Current for 2026•As of: July 2026

Minimum Wage Calculator check hourly wage.

Check whether your salary meets the statutory German minimum wage of €13.90/hour.

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100 €6,000 €
5 hrs45 hrs
1 days6 days

Minimum wage 2026: €13.90/hour

  • Valid from Jan 1, 2026
  • 2025: €12.82/hour
  • Mini-job limit: €603/month
  • Max. ~43 hours/month for a mini-job

Exemptions from the minimum wage:

  • Apprentices
  • Mandatory interns
  • Voluntary internships (up to 3 months)
  • Under 18 without a vocational qualification
  • Long-term unemployed (first 6 months)

Below minimum wage!

€12.64 / €13.90 minimum wage

Hourly wage comparison

Your hourly wage

€12.64

Minimum wage 2026

€13.90

Difference per hour-€1.26
Difference per month-€218.60
Percentage-9.0%

Working time

Weekly hours40 hrs
Monthly hours (avg.)174.0 hrs
Minimum salary (at minimum wage)€2,418.60

Mini-job info

At minimum wage (€13.90/hr), a maximum of 43.4 hours/month is possible in a mini-job to stay under the €603 limit.

Warnings

  • • Warning: the hourly wage of €12.64 is below the minimum wage!
  • • Shortfall: €1.26/hour or €218.60/month

Important note

These calculations are for non-binding information only and do not replace professional tax advice. All information without guarantee. Learn more

Sources & calculation basis

Our calculations are based on the following official sources (as of: July 2026):

2026 minimum wage: what you need to know

As of January 1, 2026, the statutory minimum wage in Germany is €13.90 per hour. That is an increase of €1.08 compared to 2025 (€12.82).

The Minimum Wage Act (MiLoG) protects employees from exploitation and ensures that even simple work is paid fairly. The Minimum Wage Commission, made up of representatives from employers, employees and academia, decides on adjustments every two years.

How much must I earn at minimum wage?

Monthly (40h week)
approx. €2,414 gross (€13.90 × 40h × 4.35 weeks)
Yearly (40h week)
approx. €28,912 gross (€13.90 × 40h × 52 weeks)
Weekly (40h)
€556 gross (€13.90 × 40 hours)
Daily (8h)
€111.20 gross (€13.90 × 8 hours)

Mini-jobs and the minimum wage

Mini-job limit at minimum wage

Mini-job limit at minimum wage
ItemAmount
Mini-job limit 2026€603.00
Minimum wage per hour€13.90
Maximum hours per month43.4 h
That is per week approx.10-11 h

The mini-job limit in 2026 is €603 per month. When paid the minimum wage of €13.90/hour, mini-jobbers may work a maximum of about 43 hours per month to stay within the limit. Over 4 weeks, that works out to about 10-11 hours per week.

Important: if the limit is regularly exceeded, the mini-job becomes subject to social security contributions, and you have to pay contributions for health, long-term care, pension and unemployment insurance.

Who is not entitled to the minimum wage?

The Minimum Wage Act (MiLoG) provides for a number of exceptions. The following groups are exempt from the minimum wage requirement:

Exemptions from the minimum wage

  1. Apprentices: Governed by the training remuneration rules under the Vocational Training Act (BBiG)
  2. Mandatory interns: For internships as part of school, studies or vocational training
  3. Voluntary interns: For the first 3 months in orientation internships
  4. Young people under 18: Without a completed vocational qualification
  5. Long-term unemployed: For the first 6 months after being re-hired
  6. Volunteers: For voluntary, unpaid activities

Minimum wage development since 2015

How the minimum wage has developed

How the minimum wage has developed
ItemAmount
2015 (introduction)€8.50
2019€9.19
2021€9.50
2022 (large increase)€12.00
2023€12.00
2024€12.41
2025€12.82
2026 (current)€13.90

The minimum wage was introduced in Germany on January 1, 2015 at €8.50 and has risen continuously ever since. The largest increase came in 2022, to €12.00 (+26% compared to 2021). By 2026, the minimum wage has thus risen by more than 50%.

Adjustments are decided by the Minimum Wage Commission every two years, based on collective-bargaining trends and economic factors. The aim is to protect employees from wage dumping while keeping the economic burden on employers manageable.

What to do about minimum wage violations

If your employer pays less than the minimum wage, you are entitled to back pay. Important: claims for minimum-wage back pay lapse after 3 years – so act in time!

Your options for action

  1. Talk to your employer directly: Misunderstandings can often be cleared up with a clarifying conversation
  2. Involve the works council: If one exists, the works council can act as a mediator
  3. Financial Control of Undeclared Work (FKS): The customs authority responsible for minimum wage checks
  4. Take legal action: File a claim with the labor court for back pay and default interest

Violations of the Minimum Wage Act can get expensive for employers: fines of up to €500,000 are possible. Employers can also be excluded from public contracts if they repeatedly violate the MiLoG.

Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know about the 2026 minimum wage

From January 1, 2026, the statutory minimum wage in Germany is €13.90 per hour. That is an increase of €1.08 compared to 2025 (€12.82). For a 40-hour week, that comes to approximately €2,414 gross per month.

When paid the minimum wage (€13.90/hour) and given the mini-job limit of €603 per month, you may work a maximum of about 43 hours per month. Over 4 weeks, that is roughly 10-11 hours per week.

Exempt from the minimum wage requirement are: apprentices, mandatory interns, voluntary interns in their first 3 months, young people under 18 without a completed vocational qualification, the long-term unemployed in their first 6 months, and volunteers.

The minimum wage was introduced in 2015 at €8.50 and has risen continuously since then: 2019: €9.19, 2021: €9.50, 2022: €12.00 (large increase), 2024: €12.41, 2025: €12.82, 2026: €13.90. The Minimum Wage Commission decides on adjustments every two years.

If you are paid below the minimum wage, you are entitled to back pay. You can talk to your employer directly, involve the works council, contact the Financial Control of Undeclared Work (FKS), or take the matter to the labor court. Important: claims lapse after 3 years.

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