Minijob 2026: How Many Hours Can a Minijobber Work?
Earnings threshold of €603, minimum wage of €13.90, maximum number of hours — what changes for Minijobs in 2026 and what employers need to keep in mind when scheduling.
From January 2026, the earnings threshold for Minijobs is €603 per month. At the same time, the minimum wage rises to €13.90 per hour. This changes how many hours a Minijobber may work at most — and has direct consequences for scheduling.
In this article you will find the concrete figures, a worked example, the overrun rules and the typical planning mistakes you should avoid as an employer.
2026 earnings threshold: EUR 603 per month
Since the 2022 reform, the Minijob earnings threshold has been dynamically tied to the minimum wage. The formula: minimum wage × 130 hours ÷ 3 months. At €13.90/hour, this gives:
| Period | Limit |
|---|---|
| Per month | €603.00 |
| Per year (12 months) | €7,236.00 |
| Occasional overrun (max. 2 months/year) | up to €1,206.00 / month |
Good to know
The threshold rises automatically with the minimum wage. Through the end of 2025 it was €556 (minimum wage €12.82). From 2026 it is €603 — an increase of €47 per month.
How many hours can a Minijobber work in 2026?
The answer depends on the agreed hourly wage. The rule of thumb: €603 divided by the hourly wage = maximum monthly hours.
At minimum wage (€13.90), this gives:
Maximum monthly hours at minimum wage
43.38 hours
€603 ÷ €13.90 = 43.38 h/month
That corresponds to roughly 10 hours per week across 4.33 weeks per month. Anyone paying their Minijobbers more than minimum wage must reduce the number of hours accordingly — the exact figure for each wage is provided by the free Minijob hours calculator.
Worked example: maximum hours at different hourly wages
| Hourly wage | Max. hours / month | Max. hours / week | Monthly earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| €13.90 (minimum wage) | 43.38 h | ~10.0 h | €603.00 |
| €14.50 | 41.59 h | ~9.6 h | €603.00 |
| €15.00 | 40.20 h | ~9.3 h | €603.00 |
| €16.00 | 37.69 h | ~8.7 h | €603.00 |
| €18.00 | 33.50 h | ~7.7 h | €603.00 |
Free calculator
Your hourly wage not in the table?
Enter your wage — the Minijob hours calculator instantly shows the maximum monthly and weekly hours, plus a traffic-light check for planned shifts.
Watch out for premiums
Tax-free premiums (e.g. for Sunday, public-holiday or night work) do not count toward the earnings threshold. But: taxable premiums and one-off payments (Christmas bonus, holiday pay) are counted.
What happens if the €603 threshold is exceeded?
An occasional overrun is allowed — but only under strict conditions:
- The monthly threshold may be exceeded in a maximum of 2 calendar months per rolling year
- In those months, earnings may be no more than double the monthly threshold (i.e. €1,206)
- The annual limit of €7,236 must still not be exceeded
- The overrun must be unforeseeable (e.g. covering for a sick colleague), not regularly planned
Risk: liability for social-security contributions
If the threshold is exceeded regularly or foreseeably, the employee loses their Minijob status retroactively. The consequence: back payment of social-security contributions for both employer and employee — in some cases for several months or years.
All Minijob changes from 2026 at a glance
| What | Through end of 2025 | From 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage | €12.82/hour | €13.90/hour |
| Earnings threshold/month | €556 | €603 |
| Earnings threshold/year | €6,672 | €7,236 |
| Max. hours/month (at minimum wage) | 43.37 h | 43.38 h |
| U1 contribution rate | 1.1 % | 0.8 % |
| Midijob lower limit | €556.01 | €603.01 |
Documentation obligations: what employers must record
For Minijobbers in certain sectors, a special recording obligation applies under § 17 MiLoG. These include, among others: hospitality, building cleaning, construction, logistics, the meat-processing industry and freight forwarding.
The following must be recorded:
- The start of daily working time
- The end of daily working time
- The duration of daily working time
The records should be made promptly after the work is performed and kept for at least two years. More on this in our article on the 2026 time-tracking obligation.
Always on top of Minijob hours
Shiftdesk shows alerts as employees approach the earnings threshold — right while you build the schedule.
Minijobbers in the schedule: avoiding common mistakes
In practice, most problems arise not with the contract but with ongoing deployment planning. These mistakes are especially common in everyday practice:
Hours not reconciled
Minijobbers work across several days — at the end of the month the threshold is exceeded without anyone noticing.
Cover shifts not planned in
A Minijobber steps in for a sick colleague and racks up unplanned hours. This is occasionally allowed, but it must be documented.
Premiums forgotten
Taxable premiums and one-off payments are not factored into hour planning — the Minijob unintentionally becomes a Midijob.
Multiple Minijobs not added up
An employee has two Minijobs with different employers. The earnings are added together — often no one is aware of it.
Minijob planning with Shiftdesk
Shiftdesk automatically displays alerts during scheduling when a Minijobber is approaching the earnings threshold. Here is how it works:
Threshold warnings
Shiftdesk calculates each employee's monthly hours and warns in real time as they approach the €603 threshold.
Working-time account
Every employee has a working-time account with plus/minus balances. You can see Minijobbers at a glance.
Time tracking records the start, end and duration — and can thereby support the requirements of the recording obligation under § 17 MiLoG. All data is exportable as DATEV-compatible CSV.
Frequently asked questions about Minijob hours in 2026
How many hours can a Minijobber work per month in 2026?
At minimum wage (€13.90/hour), that is a maximum of 43.38 hours per month in order not to exceed the earnings threshold of €603. At a higher hourly wage, correspondingly fewer hours.
What happens if a Minijobber exceeds the €603 threshold?
Occasional overruns are allowed: in up to 2 months per year, earnings may be no more than €1,206 (double the monthly threshold). The annual limit of €7,236 must still not be exceeded.
Can Minijobbers work more than 43 hours per month?
Yes, if they earn more than minimum wage, the maximum number of hours decreases accordingly. What matters is the earnings, not the number of hours. Someone earning €15 per hour, for example, may work a maximum of 40.2 hours.
Does the minimum wage also apply to Minijobbers?
Yes, without restriction. Minijobbers are entitled to the statutory minimum wage of €13.90/hour just like all other employees. Exceptions apply only to minors without a vocational qualification and to apprentices.
What is the annual limit for Minijobs in 2026?
The annual earnings limit is €7,236 (12 × €603). Within this framework, monthly earnings can fluctuate as long as the overrun rules are observed.
Conclusion
The new 2026 Minijob limits are clear: €603 per month, 43.38 hours at minimum wage, €7,236 per year. Anyone who plans their Minijobbers cleanly and keeps an eye on the hours avoids back payments and liability for social-security contributions.
With digital scheduling software like Shiftdesk, you keep the earnings thresholds in view automatically. Try it free for 14 days — no credit card required.
Tip for tax advisors and payroll offices: Do you look after clients with Minijobbers and recommend tools like Shiftdesk? In the Shiftdesk partner program you earn a recurring commission for doing so.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. The figures are based on the earnings threshold under § 8 (1a) SGB IV and the minimum wage under MiLoG in the version in force from 1 January 2026 (as of: April 2026). Sources: Minijob-Zentrale, Bundesanzeiger. The presentation refers to German law. Different rules apply in Austria and Switzerland. For an individual assessment, consult a tax advisor or a specialist lawyer for employment law.
The Shiftdesk team writes about scheduling, time tracking and labor law in the DACH region — practical and easy to follow.
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