage, you can work fewer hours before you hit the limit. Example: at €15 per hour, €633 is about 42 hours a month.
| Your hourly pay | Max hours per month for €633 |
|---|---|
| €14.60 (minimum) | about 43.3 hours |
| €15.00 | about 42.2 hours |
| €16.00 | about 39.5 hours |
These are simple divisions (633 ÷ hourly pay). Your contract and payslip are what count.
What if one month is higher?
The real rule is the yearly limit: €7,596. If your pay goes up and down, the year in total must stay under that number. There is one exception. If you go over the limit by surprise and only now and then, it is allowed in up to two calendar months within 12 months. Even then, the monthly pay may not be more than €1,266. "Surprise" means something like covering for a sick colleague. It does not mean planned extra shifts every month.
What it means for full-time and part-time workers
If you are paid the minimum wage, your gross pay must go up in January. You do not need to ask for it. It is the law.
A simple example with 40 hours a week (about 173 hours a month):
| 2026 (€13.90) | 2027 (€14.60) | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross per month | about €2,409 | about €2,531 |
| Difference | about €121 more gross per month | |
This is gross, before tax and insurance. Want to see your net? Use our Brutto-Netto calculator.
The Midijob range moves too
A Midijob is a job between the Minijob limit and €2,000 a month. In this range you pay lower social insurance contributions than in a normal job. In 2027 the range starts at €633.01. The top stays at €2,000.
So if you earn €620 in 2027, you are still a Minijobber. In 2026, the same €620 would already be a Midijob.
Three things to check in January
1. Your hourly rate on the payslip. Look at your January payslip (it usually comes in February). Is the hourly rate at least €14.60? If you are paid a monthly salary, divide it by your real hours. Our work-hours tracker helps you write your hours down every day.
2. Your hours in the Minijob. If your boss raises your hourly pay above €14.60, check that you still stay under €633. If not, the job becomes a Midijob. That is not bad, but it should be done properly, with a new registration.
3. Unpaid hours. A common trick: the hourly rate on paper is correct, but you work more hours than written down. Write your real hours down. Many contracts have a deadline (Ausschlussfrist) to claim missing pay in writing, so do not wait. Check your contract for it.
Be careful with "cash on top"
Some employers pay the Minijob amount officially and the rest in cash. This is Schwarzarbeit. You have no insurance for those hours, they do not count for your pension, and you cannot prove the income later — for example for a flat or a visa extension. Say no, even if it sounds like more money.
Where to get help for free
If your employer does not pay the new minimum wage, talk to them first, in writing. If nothing happens, a trade union or a free migration advice centre (MBE) can help. For Minijob questions, the Minijob-Zentrale is the official office.
Looking for a better-paid job? Start with our job search, and read your rights in a Minijob.
Sources
- Minijob-Zentrale: Minijob-Grenze 2027 (7 Oct 2026)
- ZDFheute: Cabinet decides minimum wage increase (29 Oct 2025)
- Lexware: Verdienstgrenzen Minijob und Midijob
This page is general information, not legal advice. Numbers checked on 12 October 2026. Rules can change, so always check the official source.