A working student's salary in Germany (Werkstudent) has a legal floor, currently at least €9.35 per hour. There is plenty of room above that, though, because depending on the industry, pay can reach €20 per hour. That is especially common in technical fields, for example while studying computer science. At an IT company, master's students can earn a tidy sum of spending money on the side. Still, some of the rules are not easy to figure out. That is why we will now show you where and how working students earn the most, and how a working student's salary affects BAföG (German student aid) and child benefit (Kindergeld).

The ground rules for a working student's salary

A working student may work a maximum of 20 hours per week, otherwise they lose their special status. At minimum wage, that means earnings of "only" €748 a month. Anyone who earns less than €445 a month as a working student is also exempt from pension insurance contributions and income tax, and nobody pays long-term care or health insurance contributions. Below that amount, nothing is counted against BAföG or child benefit. Above it, the deduction rises gradually until entitlement to both ends at a working student salary of €800.

Where do I earn how much, and why?

Not every industry pays the same hourly wage. Your field of study makes a big difference. €15 an hour is nothing unusual. As a rule, you can earn more in the pharmaceutical industry or in business than in the humanities, for example. A master's student also generally earns more than a bachelor's student, because the company assumes that a master's student brings more practical experience and knowledge.

The employer is the most important factor in determining the level of pay. Research pays off here, and if you want to learn even more, you can turn to reviews from former employees online. A job listing may also mention performance-based pay. In sales, that is not all that rare. Concretely, this kind of compensation brings a higher income the more successful you are yourself.

Finally, the type of tasks involved also plays an important role in the level of pay. The more monotonous a job is and the less room for development it offers, the higher the pay tends to be. That is meant to give students an incentive to fill these positions. A remote location can also have a positive effect on earnings.

What else matters when choosing
Even so, a working student job should also add to your knowledge, let you gain first experience in the working world and help you build a network. The working student status is regulated by law in order to protect students and leave enough room for an optimal course of study. After all, studying always comes first. Only during the lecture-free period are the possible weekly working hours raised from 20 to 40. During that time, as long as it does not interfere with finishing all your term papers, you can earn a good amount extra.