How much can you earn working as a student at Lieferando?

Lieferando / Wolt / Bolt Food / Uber Eats are the most common side job options for students. Hourly earnings are around 12-18 €.

#2026 German Food Delivery Market

#Active Platforms

• Lieferando (the largest, Just Eat Takeaway group)
• Wolt (Helsinki-based, growing in Germany)
• Bolt Food (Estonia-based)
• Uber Eats (San Francisco)
• Gorillas / Flink (10-15 minute grocery delivery)

#Lieferando Salary Details

#Hourly Earnings

• Hourly base pay: 12-14 €
• + Tip: average 1-3 € per hour
• + Bonus (rainy weather, peak hours): an additional 1-2 €
• Total average: 14-18 €/hour brutto

#Monthly Earnings (Mini-Job — 538 €)

• 14 €/hour × 10 hours/week = 140 €/week
• Monthly ~600 € brutto → very close to the 538 € limit
• Some weeks you might exceed the 538 € limit (monitor your weekly average)

#Monthly Earnings (Werkstudent — 20 hours/week)

• 14 € × 20 hours × 4 weeks = 1,120 €/month brutto
• Net: ~1,015 €/month (Werkstudent deductions)

#Monthly Earnings (Full-time Summer Holiday)

• 14 € × 40 hours × 4 weeks = 2,240 €/month brutto
• Net: ~2,030 €/month
• A 26-week holiday period is possible

#Wolt Salary Details

#Hourly Earnings

• Base pay: 11-14 € per hour
• Tips: Slightly higher than Lieferando (international practice)
• Total: 13-17 €/hour

#Wolt vs Lieferando

#Bolt Food

• Hourly: 12-15 €
• Expanding to new cities (centered in Berlin, München, Hamburg)
• Tips are high (app promotion)

#Uber Eats

• Hourly: 11-14 €
• Difficult to register in Germany (app is limited for Turkish citizens)
• Company registration + GST required

#Bicycle, Scooter, or Car?

#Bicycle (Most Common)

• Environmentally friendly + healthy
• Fast maneuvering (within the city)
• Difficult in rain/snow
• Monthly bicycle maintenance: 20-30 €

#E-Bike / Electric Bicycle

• Less tiring (long distances)
• Lieferando provides e-bikes in some cities (rental)
• Cost: 0 (if provided by the company)

#Scooter (Electric)

• Fast (efficient in large cities)
• Driver's license required (motorcycle)
• Monthly scooter rental: 50-100 €

#Car

• Rare for Lieferando (usually bicycle/scooter)
• Fuel + parking fees are costly
• Slower than bicycles in the city

#Working Hour Limits

#Mini-Job (538 €)

• 14 €/hour × 10-12 hours/week = 540-672 €
• Keep your monthly average below 538 €

#Werkstudent (20 hours/week)

• 14 €/hour × 20 hours = 1,120 € brutto/month
• Insurance premium 131 € + pension 9.3% → net ~1,015 €

#Annual Limit (non-EU students, incl. Turkish citizens)

• 140 working days a year (Arbeitstagekonto; a day of up to 4 hours counts as half a day)
• Alternatively, a week with up to 20 hours during the lecture period counts as 2.5 working days — whichever is more favourable for you applies
• Mini-job (10 hours/week, e.g. 2–3 shifts of 4 hours) → 1–1.5 working days a week (about 52–78 working days a year)
• Don't get close to the 140-day limit — count all your jobs together (§ 16b(3) AufenthG, checked 15.10.2026)

#Lieferando Application Process

#Step 1: Online Application

• lieferando.de/karriere → "Fahrer (Courier)"
• Select location + contact information

#Step 2: Documents

• Passport + Visa/Aufenthaltstitel
• SteuerID
• Proof of health insurance
• IBAN (for salary deposit)
• Bicycle/scooter (own or rented)

#Step 3: Interview + Training

• 30-60 minute online interview
• German/English sufficient
• Lieferando app + safety training

#Step 4: Starting Work

• You can start work within 1-2 weeks
• Lieferando uniform + backpack
• First day with another courier for guidance

#Industry Advantages

#Flexibility

• You create your own shift plan — free choice of hours
• You can work on weekends (15-20% higher hourly rate)
• Higher tips in the evenings

#Additional Benefits

• Rainy / cold weather bonus (+2-3 € per hour)
• Peak hours bonus (between 12-14 and 18-21)
• New Year's, Valentine's Day, etc. additional bonuses

#Industry Disadvantages

• Physically demanding — traveling around the city by bicycle/scooter
• Weather-dependent — difficult in the rain
• Low career potential — limited long-term growth in the sector
• Worthless from an academic perspective — not suitable for your CV (limited contribution of "courier" experience in the Werkstudent category)

#Practical Advice

#Short-Term (Temporary Income)

• Mini-Job (538 €) is very comfortable — low pressure
• Maintains academic focus
• Good for German language practice in the first semester

#Mid-Term (Additional Income)

• Werkstudent (20 hours) + Sperrkonto combination
• Monthly ~1,000 € net + Sperrkonto 992 € = 2,000 € total
• Easy to send money to Turkey

#Long-Term (Graduate + In Germany)

• Long-term career with Lieferando is not recommended
• Transition to the professional sector after a temporary solution

#Lieferando vs Other Werkstudent Jobs

#Important Notes

• Lieferando employee insurance provides all rights in the Werkstudent category
• Seasonal changes — fewer deliveries in winter months, more in summer
• Tipping culture in Germany is low (less than in Turkey + USA), plan without expecting tips
• 140-working-day limit for non-EU students — track your Lieferando hours

Related: Mini-Job | Werkstudent.