Werkstudent, Minijob or part-time? Student job types in Germany compared

Werkstudent

• Hours: up to 20 a week during term, more in the semester breaks
• Pay: often above the minimum wage (2026: €13.90 an hour), especially in IT, engineering and office jobs
• Deductions: only pension insurance (about 9%), plus income tax depending on your earnings
• Good for: experience in your field and a strong CV

More than 20 hours a week during term is only possible as an exception, e.g. evenings or weekends. If it becomes the rule, you lose Werkstudent status.

Minijob

• Pay: up to €603 a month (2026)
• Deductions: usually no tax for you; pension insurance applies, but you can opt out
• Good for: flexible extra money, e.g. in restaurants, retail or delivery

Details: Minijobs in Germany

Short-term employment (kurzfristige Beschäftigung)

• Duration: at most three months or 70 working days per calendar year
• Deductions: no social insurance, income tax depending on the case
• Good for: holiday jobs, trade fairs, events or seasonal work

Part-time and helper jobs (Teilzeit, Aushilfe)

Many listings are simply called "Aushilfe" (helper) or "Teilzeit" (part-time). This can be a Minijob, a Werkstudent position or a regular part-time job. Ask in the interview on what basis you'll be employed.

Which one suits me?

1. You want experience in your field: Werkstudent
2. You need some flexible money: Minijob
3. You only have time in the holidays: short-term employment
4. You want to earn as much as possible: Werkstudent with 20 hours

Where to find these jobs

Our student jobs pages show current Werkstudent, Minijob and helper jobs in your city. In your Jobmir account you can limit the search to part-time, Minijob or Werkstudent.