Germany’s minimum wage in 2026 and 2027: what expats need to know

Germany’s minimum wage is 13.90 EUR per hour in 2026 and will rise to 14.60 EUR in January 2027. If you’re starting a job in Germany, this is the basic number to know when you’re looking at your employment contract.

In this guide, we explain how the minimum wage works, who is covered and what to do if your pay looks too low.

What Germany's minimum wage is

Germany's minimum wage (Mindestlohn) is the legal lowest hourly minimum rate. An employer must pay you this exact amount or higher if you are covered by the Minimum Wage Act.

Mindestlohn rose from 12.82 EUR to 13.90 EUR on January 1st, 2026. The next increase, to 14.60 EUR, is the confirmed rate for January 1st, 2027. The projected rate beyond 2027 has not yet been set – the Mindestlohnkommission should publish its next recommendation later.

"Millions of employees will receive noticeably more for their work – and companies can responsibly spread the rising costs over two years." – Baerbel Bas, Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, October 2025.

For a 40-hour working week, the minimum wage works out at roughly:

• 2,410 EUR gross per month in 2026

• 2,530 EUR gross per month in 2027

2,410 EUR and 2,530 EUR are gross, or Brutto, figures – the salary before tax and social insurance. What reaches your bank account as a final salary is Netto, or net pay. 

For a single person working around 40 hours a week at minimum wage, take-home pay may be around 1,700–1,750 EUR per month (figures are estimated and can be different). Your exact amount depends on your tax situation, health insurer, age, children and other personal details). If you want a closer estimate, use a Brutto-Netto-Rechner – an online German salary calculator that shows roughly how much of your gross pay you will take home.

"The increase in the minimum wage on January 1st, 2026, along with reduced inflation concerns among consumers, is clearly improving income prospects." – Rolf Bürkl, Head of Consumer Climate, Nuremberg Institute for Market Decisions (NIM/GfK), January 2026.

If we compare Mindestlohn to other countries, Germany will be near the top of the EU minimum-wage ranking. In Eurostat's January 2026 comparison, it was third, behind Luxembourg and Ireland.

Tips:

• Finding a job in Germany – job portals, CV tips, qualification recognition.
• Steuer-ID vs Steuernummer: what’s the difference and when you get each.

Who gets the minimum wage

The minimum wage applies to almost everyone working as an employee in Germany, including full-time and part-time workers, people on fixed-term contracts, EU and non-EU nationals and seasonal workers.

Your passport doesn’t change the rate: a foreign employee can’t legally be paid less simply because they are new to Germany or hold a particular nationality. Under German labour law, the same rules apply to residents and newcomers alike.

However, there are a few specific exceptions (as of 2026, regulations may change, verify at gesetze-im-internet.de):

Mini-jobs are covered too

A mini-job is a small part-time job where your regular monthly earnings stay below a set limit – 603 EUR in 2026. However, the same 13.90 EUR hourly minimum rate applies. The 603 EUR limit simply determines how many hours you can regularly work and still keep mini-job status.

For example, 12 hours a week at 13.90 EUR comes to around 723 EUR per month, already above the regular mini-job limit. One unusually high month can pass, but regularly earning above the threshold shows that the job no longer fits the standard mini-job rules.

If part of your salary goes back home, Profee transfers money from Germany to 90+ destinations – over 95% of transfers arrive within minutes. Check the current rate on profee.com or in the Profee app.

How to calculate whether your salary meets the minimum wage

If you are offered a fixed monthly salary, convert it into an approximate hourly rate: monthly gross salary ÷ 4.33 (average number of weeks in a month) ÷ weekly working hours.

For example, suppose an employer offers you 1,900 EUR gross per month for 40 hours a week: 1,900 ÷ 4.33 ÷ 40 = around 10.97 EUR per hour. That is clearly below the 2026 minimum.

Use this as a quick first check rather than a final legal calculation. Your working hours and some bonuses or supplements can change how minimum wage is assessed. For more precise estimates, try an official minimum wage calculator.

Don’t forget that:

• Some industries have a sector-specific minimum wage. If your industry has its own legally binding sector-specific minimum, your employer must pay that higher rate rather than the national 13.90 EUR.

• Work permits may require a higher salary. The EU Blue Card, for example, is a residence permit for certain highly qualified workers and has its own minimum annual salary requirements. 

If the figure looks wrong, ask your employer or HR to explain how your salary was calculated. Under German labour law, employers are required to keep accurate working-time records, so asking for documentation is reasonable. Asking in writing is useful because you will have a record of the answer if you need advice later.

What to do if your employer pays less

If your pay looks lower than the legal minimum, start by asking your employer or HR how it was calculated. Don’t rush to assume something is wrong: bonuses, supplements, working hours or the way your salary is structured can affect the final figure, and you may already be receiving exactly what you are entitled to.

If the explanation still doesn’t feel right for you, take these steps:

1. Keep the evidence. Save your contract, payslips, working-time records, emails and messages about your salary. If you raised the issue with your employer, keep their reply too.

2. Get advice if you need help. A trade union can check your contract, explain which wage rate applies and help if your sector has its own minimum wage. If you are an expat from outside the EU, Faire Integration offers free advice on pay, working hours, contracts and dismissal.

3. Report the employer to Zoll. You can report a suspected violation to your local Hauptzollamt anonymously (if you wish). The FKS can inspect payroll and working-time records and impose fines of up to 500,000 EUR for serious violations.

4. Claim unpaid wages separately. Zoll investigates the employer, while your unpaid wages are a separate claim. You may need to ask the employer to pay the difference or take the case to a labour court.

5. If your employer retaliates, document it. If your employer threatens you, cuts your hours or dismisses you after you raise the issue, keep all written evidence and get legal advice. 

Paying below the legal minimum does happen, but it’s not common. In most jobs, salaries are calculated correctly, so don’t worry too much about it, but stay alert.

FAQ: Germany's minimum wage