Rechnerpedia

Working Student Calculator (Werkstudent): Net Pay in Germany 2026

Calculate your net pay as a working student (Werkstudent) in Germany for 2026, with the working student rule: pension insurance only instead of all social contributions. See how much more you keep than in a regular job.

Job
€
Up to €603 the Minijob rules apply.
h
Tax details
Class IV with factor is not supported.
Sets the church tax rate and the care insurance rule in Saxony.
Liable to church tax?
Only if you are registered as a member of a church that levies church tax (e.g. Catholic or Protestant).
Shown on your payslip (often “Kfb” or “Kinderfreibetragszähler”). It only lowers the solidarity surcharge and church tax, not wage tax.
Social security
For care insurance every child counts, including adult, adopted, step and foster children.
From the 2nd child under 25 the care contribution goes down.
From age 23, people without children pay a care insurance surcharge.
%
Average 2026: 2.9%. Your health insurer (e.g. TK, AOK) states the exact rate.

Result

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Net pay per month€1,120.51with the working student rule: pension insurance only

Without the working student rule you would keep €1,014.11 net. The rule gives you €106.40 more a month.

Your payslip
Gross pay (Bruttolohn)€1,200.00
Taxes
Wage tax (Lohnsteuer)tax class I€0.00
Solidarity surcharge (Solidaritätszuschlag)below the exemption limit€0.00
Church tax (Kirchensteuer)not liable to church tax€0.00
Social security
Health insurance (Krankenversicherung)exempt (working student rule)€0.00
Long-term care insurance (Pflegeversicherung)exempt (working student rule)€0.00
Pension insurance (Rentenversicherung)9.3%, transition zone: assessed on €854.69− €79.49
Unemployment insurance (Arbeitslosenversicherung)exempt (working student rule)€0.00
Net pay (Nettolohn)€1,120.51

2026 rules: wage tax according to the official program of the German Federal Ministry of Finance, contributions at the 2026 rates and ceilings. Non-binding, no guarantee. Methodology and sources

What this calculator does not cover
  • compulsory internships and internships before or after your studies
  • the time between bachelor’s and master’s, when the rule usually does not apply
  • long-term students from the 26th semester (it is presumed that studying is no longer the main activity)
  • effects on child benefit, BAföG or family health insurance
  • Minijobs up to €603, see the Minijob calculator

The working student rule

If you are properly enrolled at a university in Germany and work alongside your studies, you stay exempt from health, care and unemployment insurance contributions, as long as your studies are your main occupation (Werkstudentenprivileg). Pension insurance, however, is always compulsory: you pay 9.3% and so does your employer.

The rule of thumb: at most 20 hours a week during the semester. More is possible if the extra work is in the evening, at night or at weekends, for at most 26 weeks a year. During semester breaks you can work without an hours limit.

International students: the working student rule applies to you in the same way. Separately, students from outside the EU are limited by their residence permit to a certain number of working days per year, so check your permit as well.

What the calculator does

Wage tax is calculated using the official 2026 program, without health, care and unemployment insurance in the insurance provision, as the Federal Ministry of Finance specifies for students. If your pay is between €603.01 and €2,000, the reduced transition zone also applies to pension insurance.

In the example above, €1,200.00 gross leaves €1,120.51 net. Without the working student rule it would be €1,014.11, so the rule is worth €106.40 a month here.

Monthly net pay 2026 as a working student and as a regular employee (tax class I, no church tax, no children, born 2002)
GrossWorking studentRegular employeeAdvantage
€800.00€773.77€738.65€35.12
€1,000.00€947.14€876.38€70.76
€1,200.00€1,120.51€1,014.11€106.40
€1,500.00€1,343.41€1,211.43€131.98
€2,000.00€1,672.75€1,476.84€195.91
€2,500.00€2,009.00€1,768.92€240.08

No wage tax is due up to the basic allowance. If wage tax is still withheld during the year, for example because you only worked for a few months, you usually get it back through a tax return.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Why do working students only pay pension insurance?

Because German law exempts students working alongside their studies from compulsory health, care and unemployment insurance. You are covered by student health insurance or family insurance instead.

Can I work more than 20 hours during semester breaks?

Yes. A job exclusively during the lecture-free period is covered regardless of the hours. If you work more all year and additionally during breaks, the overall picture over the year counts.

Working student or Minijob: which leaves more?

Up to €603 the Minijob is usually better: you pay at most 3.6% pension insurance. Above that, being a working student is better than a regular job because health, care and unemployment insurance do not apply.

Does the rule apply between bachelor’s and master’s?

Usually not if you are not enrolled during that time. It depends on your enrolment and the circumstances; if in doubt, the employer asks the health insurer.

Do working students get their wage tax back?

Often, yes. If your annual income is below the basic allowance of €12,348 (plus lump sums), the tax office refunds the wage tax withheld through your tax return.