Student jobs (Schülerjob) in Germany: Are pupils allowed to work – and under which legal conditions?
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Many pupils in Germany would like to work to earn their own money. This article explains the rules for Schülerjobs, how many hours are allowed, which jobs are suitable at which age, and what parents and minors need to know before starting work.
Yes, but only under strict legal conditions. The work of minors is regulated by the
Youth Employment Protection Act (Jugendarbeitsschutzgesetz – Gesetz zum Schutz der arbeitenden Jugend),
which aims to protect their health, development and education.
| Age | Allowed to work? | Type of work |
|---|---|---|
| Under 13 | Not allowed | — |
| 13–14 years | Possible under conditions | Very light work, with parental consent |
| 15–17 years | Allowed (with restrictions) | Schülerjob with limited working hours |
| 18+ | No special youth restrictions | All jobs allowed under general labour law |
On school days:
Up to 2 hours per day
Maximum of 10 hours per week
Only between 8:00 and 18:00
Night work and work on public holidays are generally prohibited for minors
During school holidays (Ferienjob):
Work up to 4 weeks (20 working days) per year is allowed
Up to 8 hours per day
Maximum of 40 hours per week
Minors are not allowed to work in jobs that endanger their health or development, such as:
Heavy physical work (e.g. on construction sites or lifting heavy loads)
Work in hazardous or highly stressful environments (certain factories, dangerous machinery)
Working in bars, pubs, nightclubs or other venues where alcohol is served
Work connected to violence, drugs, gambling or pornography
Many Schülerjobs are light, short-term and compatible with school life, for example:
Delivering newspapers or advertising leaflets (Zeitung austragen)
Working as an assistant in a library, bookshop or small shop
Helping in a kindergarten or daycare centre with simple tasks
Supporting events, fairs or exhibitions (e.g. handing out flyers, simple service tasks)
Tutoring (Nachhilfe) for younger pupils
Working in fast-food restaurants or cafés under clear supervision
If the income is below 538 € per month (Mini-Job):
Usually no income tax and no social insurance contributions are deducted from the pupil’s wage.
The employer pays lump-sum contributions.
If earnings exceed this limit or the job is regular and long-term:
Income tax and social insurance contributions may become due.
In many cases, the amounts remain relatively low, especially for short-term employment.
Ferienjobs (holiday jobs):
Are often exempt from tax and social insurance if they are clearly temporary and limited to the school holidays.
Before a Schülerjob begins, the following points are important:
Parental or legal guardian’s consent for anyone under 18
If required, a confirmation from the school that the job does not interfere with education
A written employment contract, even if it is simple and short
Basic knowledge of employment rights, such as:
fair pay,
rest and break times,
accident insurance at the workplace
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Schülerjob | Student job for school pupils |
| Ferienjob | Holiday job (only during school holidays) |
| Jugendarbeitsschutzgesetz | Youth Employment Protection Act |
| Mini-Job | Marginal employment up to 538 €/month |
| Arbeitszeit | Working time / hours |
| Erziehungsberechtigte | Legal guardians (usually the parents) |
| Nachhilfe | Private tutoring / extra lessons |
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The editorial team of this website aims to provide accurate information based on thorough research and the use of multiple sources. Nevertheless, errors may occur or information may be incomplete or not fully up to date. Please treat the information in this article as a first point of orientation only and always contact competent authorities, counselling centres or specialised labour-law experts for binding, up-to-date advice.
