This guide explains where the numbers come from, what they mean for a monthly salary, how they connect to Minijobs and Midijobs, who is not covered, and how sector minimum wages work. Every figure links to an official source. This is general information, not legal advice.
Key takeaways
- €13.90 an hour in 2026, €14.60 an hour from 1 January 2027, always gross (MiLoV5).
- The Minijob limit is €603 a month on average in 2026 (Minijob-Zentrale).
- Some sectors have their own, higher minimum wages (BMAS).
- Questions go to the BMAS minimum wage hotline. Customs (Zoll) checks that employers pay it (BMAS).
Minimum wage in Germany at a glance
- Minimum wage 2025€12.82 per hourSource Bundesregierung FAQ (2026 rate is 78 cents higher)
- Minimum wage from 1 Jan 2026€13.90 gross per hourSource MiLoV5
- Minimum wage from 1 Jan 2027€14.60 gross per hourSource MiLoV5
- Minijob limit 2026€603 per month on average, €7,236 per yearSource Minijob-Zentrale
- Minijob limit 2027€633 per monthSource Bundesregierung
- Midijob range 2026€603.01 to €2,000 per monthSource Bundesregierung FAQ
All sources retrieved 31 Oct 2026.
How the minimum wage is set
Germany’s minimum wage comes from the Minimum Wage Act (Mindestlohngesetz, MiLoG). It was introduced on 1 January 2015 at €8.50 gross per hour (BMAS, 22 Jan 2026, retrieved 31 Oct 2026).
The process has two steps:
- The Minimum Wage Commission proposes. The Mindestlohnkommission decides on an adjustment every two years. It looks at whether a level protects workers, supports fair competition and does not put jobs at risk, and it follows the development of collective wage agreements (MiLoG § 9, retrieved 31 Oct 2026).
- The federal government makes it binding. The Bundesregierung turns the proposal into a legal regulation (Rechtsverordnung). The Bundesrat does not need to agree (MiLoG § 11, retrieved 31 Oct 2026).
For the current rates, the commission decided on 27 June 2025. It proposed two steps: plus 8.42% in 2026 and plus 5.04% in 2027, 13.88% in total (BMAS press release, 27 Jun 2025, retrieved 31 Oct 2026). The government then issued the Fifth Minimum Wage Adjustment Ordinance, dated 5 November 2025 (MiLoV5).
Key point: The €14.60 for 2027 is not a forecast. It is already law.
How many people does it affect?
The government expects more than six million people to benefit from the two steps (Bundesregierung, retrieved 31 Oct 2026). The Federal Statistical Office estimates that the rise to €13.90 affected up to 4.8 million jobs, based on its April 2025 earnings survey. In April 2025, about 3.8% of employees earned the minimum wage of that time, €12.82 (Destatis, retrieved 31 Oct 2026).
What the minimum wage means per month
The minimum wage is an hourly rate. Your monthly pay depends on how many hours you work per week. None of the official sources we checked print a ready-made monthly figure for full-time work, so we don’t give one here either.
To check your own number, you have two options:
- Use our salary calculator Germany to see gross and net pay for your hours.
- Use the official BMAS minimum wage calculator (in German). You enter the hourly wage and your weekly hours, and it shows a steady monthly salary without overtime. It also works the other way: enter your monthly salary, and it shows your hourly wage (retrieved 31 Oct 2026).
Three points to keep in mind:
- It is gross pay. Tax and social security come off before you get your money. How much tax depends partly on your tax class, see our guide to tax classes in Germany.
- It counts hours actually worked. Piece rates are allowed, but you must still reach at least the minimum wage for the hours you worked in the pay period (BMAS).
- It has a due date. Wages are due on the agreed date, and at the latest on the last bank working day of the month after the work was done. A working time account can change this (Zoll, retrieved 31 Oct 2026).
Key point: The minimum wage is the floor, not the typical salary.
