10 Highest paying part-time jobs for students in Germany 2024

Germany has a stellar education system, and the country has consistently been attracting international students from every part of the world. Even though the cost of living in Germany is affordable and can range between €800 to €1200 a month for an international student, several students take up part-time jobs for students in Germany along with their educational course to have a smooth stay in the country.

The good part is that German universities have a supportive environment for students and allow them to work to support their stay and education in the country. A survey published in 2020 by Forsa, a research institute in Germany, showed that a whopping 75% of students have been working part-time in Germany to support themselves. This trend has continued with several options available for student jobs in Germany. 

If you are wondering – How much can international students earn in Germany part-time? – and want to know in detail about the popular student job sectors in Germany, read further.

Getting a Part-Time Job in Germany as an International Student

Working while studying in Germany is a wise option for international students for more reasons than just financial sustainability. You get exposure to the German job market and learn the nuances of working in a different work and cultural environment than your home country.  You also get to add a few credentials to your resume. 

Additionally, you can create a route for a full-time job in the country once you complete your education with the help of the experience you get through part-time jobs and internships in Germany. 

Part-Time Job Rules for International Students in Germany

There are strict job regulations for students in Germany. Knowing these regulations is essential, as non-compliance may result in your deportation from the country. 

• International students are allowed only to work for 120 full or 240 half work days every year. However, if your university is located in a high-unemployment area, you may be allowed to work more than 120 days.
• You cannot take up freelancing assignments or self-employment as a part-time work option for students.
• You need special permission from the Agentur fur Arbeit or the Federal Employment Agency to draw a part-time job salary in Germany. 
• The regulations are stricter for international students enrolled in a language or preparatory course in Germany. A student enrolled in these courses is permitted to work only during lecture-free periods or under special permission from the authorities. 
• If your part-time job salary in Germany is less than €450 a month, you need not pay any taxes or social security contributions to the government. Also, if you have worked less than 50 continuous days in a year, you are exempt from paying any taxes. 
• You cannot work more than 20 hours per week during a course term. But, you can take up full-time employment during your vacations. 
• Students from the EU, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein can work for more than 20 hours a week in Germany. However, these students will have to pay health insurance, nursing care insurance, and other security contributions similar to German nationals. 

If you work within your university, you can earn a better per-hour salary in Germany for students and can work longer hours.

10 Highest Paying Part-Time Jobs in Germany for International Students

The average part-time salary in Germany for students differs based on the nature of the job, the hours you work, and the city where you work. Here is a list of the 10 best part-time jobs in Germany for students (in no particular order):

1. Student Assistant (Average Salary – €10 to  €17 Per Hour)

• Job Details: The best part-time jobs in Germany for students are at Universities. You can work at a profile related to your field of study and combine your work and studies. You can assist in teaching, compile the study material, work under the college administration, work in the library, make copies of research papers, etc. 

• Expected Salary Bracket: The per-hour salary in Germany as a student assistant will depend on your duties and the hours you put in. On average, you can earn around €10 to  €17 per hour as a teaching assistant. 

• Eligibility: The basic eligibility for the post is that you have to be a student enrolled in the concerned university. There can be other post-specific requirements also.

• How to Apply/Find: You can look for these jobs on various job portals and university notice boards, and enquire internally within your department. 

2. Tutor (Average Salary – €12 to  €15 Per Hour)

• Job Details: If you excel and are passionate about your field of study, you can guide other students and get paid for it. You can also become an English tutor if you have a command over the language, as German is the main language in the country, and several students look for tutors in the subject. 
• Expected Salary Bracket: You can earn between €12 to  €15 per hour as a tutor in Germany. 
• Eligibility: Proficiency and interest in the subject matter and a passion for teaching.
• How to Apply/Find: Look for vacancies for tutors on job portals and ask around in your social circle if someone requires a tutor. 

3. Courier (Average Salary – €9 to  €12 Per Hour)

• Job Details: There has been a rise in home delivery services for daily needs or utility items, medicines, food, and other necessities. As a courier, you will have to deliver goods directly to the customer’s doorstep. 
• Expected Salary Bracket: You will be paid either per hour or per delivery, and the usual per-hour salary for a courier job in Germany is between €9 to  €12 per hour. 
• Eligibility: As an international student, you will most probably use a bike to deliver goods. Therefore, you must know how to ride a two-wheeler and a four-wheeler in some cases. Some employers may expect you to work late into the evening for deliveries. 
• How to Apply/Find: You can ask around locally for vacancies, and couriers are usually in high demand in Germany. You may also find an advertisement in the local newspaper for the job.

4. Waiting Tables (Average Salary – €7 to  €10 Per Hour)

• Job Details: Waiting tables or working as support staff at cafes, bars, and restaurants is one of the most popular part-time jobs for students. You get to interact with the local crowd and work in a cheerful environment. You can work over the weekends or in the afternoons or late evenings per your class timings. 
• Expected Salary Bracket: Since the job does not require any expertise, it is not very high-paying. You can earn between €7 to  €10 per hour waiting tables. On good days, you can earn handsome tips from happy customers, which can easily surpass your wages. 
• Eligibility: The job does not require any specific education or training, and you can learn on the job. 
• How to Apply/Find: Inquire locally at restaurants, cafes, and bars. Ask your friends and other students who are into similar jobs for referrals. 

