The minimum wage will rise to €13,90 in 2026.

The statutory minimum wage will be €13,90 per hour next year. It will rise to €14,60 in 2027. Overall, this represents an increase of almost 14 percent. This will also affect mini-jobs.

It's now official: The statutory minimum wage will rise to €13,90 per hour on January 1, 2026. The German Federal Cabinet has approved the corresponding regulation. It will then increase again on January 1, 2027, to €14,60. This increase follows the decision of the Minimum Wage Commission. The minimum wage will thus rise by 8,42 percent initially and by a further 5,04 percent in 2027 – a total increase of 13,88 percent. 

The statutory minimum wage has been in place for ten years. When it was introduced on January 1, 2015, it was €8,50 gross per hour. Since January 1, 2025, it has been €12,82. This latest increase is the largest in the history of the statutory minimum wage. According to the Federal Statistical Office, approximately 6,6 million people in low-wage jobs will benefit from it.

Federal Minister of Labor Bärbel Bas The SPD describes the minimum wage as "a success story for millions of hard-working people in Germany." With the two-stage increase, millions of employees will receive noticeably more for their work. "And companies can responsibly spread the rising costs over two years. This is an important step towards greater fairness and recognition for those who keep our country running day in and day out."

For Trainee The statutory minimum wage does not apply; instead, the minimum training allowance applies (unless a collective agreement stipulates otherwise). The minimum training allowance will also be increased in 2026. Read more about this here

In many sectors of the skilled trades, especially in the construction industry, there are mandatory minimum wages, which are sometimes significantly higher than the statutory minimum wage.

Documentation requirement for working hoursIn sectors particularly affected by undeclared work and illegal employment, documentation requirements apply to working hours (start, end, and duration) to ensure that the minimum wage is actually paid for every hour worked. Currently, this includes, for example, the construction industry, the hospitality sector, the freight forwarding, transport and logistics sector, forestry companies, building cleaning, trade fair construction, and the meat industry. Next year, hairdressers and beauticians may be added, while the meat industry could be removed.

New earnings limit for minijobbers

The higher statutory minimum wage also affects the earnings limit for mini-jobbers. The monthly earnings limit for mini-jobs increases from €556 to [amount missing] due to its linkage to the minimum wage. 603 euros from 2026 and 633 euros from 2027"This will allow those in marginal employment to earn more in the future without losing their mini-job status," they said. Mini job headquarters.

The Minijob Centre advises employers and minijobbers on all questions relating to registration via the social security reporting portal, documentation obligations and contracts.

Background: Since October 2022, the earnings limit for mini-jobs has been dynamically linked to the minimum wage. If the minimum wage increases, the maximum permissible monthly earnings for a mini-job also increase. 

Source: BMAS; DHB; Minijob Center

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