The income limit for millions of mini-jobbers will be raised to €603 per month starting January 1st, 2026, and to €633 from January 1st, 2027. The corresponding official notice was published in the Federal Gazette (Bundesanzeiger). The current limit for what is known as “marginal employment” is €538. This increase is linked to the statutory minimum wage: every increase in the minimum wage automatically leads to an adjustment of the mini-job income limit.
The minimum wage will increase from the current €12.41 to €13.00 at the beginning of next year, and to €13.50 in 2027. This also applies to mini-jobs. Employers and trade unions had long discussed the next steps for these increases in the Minimum Wage Commission.
Where Are Mini-Jobs Most Common?
At the end of last year, there were almost seven million registered mini-jobbers. Of these, approximately 6.7 million worked in various commercial sectors, with the largest numbers in trade and in the maintenance and repair of motor vehicles. The hospitality sector accounted for 890,000 mini-jobs. Over 260,000 mini-jobbers were employed in private households.
Mini-jobs allow for flexible income without the full tax and social security contributions required for regular employment. They are particularly popular among students, pensioners, and employed citizens seeking flexible supplementary income.
The decisive factor for mini-job status is the regular annual income. The average regular monthly earnings over the course of a year must not exceed €603 starting in 2026. The annual income limit is a maximum of €7,236.
Source: Federal Gazette
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