Part-Time Jobs for International Students in Germany (2026): Rules, Pay & Where to Find Them

Can international students work in Germany?

Yes. As a non-EU student you can legally work 140 full days or 280 half days per year — roughly equivalent to 20 hours per week during the semester. During semester breaks you can work full-time.

EU/EEA students have no restrictions (same rules as German students).

⚠️ The 20-hour rule during lecture periods matters for your health insurance status and visa — exceed it regularly and you lose your student status benefits.

The three types of student jobs

1. Minijob (up to ~€600/month)

• Tax-free for you, minimal paperwork
• Typical: retail, cafés, delivery, campus jobs
• The minijob limit rises with minimum wage — around €600/month in 2026

2. Werkstudent (working student) — the best option

• 12–20 hours/week at a company in your field of study
• Typical pay: €13–18/hour, more in tech and engineering
• You pay only pension contributions — no full social security, which means noticeably more net pay
• Doubles as CV experience and often converts into a full-time offer after graduation

3. HiWi (university research/teaching assistant)

• Work for a professor or institute
• Great for master's students planning a PhD; pay is modest but the network is gold

How much will you actually earn?

Germany's minimum wage is €13.90/hour (2026). A typical Werkstudent doing 18 h/week at €15/hour earns about €1,170 gross/month.

What lands in your account depends on taxes and pension contributions. Don't guess — use our free Netto-Brutto Salary Calculator to see your exact net pay as a student, and again for your first full-time salary after graduation.

Typical student budgets: does a part-time job cover it?

A Werkstudent job at 18–20 h/week typically covers most or all living costs in mid-sized cities. In Munich or Hamburg, plan for savings or family support on top.

Where to find student jobs

University job boards (Schwarzes Brett / career portal) — HiWi and campus jobs

LinkedIn / XING / StepStone / Indeed — search "Werkstudent + your field"

Company career pages — big employers (Siemens, SAP, Bosch, Zalando) run permanent Werkstudent programs

Studentenwerk — local job placement for cafeteria, library and event jobs

What you need to apply

German employers expect a German-format CV (Lebenslauf) — one to two pages, structured, factual. Our AI CV Maker generates one from your profile in minutes, and the Cover Letter tool writes the Anschreiben German companies still expect for Werkstudent roles.

Documents checklist:

• German-format CV
• Short cover letter
• Enrollment certificate (Immatrikulationsbescheinigung)
• Tax ID (you get it after your Anmeldung)

Do you need German?

• Minijobs in hospitality/retail: basic German (A2–B1) usually required
• Werkstudent in tech/engineering: many roles are English-friendly, but B1 German dramatically widens your options
• Start learning before you arrive — see our guide on learning German for university

FAQ

Does part-time work affect my visa?

Not if you stay within 140 full days/year. Your studies must remain your main activity.

Do I pay taxes as a student?

Below the basic tax-free allowance (~€12,000/year) you get income tax back via a tax return. Pension contributions on Werkstudent jobs are mandatory.

Can I freelance as a student?

Only with permission from the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) — freelancing is not covered by the standard student work allowance.