Germany to raise statutory minimum hourly wage to €14.60 from 1 January 2027
Hourly minimum increases by €0.70 to €14.60 and Minijob limit rises to €633, affecting legally employed foreigners including Macedonians.
From 1 January 2027 Germany’s statutory minimum hourly wage will rise to €14.60, a decision that will lift pay for millions of low‑paid workers including many Macedonian nationals employed in the country.
The German federal government adopted the increase that raises the minimum hourly rate by €0.70 from the 2026 level of €13.90 — roughly a five percent rise compared with the 2026 rate. The change is the second step in a planned adjustment that started on 1 January 2026.
For a full‑time worker on a 40‑hour week, the new hourly rate translates to a gross monthly income of about €2,530, although the exact amount depends on the number of hours actually worked in the month because the statutory minimum is calculated per hour. Under the 2026 rate of €13.90, a full‑time worker with an average of 173.3 hours per month earned about €2,410 gross; the increase therefore amounts to roughly €120 gross per month or about €1,450 over a year if hours remain the same.
How the rise fits into wider wage policy
The total increase across the two steps equals approximately 13.9 percent compared with the €12.82 hourly minimum that applied in 2025. The move follows a recommendation from the independent German commission on minimum wages, which reviews economic conditions, labour market developments and wage trends when proposing changes.
Alongside the hourly increase, the monthly earnings ceiling for so‑called Minijobs will change: the limit rises from €603 in 2026 to €633 from 1 January 2027. That means Minijob holders — often students, pensioners and secondary earners — can earn up to €30 more per month without changing their employment category.
All figures quoted are gross amounts. Net take‑home pay will vary according to tax class, social contributions, health insurance and personal circumstances, so two employees with identical gross wages can receive different net pay. Sectoral collective agreements may also set higher minimums in certain industries.
For Macedonian citizens already working in Germany — in hospitality, manufacturing, logistics, retail, cleaning, warehousing and other services — the change offers higher legal minimum pay from 1 January 2027 and may influence decisions by those planning to seek work in Germany during 2027.
Photo: Fripik