5. Office Assistant (Average Salary – €12 Per Hour)

• Job Details: You can work as a part-time office assistant in Germany. As an office assistant, you will have to answer phone calls and emails and attend to visiting customers. You may also have to perform some additional tasks, like communicating with the employees or working on accounts. 
• Expected Salary Bracket: You can expect to earn around €12 Per Hour as an office assistant.
• Eligibility: Strong communication skills and knowledge of basic office equipment like scanners, printers, fax machines, photocopy machines, and computers.
• How to Apply/Find: You can look up various corporate websites and job portals for vacancies. 

6. Industrial Production Assistant (Average Salary – €12 Per Hour)

• Job Details: An industrial production assistant is usually responsible for ensuring the smooth working of the machinery and equipment. They also maintain quality standards and handle the raw materials and maintain safety standards for workers. 
• Expected Salary Bracket: Approximately €12 per hour.
• Eligibility: Knowledge of starting, operating, and cleaning the machinery. You may also have to do minor repair jobs. Even if you are not trained to handle the machinery, you should be comfortable learning it. 
• How to Apply/Find: Local advertisements and advertisements on job websites.

7. Assistant to Shopping (Average Salary – €9 to  €10 Per Hour)

• Job Details: As a shopping assistant, you will assist customers in choosing stuff for themselves. It could be garments, fashion accessories, gadgets, etc. 
• Expected Salary Bracket: You can earn between €9 to  €10 per hour as a shopping assistant. 
• Eligibility: Strong communication skills, strong marketing skills, and a decent knowledge of the German language. 
• How to Apply/Find: You can enquire at local stores if they have a vacancy or ask others working at similar jobs to refer you. 

8. Babysitting (Average Salary – €10 to  €15 Per Hour)

• Job Details: If you are good at handling children and enjoy their company, you can be a babysitter. You can choose to work for the number of hours that suit you and work on selected days. It can be a fun job if you are fond of kids. 
• Expected Salary Bracket: You can earn between €10 to  €15 per hour. Once you become comfortable with the family, you can request a raise. 
• Eligibility: This job does not require any academic qualifications or any special training. You just need to have a liking for kids and have enough patience and sensitivity to handle them responsibly. 
• How to Apply/Find: Ask around in your neighborhood and ask your friends to refer you. Local students can help you find a babysitting job in their social circle. 

9. Call Center Operator (Average Salary – €15 Per Hour)

• Job Details: Call center employees have to make calls to the customers or receive calls from them. Usually, they have to market a product or service or receive and resolve customer complaints. 
• Expected Salary Bracket: Approximately  €15 per hour
• Eligibility: Strong interpersonal skills and a lot of patience and courteous attitude. Proficiency in speaking and understanding German is a must.
• How to Apply/Find: You can find call center jobs on various job portals and local advertisements. 

10. Field Interviewer (Average Salary – €18 to €20 Per Hour)

• Job Details: It is one of the highest-paying part-time jobs in Germany for international students. As a field interviewer, you will conduct surveys and research for a business for any necessary information they need. You have to take customers’ feedback on products or services, what they like about them, the additional features they expect, etc. 
• Expected Salary Bracket: You can earn between €18 to €20 per hour as a field interviewer. 
• Eligibility: Field interviewers are usually trained on the job to acquaint them with the company’s product or service. They must have strong communication skills and know German to be able to interact with the local people comfortably.
• How to Apply/Find: Usually, companies post these jobs on job portals and select candidates by screening their resumes and conducting their interviews.

Part-Time Job Salary in Germany – Citywise

Part-Time Jobs in Berlin

Part-Time Jobs in Frankfurt

Part-Time Jobs in Munich

Part-Time Jobs in Hamburg

Part-Time Jobs in Stuttgart

Part-Time Jobs in Cologne

Benefits of Part-Time Jobs in Germany

• Skill enhancement: Part-time jobs are a great way to acquire new skills while getting paid for them. You can polish your communication skills, learn how to operate machinery and equipment, build your confidence, and enhance your subject knowledge. You will learn how to manage your time better to handle work with studies. Moreover, you will learn how to adjust among people with whom you have cultural and language differences. 
  
  

• Financial support: A part-time job helps you make a side income along with your education. This money can help you pay for an advanced course or buy expensive study material. You can reduce your financial dependency on your parents and use the money to have a decent lifestyle to enjoy your stay in Germany. 

In fact, if you find a decent job in Germany, you can even start saving some money to send back home to your parents as a gift.

• Stronger networking: While you may get restricted to fellow students and teachers as a student. Working a part-time job gives you an opportunity to interact with new people and have a bigger social circle. You may get a chance to network with important clients and managers at your job, who can help you find a full-time job once you complete your education. 
  
