Working as a Student in Austria 2026

International students in Austria can work up to 20 hours per week during the semester. The key threshold to know: the Geringfügigkeitsgrenze (marginal earnings limit) sits at €518.44 per month in 2026. Stay below it and you pay no social security contributions. Go above, and both you and your employer contribute. Austria has no single minimum wage — instead, wages are set by Kollektivvertrag (collective bargaining agreements) per industry. This guide covers your rights, tax obligations, job types, and how to find work.

Work Rights by Student Category

Category	Hours/Week	Work Permit Needed?	Notes
EU/EEA/Swiss students	Unlimited	No	Same rights as Austrian workers
Non-EU (Aufenthaltsbewilligung)	20 hrs/week	Employer needs Beschäftigungsbewilligung	Full-time during semester breaks
Non-EU (no permit yet)	Not permitted	N/A	Cannot work without valid permit

The Beschäftigungsbewilligung

Non-EU students do not apply for a separate work permit themselves. Your employer applies for the Beschäftigungsbewilligung (employment permit) at the local AMS (Arbeitsmarktservice) office. Processing takes about 2 weeks. The Beschäftigungsbewilligung is tied to the specific employer and job. If you change jobs, your new employer needs a new Beschäftigungsbewilligung.

Most employers in Vienna, Graz, and Innsbruck know this process. Smaller companies in rural areas may be unfamiliar. In that case, point them to the AMS website or offer to help with the paperwork. The AMS rarely rejects applications for student jobs.

The Geringfügigkeitsgrenze: €518.44/Month

This threshold is central to student employment in Austria. It determines your tax and social security obligations.

Earnings	Social Security	Income Tax	ÖGK Insurance
Below €518.44/month	None (1.64% accident insurance only)	None	Keep separate ÖGK student insurance
Above €518.44/month	~18% employee share	0% up to €12,816/year (tax-free threshold)	Employer-provided ÖGK kicks in

Below the Geringfügigkeitsgrenze

If your monthly earnings stay below €518.44, you are geringfügig beschäftigt (marginally employed). You pay no social security contributions. Your employer pays only a small contribution (1.64%). You do not receive employer-provided health insurance — keep your ÖGK student self-insurance (€70.72/month) active.

This is the most common setup for students working 8–10 hours per week. At €12/hour, 10 hours per week earns €480/month — just below the threshold. Many students deliberately stay under this limit to avoid social security deductions.

Above the Geringfügigkeitsgrenze

If you earn more than €518.44/month, you become vollversichert (fully insured). Your employer deducts approximately 18% for social security (health, pension, unemployment insurance). In return, you receive full ÖGK coverage through your employer — cancel your separate student insurance to avoid double payment.

Income tax applies only above the annual tax-free threshold of €12,816. A student earning €800/month (€9,600/year) pays social security but zero income tax. At 20 hours/week and €12/hour, you earn about €960/month (€11,520/year) — still below the income tax threshold.

Kollektivvertrag: How Wages Work in Austria

Austria has no single national minimum wage. Instead, every industry has a Kollektivvertrag (collective bargaining agreement — KV) negotiated between employer associations and trade unions. These KVs set minimum wages by sector, role, and experience level. Almost every job in Austria is covered by a KV.

Sector	KV Minimum (hourly, approx.)	Typical Student Pay
Gastro / Hotel	€10.10	€10–12
Retail (Handel)	€10.50	€10.50–12
Office / Administration	€11.00	€11–14
IT / Tech	€12.50	€14–20
University (research assistant)	€12.00	€12–16
Marketing / Creative	€10.50	€12–16

Your payslip (Gehaltszettel) must reference the applicable KV. If an employer pays below the KV rate, report it to the Arbeiterkammer (Chamber of Labour) — they offer free legal advice to all workers, including students.

Sonderzahlungen: 13th and 14th Salary

Austrian workers receive Urlaubs- und Weihnachtsgeld (holiday and Christmas bonuses) — the 13th and 14th monthly salaries. These are taxed at a flat 6% instead of the regular income tax rate. Even part-time students receive these bonuses, prorated to their working hours. If you work 20 hours/week for 12 months, you get 2 extra half-salaries per year.

Finding Student Jobs

Best Platforms

• karriere.at — Austria's largest job portal. Filter for "Teilzeit" (part-time) and "Studentenjob"
• unijobs.at — jobs targeted specifically at university students
• StudentJob.at — student-focused job board
• willhaben.at/jobs — Austria's marketplace, also lists part-time jobs
• University career centers — each university has a Karrierecenter with listings
• AMS Job Room (ams.at) — the public employment service's job portal

Best Student Job Types

The highest-paying and most career-relevant student jobs in Austria:

1. Werkstudent (working student) — part-time role in your field of study. IT, engineering, and business students find these at large Austrian companies (Erste Group, OMV, A1 Telekom). Pay: €12–18/hour.
2. Studienassistent (teaching/research assistant) — work at your university's department. Helps with tutorials, research, or lab work. Pay: €12–16/hour. Great for your CV.
3. Praktikum (internship) — mandatory in some programs (especially at FHs). Duration: 3–6 months, often full-time during semester breaks. Pay: €700–1,500/month.
4. Gastro & retail — flexible hours, easy to find. Restaurants, BILLA, SPAR, H&M. Pay: €10–12/hour.
5. Tutoring / language teaching — teach your native language to Austrian students. Pay: €15–25/hour privately. Register on platforms like Erste Nachhilfe or Preply.

