Berlin – Good news for millions of small workers in Germany. Starting January 1, you can earn more without breaking out of the small-time job model. New income limit: 603 euros instead of the previous 556 euros. It’s in the Federal Gazette.
Reason for increase: Since the limit depends on the minimum wage, it automatically adjusts the increase accordingly. And the minimum wage will rise from 12.82 to 13.90 euros at the start of 2026. There will be a further jump to 14.60 euros on 1 January 2027 – then the earnings limit for small jobs will be 633 euros.
Nearly seven million small jobs
The figures show how important this change is: almost seven million people will have casual jobs by the end of 2024. Of these, around 6.7 million people work in the commercial sector – mainly in retail and vehicle repair. There are 890,000 small workers in the hospitality industry. As many as 260,000 people work in this model in private households.
Small jobs are popular among students, retirees, and workers looking to earn extra money. They allow additional income with a lower tax burden.
This is how annual reviews work
The regular annual salary determines whether this is a small job. On average, the monthly salary next year should not exceed 603 euros. The maximum annual salary limit is 7,236 euros.
