Cleaner Costs by Canton: What You Really Pay
Between CHF 25 and CHF 31 per hour, depending on the canton. Add 15 to 20 percent in social contributions. Pick your canton below: you see your total cost instantly.
A cleaner in Switzerland usually costs CHF 25 to 31 per hour, depending on the canton. As the employer you add 15 to 20 percent in social contributions.
- Swiss average: CHF 27/hr. At CHF 27 an hour that is about CHF 31/hr all-in.
- Per month at 4 hrs/week: CHF 470 to 690 total cost including social contributions.
- 5 cantons have a minimum wage (GE, BS, JU, NE, TI). Geneva: CHF 24.59/hr.
This applies when
You employ a cleaner as a private household. Figures are cantonal averages: wages are highest in urban cantons like Zurich, Geneva and Basel, lower in rural areas.
Your canton, your number
What does a cleaner cost you in your canton?
Pick your canton and the hours per week - you instantly see your total monthly cost as an employer.
- Gross wage (29.00 × 3 h/week)
- CHF 392
- Employer contributions (+7.93%)
- CHF 31
- Clino (payroll & registration)
- CHF 19.90
of which just CHF 19.90 is Clino - the rest is wage & legal contributions
AHV/IV/EO 5.3% + ALV 1.1% + UVG 0.505% + cantonal FAK. Estimate using official contribution rates (2026). Plus a small compensation-office admin fee. For the exact figure use the salary calculator.
Interactive Salary Map: Cleaner Costs per Canton
Select canton
Click on a canton to see cleaner costs and salary ranges.
The wage gap between the most and least expensive canton exceeds CHF 100 per month - knowing cantonal conditions helps you pay fairly and competitively.
Cantonal Minimum Wages Are Mandatory
Cantonal Minimum Wages for Domestic Helpers
Five Swiss cantons have introduced a statutory minimum wage. These also apply to domestic helpers and set a floor above the level of many other cantons.
Highest minimum wage in Switzerland
Urban canton, strict enforcement
Rural canton, moderate enforcement
French-speaking
Strictest enforcement in Switzerland
Tip: Clino automatically calculates the correct salary based on your canton - including minimum wage check. Learn more about properly registering your cleaner or find the guide for your canton.
When must I register? - Thresholds, exceptions and deadlines.
Top 5: The Most Expensive Cantons for Cleaners
In these five cantons, employers pay the most for their domestic help. Residents here should pay particular attention to regional conditions when setting wages.
| Rank | Canton | Average | Range | Month (4h/wk) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geneva | CHF 31/h | CHF 27-35 | CHF 558 |
| 2 | Zug | CHF 30/h | CHF 27-34 | CHF 540 |
| 3 | Basel-Stadt | CHF 30/h | CHF 27-34 | CHF 540 |
| 4 | Zurich | CHF 29/h | CHF 25-33 | CHF 522 |
| 5 | Vaud / Basel-Landschaft | CHF 28/h | CHF 25-32 | CHF 504 |
Monthly costs based on gross wage x 4h x 4.5 weeks (excl. social contributions). Use the Clino Cost Calculator for an exact calculation incl. OASI, UI, and AIA.
Methodology & Sources
- Cantonal minimum wages: The minimum wages shown (GE, BS, JU, NE, TI) are taken from official cantonal regulations as of 2026 and are indexed to the national consumer price index.
- Average hourly wages: The per-canton wage figures are Clino market estimates based on regional living costs and observed market rates for domestic help. They are intended as guidance for fair pay-setting, not a statistical survey. Ranges reflect typical market bands (approx. 25th-75th percentile).
Cantonal minimum wages last verified: May 2026.
Compiled by the Clino editorial team. Clino helps private households legally employ domestic staff in Switzerland.
Cite & embed this study
Media, blogs and associations are welcome to use the salary map freely - with attribution and a link to Clino.
Good to know: the background
You have your number above. This is why wages differ so much and what else moves the hourly rate.
