Mini-job, short-term or permanent?
Mini-job, short-term employment or permanent employment – three ways to work, with very different rules for earnings, contributions and insurance. Here, you can see at a glance what applies, what ends up in your bank account and which option is the better choice in your situation.
Key figures for 2026 at a glance.
Whether it’s a mini-job, short-term employment or a permanent position, which category applies to you depends primarily on two things: how much you earn per month and how long you work during the year. You should know these three figures.
Mini-job monthly earnings limit
This is how much you may earn on average per month for it to remain a mini-job – €7,236 per year. The limit rises automatically with the minimum wage.
Short-term: 3 months or 70 working days
Per calendar year and limited from the outset. How much you earn during this period is irrelevant – there is no earnings limit. All short-term jobs in the year are added together.
Upper limit of the transition range
If you earn between €603.01 and €2,000 per month in permanent employment, you only pay reduced social security contributions (Midi job). Above this threshold, the full contributions apply.
Outlook 2027: From 1 January 2027, the minimum wage will rise to €14.60 per hour and the mini-job threshold to €633 per month. The 70-day rule and the €2,000 threshold will remain unchanged.
What applies where? The comparison in three info cards.
Same criteria, three answers. Good to know: the minimum wage, paid holiday and continued pay in the event of illness (after four weeks of employment) apply to all three forms – including mini-jobs.
Mini-job
Permanent work with a small income – ideal alongside studying, retirement or a main job.
Short-term employment
Fixed-term and intensive – with no earnings limit, but only for a few weeks a year.
Permanent employment
Earn regularly and be fully covered – part-time or full-time.
Midijob (transitional area): If your earnings from permanent employment are between €603.01 and €2,000 per month, you pay lower social security contributions – but are still fully insured and accrue pension entitlements based on your full salary.
Working student: If you are enrolled as a student, you can work up to 20 hours per week during term time and only pay into the pension insurance scheme. You can find all the information on Studying and working.
70 days a year – and then that’s it.
A short-term employment must, from the outset, be limited to a maximum of three months or 70 working days in a calendar year. All short-term jobs within a year are added together – including those with other employers.
Second condition: you must not be doing the job professionally, meaning you must not need the money to live on. This applies, for example, if you are studying, are between school and university, are retired or have a main job. However, anyone who is between school and vocational training or is looking for work is usually considered to be working professionally – in that case, short-term employment is not possible.
What remains of your wages.
Three typical months, all at €16 per hour: a mini-job with 37 hours, a short-term holiday month with 160 hours, and a part-time job with 80 hours. The length of the bar shows your gross pay, and the orange section shows what ends up in your account.
For a short-term job, income tax is withheld – but you can often get it back: if your taxable income for the whole year is below the basic tax-free allowance of €12,348, you can reclaim it through your tax return. In part-time employment, the transitional zone applies: instead of around €278, you pay only around €211 in social security contributions and are still fully insured.
Figures for 2026, tax class I, childless, aged 23 or over, without church tax, average supplementary contribution rate 2.9%. Mini-job with pension insurance – those who opt out receive the full €592. Simplified, rounded example calculation.
Which model suits you?
Go through the questions in order. The first “Yes” gives you your answer.
There are always borderline cases, for example if you have several jobs. Speak to us and we will work out with you what is appropriate in your situation: Hotline for temporary workers 0381 / 2027 8950
What is suitable in which situation?
Seven typical situations – and the option that is usually the better choice in each case. Every situation is a little different; if in doubt, we’ll work it out together with you.
Between A-levels and university
A few months to spare before starting university? Then short-term employment is ideal: no earnings limit, no social security contributions. Important: this only applies if you really do go on to study afterwards – before vocational training, the job is usually considered regular employment.
Studying with BAföG
Since 2026, you have been allowed to earn an average of €603 extra per month without your BAföG being reduced – exactly the mini-job threshold. Anything above this is taken into account. A mini-job is therefore a perfect fit.
Working a lot during the university holidays
Full speed during the holidays, pause during term time: You can work at short notice for up to three months without an earnings limit. If your annual income is low, you can reclaim the income tax. With BAföG, however, the earnings still count – so do the calculations beforehand.
Retired
You may earn an unlimited amount in addition to your old-age pension; a mini-job is the straightforward classic option. New from 2026: once you reach the standard retirement age, up to €2,000 per month from permanent employment is tax-free (active pension) – this does not apply to mini-jobs.
Alongside your main job
You can take on a mini-job alongside your main employment almost free of deductions – without tax class VI and without health or unemployment insurance. A second regular job, on the other hand, would be fully taxed under tax class VI.
Covered through the family
If you are covered by health insurance through your parents or your spouse, this remains the case with a mini-job earning up to €603. With permanent employment above that amount, you are insured in your own right – more protection, but also your own contributions.
Full-time, returning to work or simply greater security
Whether you are returning to work after parental leave, changing jobs or simply seeking greater predictability: permanent part-time or full-time employment gives you full social security cover, entitlement to unemployment benefit and pension rights based on your entire salary.
Talk to us – together, we’ll see whether and to what extent this is possible for you at Staff Eins. And if you like it at a client company, they can also take you on permanently directly.
Questions about mini-jobs, short-term employment and permanent employment.
May I combine a mini-job and short-term employment?
With different employers, yes. With the same employer, both are not possible at the same time, and for a change, there usually need to be at least two months between the periods of employment. We will check with you whether and when a change makes sense.
Am I entitled to holiday leave in a mini-job?
Yes. Mini-job workers have the same rights as all other employees: paid holiday in proportion to the days you work, continued payment of wages in the event of illness after four weeks of employment, and at least the statutory minimum wage. This also applies to short-term employees.
What happens if I exceed the € 603 threshold?
Occasional, unforeseeable exceedance is permitted: in no more than two months within a twelve-month period, and then up to twice the limit, i.e. up to €1,206. If you regularly earn more, the mini-job ends and employment subject to social insurance contributions begins.
Should I opt out of pension insurance in my mini-job?
That is your decision. Without an exemption, you pay 3.6% (around €21 on €592) and accrue full pension contribution months in return – important, for example, for rehabilitation benefits or a reduced earning capacity pension. With an exemption, you receive your full wages.
Am I covered by health insurance through a mini-job or short-term employment?
Not through the job. You need your own health insurance, for example through your family, as a student, through your pension or your main job. Only in permanent employment earning from €603.01 are you insured through the job itself.
Do I have to pay tax for short-term employment?
Yes, wages are subject to tax and are generally calculated according to your tax bracket. If your taxable income for the entire year is below the basic tax-free allowance (€12,348 in 2026), you will receive the wage tax back through your tax return.
All information is correct as of October 2026 and presented in simplified form – not tax or legal advice. We would be happy to go through your case with you: Hotline for temporary workers 0381 / 2027 8950 · More answers in the FAQs.
