Because many students can't afford their rent, they have to work alongside their studies. While many students can receive BAföG (the German government student aid) or have a financial cushion, there is also a fraction that has to work on the side. In fact, we're talking about 2/3 of all students. That's why the working student (Werkstudent) was introduced. Within the lecture period a student may work up to 20 hours here and in the semester breaks may even work full time. But not everyone is allowed to; so that not everyone works here, there are certain requirements for being allowed to work as a working student. To get an overview, we've created this list:

  • You must be enrolled at a university
  • Not being beyond the 25th subject-specific semester
  • A university degree must not yet have been obtained
  • The student must not be on a leave semester

Working student hours and privileges

Working student hours differ not only from those of a normal employee, the working student also has certain privileges. Compared with a normal mini-job, the student in a 450-euro job during the lecture period generally doesn't have to pay pension or health insurance contributions. Anyone who exceeds the 450-euro limit per month has to pay pension insurance contributions and income tax.

Working student hours and the taxes you pay

By law a working student counts as a normal employee, which of course also means the student is liable for tax. Depending on earnings, tax has to be paid accordingly. How much you ultimately have to pay naturally also depends on the hours the student works. The tax class also plays a role: if the student is single, separated, or widowed, they are placed in tax class 1. If the student is married, however, they are placed in tax class 4. As already mentioned, depending on pay a certain contribution to pension insurance has to be paid. We've also created an overview for this:

  • At a contribution of 450 euros per month, the contributions don't apply
  • From 451 - 850 euros per month, 5% to 21% of gross pay is deducted
  • From 850 euros, 9.45% per month of gross pay is deducted

The total tax-free allowance as of 2019 is 9,168 euros. How much the student ultimately keeps depends on the working student hours they work as well as the hourly wage itself. The hourly wage of a working student is generally between 12 and 15 euros. This varies from company to company and with the position the student will hold in the company.