Jobbing has always been an important part of financing your studies. Even more so in times of rising living costs and inflation.
We have summarised here what should be considered when taking on a part-time job.
Information regarding the student job
General rules for all students who work besides their studies.
The so-called working student privilege means that students and employers have to pay fewer social security contributions. This is because unemployment insurance, health and long-term care insurance contributions are waived. Only the share for pension insurance has to be paid. Even if you have no contributions for health and long-term care insurance, you must still have health insurance: For students under the age of 25, family insurance (if you meet the additional income limits, see below) is an option, followed by statutory student health insurance (voluntary from the age of 30) or private health insurance.
The prerequisite for the working student privilege is that you do not work more than 20 hours during the lecture period. You can work full-time during the lecture-free period, as this does not affect your studies.
Exception: You can only work more than 20 hours during the lecture period if this takes place at weekends, on public holidays, in the evenings or at night. However, this work must be limited to a maximum of 26 weeks (182 calendar days) within a period of 12 months. The 26-week rule is not based on the calendar year: it is based on the expected end of the employment to be assessed and looks at the last 12 months.
If you do not adhere to the 26-week rule, you will lose the working student privilege. Social security contributions will then be due for you and your employer.
Please note: You cannot benefit from the working student privilege if you are studying part-time or during a semester off. The same applies to part-time studies of up to 50 per cent of full-time studies, self-employment and a few other constellations. Important for the self-employed: Student health insurance may still be possible.
In general, you are entitled to the minimum wage of currently 12.82 euro per hour (as of 01/2025).
There are no upper limits.
With a mini-job, you can earn up to 556 euro per month and pay no taxes or social security contributions. Pension insurance contributions are deducted as normal, but you can apply to be exempted from these. With regard to tax, employers only pay flat-rate amounts. These regulations apply to all mini-jobbers and are independent of student status. Even with a mini-job, you are not covered by health insurance through your work and must therefore take care of this yourself.
In general, you are entitled to the minimum wage of currently 12.82 euro per hour (as of 01/2025). There are no upper limits.
If, for example, you have family health insurance, receive BAföG or live in a community of need with people who receive social benefits, different additional income limits must be taken into account:
With family insurance, for example, you may only have a mini-job or earn a maximum of 556 euro per month (as of 01/2025) plus a proportionate amount of the flat-rate advertising allowance. In 2025, the flat-rate advertising allowance is 1,230 euro. Pro rata this is therefore 102.50 euro per month. If you do not work the whole year (12 months), the flat-rate advertising allowance can sometimes be distributed differently in your favour, which means that you may be able to earn a little more. It is always best to enquire about this in advance with your health insurance provider. It is generally advisable to inform your health insurance company when you take up a job or if there are any changes.
If you receive BAföG, you are allowed to earn a maximum of 6,672 euro gross in a 12-month approval period. Anything over this amount will be deducted from your BAföG at a rate of approx. 78 %. If you are self-employed, the additional income limits are slightly different. You can find more information on the website of the BAföG office.
The amount of your income has no influence on your child benefit.
If your total income remains below the basic annual tax-free allowance of 12.096 euro (applies for 2025) plus income-related expenses (flat-rate amount for 2025: 1.230 euro), you do not have to pay tax. However, if you have a higher income in individual months, income tax may be deducted. However, if your annualised income remains below the basic tax-free allowance plus income-related expenses, any excess tax paid will usually be refunded to you via your tax return. If you have a mini-job, no income tax is usually deducted as long as you have no other jobs.
A certain percentage of your earnings is paid into the pension insurance scheme. You and your employer each pay half of this amount. If you have a mini-job, you can apply to be exempt from paying pension insurance contributions.
No further social security contributions are due as part of the working student privilege or for a mini-job. However, if you combine several jobs, the situation may be different. In this case, it is best to seek advice.
You are also entitled to holiday as a working student or mini-jobber. You are entitled to the same number of holiday days as other employees in your company. You are also entitled to continued payment of wages during holidays and in the event of illness. However, if you are absent for longer than 6 weeks, you are unfortunately not entitled to sick pay from the health insurance fund.
First things first: don't terminate your employment contract prematurely if you are pregnant!
As a pregnant woman and your unborn child, you are especially protected by law in the workplace. Employers must ensure that your health and that of your child is not jeopardised. Working at night, lifting heavy loads, handling hazardous chemicals, etc. are taboo. Pregnant women also have special protection against dismissal.
If employers are unable to offer a suitable job, pregnant women are usually released from work and receive maternity protection pay. During the statutory maternity protection period, maternity benefit is available as a wage replacement benefit.
Tip for international students: After the birth, parents with a visa for study purposes also have the option of receiving family benefits (child benefit, parental allowance, maintenance advance) if they are unable to work (full-time) due to parental leave or have an employment contract.
The situations of pregnant women* or students with families are very individual. It is therefore best to seek information from the social counselling service. The social workers can also help you find solutions in financial emergencies.
As a working student or mini-jobber, unlike regular employees, you are not entitled to unemployment benefit if you lose your job. After all, you did not have to pay all social security contributions. Accordingly, you will not be able to receive unemployment benefit even after you finish your studies.