Calculate Your German Minijob Net Income
Minijob Types in Germany
A minijob is part-time work with limited earnings. There are two minijobs types:
Regular Minijob with Income Limit:
- Maximum monthly income is currently €538.
- Exceeding this limit turns the minijob into a “midijob” with different tax and social security rules.
Short-Term Minijob:
- There is no fixed monthly income limit.
- Occasional, not recurring work.
- Maximum 18 consecutive days of work.
- Daily wage cannot exceed €150 (as of 2024).
Read more about minijobs in Germany in our Minijob Expat Guide.
Household vs. Business Minijobs
The type of minijob affects your finances.
- Household minijobs: Work in private homes (cleaning, childcare, etc.). Often, there is no or reduced income tax and lower social security contributions.
- Business minijobs: For companies or businesses. Standard minijob rules with income tax and total social security contributions.
Taxes and Insurance Contributions
You need to know the taxes and insurance contributions to calculate your net income from a minijob. Our minijob wage calculator gives you a quick estimate, but this section goes into detail.
Both employees and employers contribute to different funds. Here’s a breakdown:
- Pension insurance: Employers pay 15% of the gross wage; employees can pay 3.6% or opt out.
- Health insurance: Employers pay 13% of the gross wage toward employees’ health insurance. Employees usually have health insurance through family or another job. If not, they need to enroll in public health insurance.
- Wage tax: Employers pay a 2% wage tax on the gross wage. Employees are exempt from wage tax for minijobs.
- Insolvency money levy: Employees pay 0.06% of the gross wage.
- U1 and U2 Contributions: Employees don’t pay U1 (sick pay) for minijobs. Employers usually reimburse sick pay through the U1 levy, but no direct employer contribution exists. For U2 (maternity levy), employees don’t pay; employers pay a percentage of the employee’s gross salary determined by the health insurance provider.
Please note that these rates are subject to change. Use our minijob wage calculator for exact calculations.
The insolvency money levy is a small contribution paid by employees in Germany to fund a safety net for employees of insolvent companies. If a company goes bankrupt, this fund helps to secure unpaid wages and salaries for a limited period. It’s insurance for employees against their employer going bankrupt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can have a minijob while studying or being retired. Minijobs are flexible and accommodate different life situations.
If you are an EU/EEA citizen or Swiss national, you don’t need a work permit for a minijob in Germany. Depending on their visa status, citizens from other countries might need specific work permits.
If you consistently earn more than the minijob limit (€538 per month), your job status changes to a “midijob.” It means you need to pay taxes and social security contributions.
Yes, you can have multiple minijobs as long as your total income doesn’t exceed the minijob limit. Combining different types of minijobs might have tax and social security implications.
It’s a common myth that minijobs are only for students or retirees.
Reality: Minijobs are flexible for everyone.
Myth: Minijobs are tax-free. While there are tax benefits, you need to know the rules.
