Yes, you may legally combine two part-time jobs (Teilzeit positions) at the same time in Germany, provided you comply with the following conditions:
1. Weekly working time limits
For the purposes of the Working Hours Act (Arbeitszeitgesetz – ArbZG), the total working hours from all employers are added together.
General rule: You may not work more than 48 hours per week.
This can be temporarily extended up to 60 hours per week if the excess is compensated by reducing working time within a reference period (six months or 24 weeks) so that the legal average is not exceeded.
Example:
If your first contract provides for 20 hours/week and your second for 15 hours/week, your total of 35 hours/week is still within the legal limits.
2. Informing and obtaining consent from employers
Secondary employment clause (Nebentätigkeit):
Many part-time employment contracts require you to inform your employer before taking up any additional job.
Sometimes, you must also obtain prior written consent from the employer before starting the second job.
The purpose of these clauses is to:
prevent conflicts of interest, and
ensure that your additional job does not negatively affect your performance, health, or the working environment.
3. Social insurance and taxation
Social insurance:
Your contributions to social insurance (pension, unemployment, health, long-term care) from both jobs are generally aggregated.
If your income from one of the jobs is low (≤ 556 € per month), that job may be classified as a Minijob, which is largely exempt from social security contributions or subject to reduced flat-rate contributions.
Taxes:
Your income from both jobs is jointly declared in your annual tax return.
Often, the second job is taxed under tax class VI (Steuerklasse VI), if you already have a main employment assigned to another tax class. This usually leads to higher tax deductions on the second salary.
4. Compatibility with health insurance and student status
Students / Werkstudent status:
If you are registered as a Werkstudent, the typical limit of 20 hours/week during the lecture period applies.
You must ensure that your total working hours comply with the rules for students regarding health insurance and taxes/social security.
Rest periods:
Make sure to respect the daily rest periods: as a rule, there must be a minimum of 11 hours of uninterrupted rest between two shifts (§ 5 ArbZG).
You must also comply with break regulations during the working day (e.g. obligatory breaks after more than 6 consecutive working hours).
5. Practical tips
Before signing a second contract, try to obtain written approval from your first employer.
Keep detailed records of your working hours in each job, so you can respond to any official inspection or dispute.
Check your payslips (Lohnabrechnung) each month to ensure that taxes and social security contributions are being calculated correctly.
Organise your time to avoid exhaustion and to fulfil your obligations reliably in both workplaces.
If you feel that the total number of hours is too stressful or restricts your private life too much, consider reducing your hours or converting one job into a less demanding Minijob.
Summary
Combining two part-time jobs is legally possible in Germany, as long as:
your total weekly working hours remain within the legal limits, and
you inform your employers and obtain their consent where required by contract or internal rules.
Good planning, transparent communication, and compliance with the regulations protect your rights and help you avoid legal problems or violations.
The authors and editors of this website strive to provide accurate information based on extensive research and multiple sources. Nevertheless, errors may occur or some information may not be fully confirmed. Therefore, please regard the information in this article as an initial point of reference and always contact the competent authorities or professional advisers for binding and up-to-date information.
