Everything you need to know about minijobs

Are you looking into finding a side job in Germany? Were you thinking about minijob? We summarized everything you need to know in this article.

Minijob is a widely used type of marginal employment. It gained its popularity because of the fact you don't pay any social or health insurance (there's one exception we'll talk about in this article). It can be used on its own with student jobs but also as a side income.

Your employer is obligated to register you at the Minijob Zentrale – a German office specializing in this type of marginal employment. There are two different kinds of minijobs. However, you don't have to worry about which one applies to your employment – it's your employer's duty to find out and register you under the correct one.

One of the biggest advantages of minijobs is employee rights, which don't differ from a regular employment contract. As a so-called minijobber you have the right to sick leave, days off and minimum wage.

There are two different kinds of minijobs:

• the short-term minijob.
• the 538-Euro-Minijob.

Short-term minijob

With short-term minijob the employee isn't allowed to be employed for more than 3 months or work more than 70 days a year. With this type of marginal employment you don't pay social and health insurance or income tax.

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538-Euro-Minijob

With 538-Euro-Minijob the earned amount shouldn't exceed 538 € a month. There can be a one-time exception to this rule but only if it doesn't raise the average monthly income to more than 538 €. If you're making between 538 € and 2 000 € a month you apply for a midijob. You still get the same benefits as with minijobs, you just have to pay 3.6% of your salary for social insurance.

Have you worked in Germany? We will help you with your tax return so that you can claim your tax refund in Germany.