How to Calculate Monthly Working Hours in Germany

February 21, 2024

“How many working hours will you have to work each month on average? Or, at what point will you be paid overtime? These questions are the most concerning and often spark the most debates among the Vocational Training Students in Germany. So, how many exact working hours are there per month in Germany, and how […]

"How many working hours will you have to work each month on average? Or, at what point will you be paid overtime? These questions are the most concerning and often spark the most debates among the Vocational Training Students in Germany. So, how many exact working hours are there per month in Germany, and how is this calculated? Let's explore together with Thien Tan Academy!

Accurately calculating the average working hours per month will depend on the scheduled working hours and the number of working days specified in the employment contract. Typically, in employment contracts, the weekly working hours are set at 40 hours (8 hours per day).

Most students usually calculate the monthly working hours as follows:

40 (hours per week) x 4 (average number of weeks per month) = 160 hours

However, this method is not entirely accurate. In reality, most months have 30-31 days, so each month should extend beyond 4 weeks. Instead, the accurate calculation of monthly working hours should follow the formula:

MONTHLY WORKING HOURS = 52 weeks / 12 months (average number of weeks per month) x 40 hours per week = 4.35 x 40 = 174 hours

Therefore, the average monthly working hours for Vocational Training Students in Germany are 174 hours. From the 175th hour onward, you will be eligible for additional overtime pay.