Minimum wage for interns in Germany (2026 and 2027)

Germany's statutory minimum wage (Mindestlohn, regulated by the Minimum Wage Act, MiLoG) is €13.90 per hour from 1 January 2026 and €14.60 per hour from 1 January 2027. Interns are covered too — unless one of the exemptions applies. This guide explains who is exempt, what the minimum wage means per month, and how to check whether an offer is fair.

Who is exempt (§ 22 MiLoG)

The minimum wage does not apply to:

• Mandatory internships required by school, training or study regulations (Pflichtpraktikum).
• Orientation internships of up to 3 months done to choose a training programme or degree.
• Voluntary internships of up to 3 months alongside your studies or training, if you haven't done an internship with the same employer before.
• Certain pre-vocational programmes (Einstiegsqualifizierung).

Everyone else — including working students (Werkstudenten), voluntary interns staying longer than 3 months, and interns after graduation — must get at least the minimum wage. For a voluntary internship longer than three months, it applies from the first day.

What the minimum wage means per month

Most postings state a monthly amount, so here's what the minimum wage works out to (hours per week × 4.33 weeks × hourly rate):

How we check “meets minimum wage”

We convert the monthly pay in a posting to an hourly rate:

hourly pay = monthly pay ÷ (hours per week × 4.33)

Example: €2,000 per month at 40 hours a week → 2,000 ÷ (40 × 4.33) ≈ €11.55/hour, which is below €13.90 (2026). The same €2,000 at 30 hours a week ≈ €15.40/hour, which is above.

We only show the check when the posting states both the amount and the weekly hours, and we use the rate that applies on the start date. For mandatory internships and thesis positions we show the hourly figure for information — the minimum wage doesn't apply there.

Common situations

“The internship is 3 months — then they want to extend it”

The exemption only covers voluntary internships of up to three months. If yours lasts longer, the minimum wage applies. Splitting it into several short contracts doesn't help the employer either: the exemption only applies if you haven't done an internship with the same company before.

“I've already graduated”

Internships after graduation are voluntary and fully covered by the minimum wage. A company can't avoid it by calling the position an internship.

“I'm a working student, not an intern”

Working students are regular part-time employees and always fall under the minimum wage — see our working student guide.

“It's a mandatory internship, but the pay is very low”

That's legal: mandatory internships are exempt. Still, it's worth comparing offers — many companies pay mandatory interns a monthly allowance, and pay is negotiable.

Mini-jobs and the minimum wage

The mini-job limit is tied to the minimum wage. In 2026 a job counts as a mini-job up to €603 a month; in 2027 the limit rises to about €633. Above that, normal rules (or working-student rules) apply.

If an offer looks too low

• Check which category your internship falls into (see Pflichtpraktikum vs. voluntary).
• Ask the company — it may be a mistake in the posting, or the hours may be lower than you think.
• Get the terms in writing before you start: the employer must document pay and working hours (Nachweisgesetz).
• If you were underpaid, you can claim the difference later. Customs (Zoll, Financial Control of Undeclared Work) checks compliance with the minimum wage.
• For advice on your specific case, your university's career service, a trade union (e.g. DGB Jugend) or the minimum-wage hotline of the Federal Ministry of Labour can help.

Search only listings that meet the minimum wage, or browse paid internships.