Effective January 1, 2027, Germany’s statutory hourly minimum wage is set to rise to 14.60 euros, with the average monthly earnings ceiling for a Minijob increasing to 633 euros. According to Minijob-Zentrale, the corresponding annual ceiling will be 7,596 euros.
- The statutory minimum wage will increase from 13.90 to 14.60 euros per hour on January 1, 2027.
- The average earnings ceiling for a Minijob will be 633 euros per month and 7,596 euros per year.
- Exceeding the annual ceiling is permitted only as an exception where the excess is both unforeseen and occasional; earnings in that month must not exceed 1,266 euros.
New Thresholds and Calculation Method
The Minijob-Zentrale publication explains that the monthly earnings threshold is tied to the statutory minimum wage. For 2027, the calculation is 14.60 euros × 130 / 3, yielding 632.67 euros; rounded up to the nearest full euro, this equals 633 euros.
At exactly the statutory minimum wage rate, this ceiling corresponds to approximately 43 working hours per month. If the hourly wage is higher than the statutory minimum, the allowable monthly hours decrease accordingly.
Earnings Fluctuations Throughout the Year
Minijob-Zentrale notes that monthly earnings may vary. Across such fluctuations, the cumulative annual sum must remain within 7,596 euros. By way of example, the publication illustrates earnings of 750 euros across three months and 500 euros during the remaining nine months, resulting in an annual total of 6,750 euros.
Conditions for Exceeding the Threshold
If the annual ceiling is exceeded, employment generally no longer qualifies as a Minijob. The source outlines an exception if the excess is simultaneously unforeseen and occasional. An overrun is deemed occasional if it occurs in no more than two calendar months within a twelve-month period; an example of an unforeseen situation is covering for a sick colleague.
Earnings during the month of such an excess must not surpass 1,266 euros — double the standard monthly limit. Consequently, the exception requires satisfying both prerequisite criteria alongside the monthly cap.