Tax and Social Security: A Practical Guide

Annual Tax Return (Arbeitnehmerveranlagung)

File an annual tax return with the Finanzamt (tax office) via FinanzOnline (finanzonline.bmf.gv.at). If you earned below €12,816/year, you owe zero income tax and may receive a refund of any tax already withheld. Many students get €100–400 back per year.

Deductible expenses include: study materials, laptop (proportional to study use), internet costs, professional development courses, and commuting costs beyond 20 km (Pendlerpauschale). Keep all receipts.

Sozialversicherungsnummer (Social Security Number)

You receive a Sozialversicherungsnummer (SV-Nummer) when you first register with ÖGK or start employment. This 10-digit number stays with you for life. You need it for every job, tax filing, and insurance interaction. Your employer asks for it on your first day.

Freelancing as a Student (Freier Dienstvertrag / Werkvertrag)

Some students work on freelance contracts instead of employment contracts. This is common for tutoring, design, writing, or IT projects.

• Freier Dienstvertrag: A hybrid contract. You work for one client but have more flexibility than a regular employee. Social security and tax work similarly to employment.
• Werkvertrag: A true freelance contract for a specific project/deliverable. You are self-employed. If annual freelance income exceeds €5,830, you must register a Gewerbeschein (trade license) at the local Wirtschaftskammer and pay social security through SVS (Sozialversicherung der Selbständigen).

Non-EU students: freelancing counts toward your 20-hour work limit. Keep careful records of your hours. The immigration authority can request documentation.

Rights and Protections

The Arbeiterkammer (AK)

Every employed person in Austria is automatically a member of the Arbeiterkammer (Chamber of Labour). Membership is free (funded by a 0.5% payroll deduction). The AK provides:

• Free legal advice on employment law
• Tax filing assistance
• Protection against unfair dismissal
• Wage claim support if your employer underpays you

If you suspect your employer is paying below the KV rate, not paying overtime, or violating your contract, contact the AK. They handle thousands of student cases per year.

Minimum Paid Leave

Even part-time students receive 5 weeks (25 working days) of paid leave per year, prorated to your hours. A 20-hour/week job gives you 25 half-days of paid vacation. Your employer cannot deny this — it is a legal right.

For more on student life, read our guide to the best student cities in Austria. For visa details, see the Austria student visa guide 2026. Explore the work and career guide for Austria or learn about career options after graduation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can international students work in Austria?

Yes. EU/EEA students work without restrictions. Non-EU students with an Aufenthaltsbewilligung Studierende work up to 20 hours/week during the semester and full-time during breaks. Your employer must obtain a Beschäftigungsbewilligung from the AMS.

What is the Geringfügigkeitsgrenze?

The marginal earnings threshold of €518.44/month (2026). Earn below it: no social security contributions. Earn above it: both you and your employer pay social security (~18% employee share). Most students working under 12 hours/week stay below this limit.

Is there a minimum wage in Austria?

Austria has no single national minimum wage. Wages are set by Kollektivvertrag (collective agreements) per industry. The lowest KV rates are around €10/hour (gastro, cleaning). IT and professional roles start at €12.50+. Your employer must pay at least the KV rate for your job category.

Do I pay taxes as a student worker in Austria?

Income tax applies only above €12,816/year. Most part-time students earn less than this and pay zero income tax. Social security applies above the Geringfügigkeitsgrenze (€518.44/month). File an annual Arbeitnehmerveranlagung via FinanzOnline — you may get a refund.

Can I work full-time during semester breaks?

Yes. Non-EU students can work full-time (40 hours/week) during the lecture-free periods: July–September and February. Your employer still needs a Beschäftigungsbewilligung. This is a great time to do internships or earn more to fund the next semester.

What is the Beschäftigungsbewilligung?

An employment permit that your employer applies for at the AMS. It takes about 2 weeks to process. The permit is job-specific: if you change employers, the new employer needs a new one. You do not apply for it yourself — your employer handles the paperwork.

Can I freelance as a student in Austria?

Yes. Freelancing on a Werkvertrag is possible. If annual freelance income exceeds €5,830, you need a Gewerbeschein (trade license). Non-EU students: freelance hours count toward the 20-hour weekly limit. Keep detailed time records.

What should I do if my employer underpays me?

Contact the Arbeiterkammer (AK). They provide free legal advice and can pursue your claim. Check your payslip against the applicable Kollektivvertrag rate for your industry and role. The AK handles thousands of wage cases per year and has a strong track record of recovering owed amounts.