If you want to know what people in your job usually earn, read our guide to the average salary in Germany.
Your net salary 2026
Gross to net for 2026, with every official rate.
Minijob and Midijob in 2026
Minijob: up to €603 a month
A Minijob (geringfügige Beschäftigung) is a job with low earnings. In 2026 you may earn no more than €603 a month on average, which is €7,236 a year (Minijob-Zentrale, retrieved 31 Oct 2026).
The limit is linked to the minimum wage. It rises with every increase so that a Minijob with 10 hours a week stays possible (Bundesregierung). In 2027 it goes up to €633 a month.
Good to know:
- The minimum wage applies in a Minijob too, no matter how few hours you work (Bundesregierung FAQ).
- Occasional months above the limit are possible. If you earn more in a month you could not plan for, for example because you cover for a sick colleague, this is allowed in up to two calendar months within a year. In such a month, pay may be at most twice the limit, €1,206 (Minijob-Zentrale).
- Hours are recorded. Employers must record the working hours of Minijob staff and keep the records for two years (Bundesregierung FAQ).
Midijob: €603.01 to €2,000 a month
Above the Minijob limit starts the transition zone (Übergangsbereich), often called a Midijob. In 2026 it covers monthly earnings from €603.01 to €2,000. In this range you pay reduced social security contributions (Bundesregierung FAQ, retrieved 31 Oct 2026).
Who is not covered by the minimum wage
The minimum wage applies to employees aged 18 and over, wherever their employer is based, as long as they work in Germany (BMAS). MiLoG § 22 (retrieved 31 Oct 2026) lists the main exceptions:
| Group | Rule in short |
|---|---|
| People in vocational training (Ausbildung) | Not covered by the MiLoG. Their pay follows other rules, see below. |
| Certain interns | Not covered: compulsory internships, voluntary orientation internships of up to three months, and voluntary internships of up to three months alongside studies or training |
| Under 18 without completed vocational training | Not counted as employees under the MiLoG |
| People who were long-term unemployed | No minimum wage in the first six months of the new job |
| Volunteers | Not covered |
The BMAS also lists self-employed people, participants in employment promotion programmes and home workers as outside the law (BMAS).
Two details from the same source:
- Longer internships count. An internship of more than three months is covered from the first day, also when a three-month internship is extended.
- Sector minimums still apply. People who were long-term unemployed get sector minimum wages from the start (Bundesregierung FAQ).
Minimum pay in vocational training
People in an Ausbildung have their own minimum, the Mindestausbildungsvergütung. For training that starts in 2026, it is €724 a month in the first year, €854 in the second, €977 in the third and €1,014 in the fourth (BBiMindVergFBek 2026, 7 Oct 2025, retrieved 31 Oct 2026). For training that starts in 2027, the first year rises to €764 (BIBB, Oct 2026, retrieved 31 Oct 2026).
Sector minimum wages (Branchenmindestlöhne)
In some sectors, a higher minimum applies. These sector minimum wages come from collective agreements that the state makes binding for the whole sector, for example by ordinance under the Posted Workers Act (Arbeitnehmer-Entsendegesetz) or by a declaration of general application (BMAS, retrieved 31 Oct 2026). They also apply to staff of employers based abroad who work in Germany (Bundesregierung FAQ).
Some examples from the BMAS overview (retrieved 31 Oct 2026):
| Sector | Minimum per hour | From |
|---|---|---|
| Building cleaning, wage group 1 (indoor and maintenance cleaning) | €15.00 | 1 Jan 2026 |
| Building cleaning, wage group 6 (glass and facade cleaning) | €18.40 | 1 Jan 2026 |
| Roofing, unskilled | €14.96 | 1 Jan 2026 |
| Roofing, skilled | €16.60 | 1 Jan 2026 |
| Electrical trades | €14.93 | 1 Jan 2026 |
| Temporary agency work (lower limit) | €15.33 | 1 Sep 2026 |
The full list, with care, painting, scaffolding, airport security and other sectors, is on the BMAS page on sector minimum wages.