  

• Financial management: Earring money as a student gives you the opportunity to learn how to manage your finances early on. If you earn more than €450 a month in Germany, you will have to pay taxes and contribute to social security. It teaches you to budget and save early in life when the stakes are still low. This way, you will be best equipped to manage your finances when you start earning well from a full-time job. 
  
  
• Saving the funds in your blocked account: It is mandatory for international students in Germany to block a monthly amount of €861 in their blocked account. A student can fall back on this saved amount to fund his stay and education in the country. If you have a part-time job that is sufficient to meet your monthly expenses, you need not withdraw from your blocked account and carry it forward to the next year. 

Types of Part-Time Jobs in Germany for International Students

You can find part-time jobs in Germany primarily under three categories:

• On-campus jobs
• Off-campus jobs
• Online jobs

On-Campus Part-Time Jobs

If you are good at academics and enjoy your time at the university, on-campus jobs are a great option for you. You can find the following on-campus jobs in Germany:

• Student Assistant
• Research Assistant 
• Library Assistant
• Education Instructor or Student Tutor
• Personal Trainer or Attendant
• Jobs in the Administrative Department

Off-Campus Part-Time Jobs

Off-campus jobs are a great way to enhance your networking skills and widen your social circle. You get to interact with the locals and familiarize yourself with the German way of living. Some common off-campus student jobs in Germany are:

• Waiter/Waitress
• Bartender
• Babysitter
• Courier
• Office Assistant
• Field Interviewer
• Industry Production Assistant
• Cashier
• Shopping Assistant
• Call Center Operator

Online Part-Time Jobs

There are numerous online job options for students in Germany. You can take up one of these jobs and earn some money in your free hours without spending time going to the job physically. 

Some popular online student jobs in Germany are:

• Blog Writing
• Data Entry
• Language Translation
• Social Media
• Digital Marketing
• Web Development
• Marketing and Sales
• Online Teaching
• Customer Support

How to Find Part-Time Jobs Opportunities in Germany for International Students

If you are thinking, ‘How to apply for student jobs in Germany?’, it is rather straightforward. Here are the various options you have to find/ apply for student jobs in the country:

• University Bulletin Boards: On-campus student jobs are most commonly advertised on university bulletin boards. Often, companies also advertise their part-time jobs through the university news and bulletin boards and flyers. Keep an eye out for such on and off-campus jobs on the bulletin boards and university website. 
  
  

• University Placement Cells: Several universities in Germany have their own placement cells to help students find part-time jobs for financial support. These placement cells are in touch with experts from various industries and have several job opportunities for suitable candidates. You can approach the student placement cell at your university and discuss your skills and the nature of the job most suitable for you and request for their assistance. 
  
  

• Web Portals: It is common for employers to post their job openings across several job portals. The job description, job requirements, remuneration, and other details are posted on these portals for all the vacancies. You can scan these portals and even apply for a suitable job through them. 
  
  
• Networking: Friends, neighbors, fellow students, teachers, and other known people are one of the best channels to find part-time jobs locally. Fellow students who are already working on a part-time job can refer you to their workplace if there is an opening. Local people can provide you with a reference which increases your credibility and improves your chances of getting a job. 

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can students work part-time in Germany?

Yes, students can work part-time in Germany to support their educational and living expenses. However, there are strict rules and regulations for students who want to work in the country. 

• How much do part-time jobs pay in Germany?

The average part-time salary in Germany depends on the number of hours you work, the nature of your employment, and the city you work in. However, you will surely earn equivalent to or above the minimum wage. 

• Which part-time jobs pay the most in Germany?

Some of the highest paying part-time jobs in Germany are those of field interviewer, student assistant, tutor, and call center operator that can fetch you a decent salary. The Germany part-time job salary for waiting tables and couriers is not much, but you can earn decent tips from happy customers at these jobs. 

• Is it easy to get a part-time job in Germany?

Yes, there are several part-time jobs available for students in Germany. You can look for part-time jobs within your university, with local businesses, and online. However, ensure that you follow the rules and regulations when doing a part-time job in the country. 

• Can I work 50 hours a week in Germany?

An international student cannot work for more than 20 hours a week during his course term. However, they can take up full-time employment and work more during vacations. 

Students from the EU, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein can work for more than 20 hours a week in Germany. However, these students will have to pay health insurance, nursing care insurance, and other security contributions similar to German nationals. 

Full-time employees cannot work for more than 48 hours a week in Germany. Beyond this, the hours are counted as overtime. In Germany, a worker cannot work for more than 60 hours a week, including overtime. 

Before You Go!

Germany has several excellent universities and colleges that offer international students an opportunity to gain knowledge and benefit from the country’s quality education, infrastructure, and rich culture. International students are allowed to work part-time to support their stay in the country, with a few rules and regulations in place. 

For example, many Indian students who study in India often self-finance their studies and also send money to India.

As an international student/employee, you may often need to receive or send money to your parents back home. Instarem is an online international money transfer service provider which allows you to send and receive money from over 60 countries globally, through a fast* and secure process, at affordable# exchange rates.

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*Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only. All details are accurate at the time of publishing. Instarem has no affiliation or relationship with products or vendors mentioned.

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