Because not every student has a financial cushion, many students have to work alongside their studies. In fact, we're talking about 2/3 of all students. While others can enjoy BAföG (the German government student aid) alongside their mini-job, other students don't even get that and accordingly have to take a real job. This is what's called a working student job (Werkstudent). To be allowed to take on and carry out such a job, however, a number of criteria have to be met, because this is not a normal job. The requirements are as follows:

  • You are currently working toward your university degree
  • You are not currently on a leave semester
  • Throughout your employment you are enrolled at the university
  • The student has not yet completed more than 25 subject-specific semesters.

Another criterion is that during the lecture period the student may not work more than 20 hours a week; under labor law the working student counts here as a part-time employee, and this should be checked carefully in the contract!

Working student salary and privileges

Unlike other employees, a working student has privileges. While working as a working student he or she is exempt from insurance contributions, since in most cases the insurance still runs through the family plan. This is only the case, however, if no more than 450 euros a month are earned. Anyone who earns over 450 euros a month additionally has to take out their own insurance. The big difference from a normal mini-job, though, is that the student can switch to a full-time job during the semester break. If the 450-euro limit is then exceeded, pension insurance contributions as well as income tax have to be paid. The amount of taxes always depends on the working student salary itself.

Working student salary: how much tax has to be paid?

Basically anyone can work it out themselves; to quickly find out how much tax the student has to pay, we've put together a small overview here:

  • At 450 a month, contributions don't apply
  • From 451-850 euros a month, between 5% and 21% of gross pay has to be paid.
  • From 850 euros a month, 9.35% is deducted.

Working student salary: so what do you earn?
Of course the student's hourly wage always depends on the particular company. Every company pays differently and so this can't be generalized. However, you can roughly orient yourself by some figures; the ceiling is open upward, but the hourly wage is still between 12 and 15 euros per hour. Within a month that adds up to a respectable salary of about 1,080 euros.