Tip: The rates change often, so check the date before you rely on a figure.
If no sector minimum applies to you, the general €13.90 is the floor.
Example: An invented case. Lena gets an offer for indoor cleaning work with a building cleaning company. She checks the hourly rate against the general minimum wage and against the sector minimum for building cleaning, wage group 1, which is higher. The sector minimum is the one that counts for her.
New to Germany? What to know about the minimum wage
Foreign employees are more often in minimum wage jobs
Researchers at the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) looked at the rise to €12 in October 2022. Using the official earnings survey of April 2022, they found that about 26% of employees without German citizenship were affected by the rise, compared with about 16% of German employees. Among foreign women it was about one third, among foreign men about 21%. Their wages also rose more strongly after the increase than those of German employees (Ohlert and Pehla, Wirtschaftsdienst 12/2025, retrieved 1 Nov 2026).
Key point: In your first job in Germany, check the hourly rate. The minimum wage applies wherever your employer is based, as long as you work in Germany (BMAS).
Reading the official calculator if your German is basic
The BMAS minimum wage calculator is in German only. These words on the page help:
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Stundenlohn | Hourly wage |
| Monatslohn | Monthly wage |
| Bruttogehalt | Gross salary |
| Zuschläge | Supplements, for example for night or Sunday work |
| Mindestlohn-Hotline | Minimum wage hotline |
The BMAS notes that some supplements must be included when you work out your gross hourly wage and others must not. If the calculator shows a rate below the minimum wage, the monthly wage may be set too low, or supplements may be missing. In that case, call the hotline (BMAS, Mindestlohn-Rechner, retrieved 1 Nov 2026).
Official information in English and other languages
- BMAS: The minimum wage: Questions and Answers, in English. It confirms that the minimum wage also applies to people from abroad who work in Germany.
- Your payslip: the minimum wage is gross. To understand the tax lines on your payslip, see our guide to tax classes in Germany. The Federal Ministry of Finance’s English brochure An ABC of Taxes (2025 edition) ends with a German-English glossary of tax names, for example “Lohnsteuer” for wages tax (retrieved 1 Nov 2026).
Tip: Write down your hours each week, with start and end times. If your pay looks too low, a record of your own hours makes the question to the hotline much easier.
Who checks the minimum wage, and where to ask
The Financial Control of Undeclared Work (Finanzkontrolle Schwarzarbeit, FKS) of the German customs administration checks that employers pay the minimum wage. It checks this in all of its inspections (BMAS). Employers who break the rules can be fined up to €500,000 (Bundesregierung FAQ).
If you have a question about the minimum wage, the official contacts are:
- BMAS minimum wage hotline: +49 30 60 28 00 28, Monday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to noon (BMAS questions and answers page, retrieved 1 Nov 2026).
- Zoll: the customs page on the minimum wage lists its information service and local offices.
This guide does not give legal advice on individual cases.
Using the minimum wage in your job search
When you compare job offers in Germany, the minimum wage is a useful check: divide the offered monthly gross pay by your hours and see whether you are above the floor and above the sector minimum. Then look at what the job usually pays and what you will have left after tax.
Enter the offered gross pay and see what is left after tax and social security.
Calculate my net salaryCheck a job offer against the minimum wage
Dear [Name], thank you for the offer for the position of [Job title]. Could you confirm the gross monthly pay and the weekly working hours, so I can check the hourly rate? Kind regards, [Your name]
Our guide to how to find a job in Germany shows the whole process, from the job ad to the offer.
Joblumi helps you get your application ready for German employers: a German CV and cover letter for each job ad, the (G)ATS Score (German ATS Score, a check of how well your CV fits German applicant tracking systems) and, with the Pass, a board for your applications.
Put this guide to work
Start free. Build your CV and cover letter for each job ad.
