Your Employer of Record for Working Students in Germany

Profit from minimal employer non-wage costs and high flexibility. We handle the complex social security regulations and payroll for you. As your Employer of Record, worknow ensures you can hire academic talent with full legal compliance.

Discuss your hiring setup

01. Requirements

Definition

Regular Studies

This status applies to students at state-recognized universities who primarily dedicate their time to their studies.

Full-time Focus Work must remain secondary. Dual study programs and guest auditors are excluded.

Timeline

Duration of Status

The regulation applies from matriculation and accompanies the talent until the end of their academic education.

Graduation Deadline The working student status officially ends at the end of the month in which the written certificate is issued.

Core Rule

The 20-Hour Limit

During the lecture period, working hours are limited to a maximum of 20 hours per week.

Weekly Check In the case of multiple jobs, the total sum of hours counts for the insurance assessment.

02. Benefits at a Glance

Working Hours

The 20-Hour Rule

During the semester, the status is maintained if the working hours do not exceed 20 hours per week.

Status Check If exceeded, the exemption from health, nursing care, and unemployment insurance contributions immediately ceases.

Social Security

Attractive Contributions

Working students are generally exempt from health, nursing care, and unemployment insurance contributions – only pension insurance remains mandatory.

Ancillary Wage Costs Employers only pay pension insurance contributions as well as the U1 and U2 levies for continued remuneration.

Thesis

Theses

Those working in the company solely for their bachelor's or master's thesis are not considered dependently employed.

Contribution-free There are no contributions, levies, or reporting requirements – even if you pay a remuneration.

03. Cost Calculator for Hiring Working Students

Monthly Gross Salary

€

Total Employer Cost

€0.00

Ancillary Wage Cost Rate

approx. 13%

04. Optimal Use of Social Security Benefits

The working student status offers a major financial advantage: minimal ancillary wage costs combined with high flexibility. The 20-hour limit applies during semesters, but expands to full-time during breaks. As your Employer of Record, worknow manages all legal tracking, ensuring you secure these cost benefits with full legal compliance.

Time Management & EOR

The 26-Week Rule

As your Employer of Record, worknow precisely monitors the 20-hour limit. We ensure that the flexibility of the 26-week rule is fully utilized in compliance with the law.

Semester Breaks: Unlimited working hours are automatically and correctly processed through our EOR payroll.
Forecast Service: We conduct the necessary working year assessment to secure the status for you.
Time Monitoring: Automatic alert system when approaching the 26-week limit.

EOR Security

We guarantee correct adherence to time regulations with the social security institutions.

Compliance & Social Security

Payroll & Contributions

Benefit from minimal ancillary wage costs. As an Employer of Record, we guarantee the correct classification under social security law.

Insurance Check: We individually check the contribution exemption in health, nursing care, and unemployment insurance for every talent.
Payroll Processing: Correct remittance of the pension insurance share (approx. 9.3%) without any administrative effort on your part.
Full-Service Levies: We manage all mandatory contributions (U1, U2, U3) as well as the employers' liability insurance association.

Audit Safety

In the event of company audits, worknow assumes full responsibility as the official employer.