FAQ
What is the minimum wage in Germany in 2026?
€13.90 gross per hour, since 1 January 2026 (MiLoV5).
What will the minimum wage be in 2027?
€14.60 gross per hour from 1 January 2027. This is already set in the same ordinance (MiLoV5).
Is the minimum wage gross or net?
Gross. Tax and social security contributions are deducted from it (MiLoV5 says “brutto je Zeitstunde”). Our salary calculator Germany shows the net amount for your case.
Does the minimum wage apply to part-time jobs and Minijobs?
Yes. It applies no matter how many hours you work, including in a Minijob (Bundesregierung FAQ).
How much can I earn in a Minijob in 2026?
€603 a month on average, or €7,236 a year (Minijob-Zentrale).
Do interns get the minimum wage?
In principle yes. Compulsory internships and some voluntary internships of up to three months are exceptions (MiLoG § 22).
Does the minimum wage apply if my employer is based outside Germany?
Yes, if you work in Germany (BMAS).
Related
- Salary and tax calculator for GermanyWork out your net salary in Germany for 2026: income tax, solidarity surcharge, church tax and social security, each rate with its official source. Free.Tool
- Average salary in GermanyAverage and median salary in Germany with official 2025 data from Destatis and the Federal Employment Agency: by state, industry, age, gender and degree.Guide · 14 min read
- Tax classes in GermanyGerman tax classes I to VI in 2026: who is in which class, how it is set, how married couples choose and why a second job uses class VI. With sources.Guide · 20 min read
- Salary expectations in a German interviewHow to state salary expectations in Germany: gross per year, range or figure, in the cover letter, form and interview. With official pay data and phrases.Guide · 19 min read
- How to find a job in GermanyHow to get a job in Germany step by step: where to find jobs, German CV and cover letter, job ads, how long hiring takes, interviews, tests, offer.Guide · 21 min read
- German CV builderHow a German CV works: tabular, newest first, 1 to 2 pages, photo optional. Write it in English, get it in German format with a free (G)ATS Score.Tool
Sources
- Fünfte Mindestlohnanpassungsverordnung (MiLoV5), 5 Nov 2025, retrieved 31 Oct 2026
- Mindestlohngesetz: § 9, § 11, § 22, retrieved 31 Oct 2026
- Bundesregierung: Mindestlohn 2026 auf 13,90 Euro erhöht, retrieved 31 Oct 2026
- Bundesregierung: Fragen und Antworten zum Mindestlohn, retrieved 31 Oct 2026
- BMAS: Anhebung des gesetzlichen Mindestlohns zum 1. Januar 2026, press release, 27 Jun 2025, retrieved 31 Oct 2026
- BMAS: The minimum wage: Questions and Answers, 22 Jan 2026, retrieved 31 Oct 2026
- BMAS: Mindestlohn-Rechner, retrieved 31 Oct 2026
- BMAS: Branchenmindestlohn, retrieved 31 Oct 2026
- Minijob-Zentrale: Minijob mit Verdienstgrenze, retrieved 31 Oct 2026
- Zoll: Mindestlohn nach dem Mindestlohngesetz, retrieved 31 Oct 2026
- Destatis: Mindestlöhne, retrieved 31 Oct 2026
- Bekanntmachung zur Fortschreibung der Mindestvergütung für Berufsausbildungen (2026), 7 Oct 2025, retrieved 31 Oct 2026
- BIBB: Mindestausbildungsvergütung steigt 2027 auf 764 Euro, Oct 2026, retrieved 31 Oct 2026
- Ohlert, Clemens and Pehla, Juliane (BAuA): Folgen des Mindestlohns für ausländische und deutsche Beschäftigte, Wirtschaftsdienst 105 (2025), issue 12, pp. 902 to 906, retrieved 1 Nov 2026
- Federal Ministry of Finance: An ABC of Taxes, 2025 edition, retrieved 1 Nov 2026