Why Do Cleaner Wages Differ by Canton?
Switzerland is small, but regional differences in living costs are enormous. In Geneva and Zurich, rents and living costs are significantly higher than in Jura or Uri - and this is directly reflected in wages.
Cost of Living
Cantons with high rents and living costs (GE, ZG, ZH, BS) consistently pay higher wages. A cleaner in Geneva earns up to 24% more than in Uri.
Supply and Demand
Major cities have more demand for domestic helpers, but also more providers. In rural regions, the market is smaller but prices are lower.
Cantonal Minimum Wages
Five cantons have their own minimum wages, which push the market upward. Geneva has the highest minimum wage in Switzerland at CHF 24.59/hr.
City vs. Countryside
Even within a canton there are differences: in Bern city, wages are higher than in the Bernese Oberland. The map shows cantonal averages.
More about general costs in our Guide: How Much Does a Domestic Helper Cost?
What Influences a Cleaner's Salary?
Beyond the canton, these factors also affect the hourly rate.
Experience and References
A cleaner with years of experience and good references can charge CHF 3-5/hr more than a beginner.
Language Skills
Multilingual candidates often earn CHF 1-2/hr more.
Additional Tasks
Ironing, cooking, childcare, or gardening - additional tasks justify a higher hourly wage.
Regularity
Fixed weekly slots mean lower rates - one-off jobs often cost more.
Registration and Insurance
Those who properly register their cleaner pay social contributions but avoid heavy fines for undeclared work. Total costs are often lower than expected.
Interested in working as a cleaner yourself? Read our guide Working as a Cleaner in Switzerland.
Without Registration (Undeclared Work)
- •Fines up to CHF 10,000 if caught
- •No insurance coverage for accidents
- •No OASI contributions for your helper
- •Criminal proceedings and back payments possible
With Proper Registration
- •Full insurance coverage (AIA, OASI)
- •Only approx. 15-20% extra on gross wage
- •Your helper receives OASI pension
- •Clino prepares everything automatically - CHF 19.90/mo
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Frequently Asked Questions About Cleaner Costs by Canton
Why is Geneva so much more expensive than other cantons?
Geneva has the highest minimum wage in Switzerland (CHF 24.59/hr) and the highest cost of living. Market wages are therefore CHF 27-35/hr - well above the Swiss average.
Do social contributions come on top of the hourly wages?
Yes. As an employer, you pay approx. 15-20% in social contributions on top of the gross wage (OASI, UI, AIA, holiday supplement). At CHF 30/hr, that is approx. CHF 4.50-6 extra. Use the Clino Calculator for an exact calculation.
Is there a nationwide minimum wage for cleaners?
No. Switzerland has no national minimum wage. Only five cantons (GE, BS, JU, NE, TI) have introduced cantonal minimum wages. In the remaining 21 cantons, there is freedom of contract.
How much does a cleaner cost per month?
At 4 hours per week and an average wage of CHF 27/hr, a cleaner costs around CHF 460-480 per month (gross wage). With social contributions, expect total costs of approx. CHF 530-550.
Do living costs influence the wage?
Absolutely. The cost of living in Switzerland varies by up to 30% depending on the canton. In expensive cantons like Zug, Geneva, and Zurich, employers must pay correspondingly higher wages to find domestic helpers.
Employing someone at home? Here's how to register them properly.
Registration with the compensation office, payroll, AHV and insurance: Clino handles the paperwork correctly for your canton, so you're on the safe side.
- All 26 cantons
- Payroll, AHV & insurance, automatically
- Done in a few minutes
CHF 19.90/month · 30 days free · nothing charged before day 30 · cancel anytime
Wherever you live: registering correctly works everywhere.
Tap your region to see what is national and what your canton sets. Clino fills it in automatically.
Canton of Zurich
German-speaking CH
AHV from
the 1st franc national
Minimum wage
from 20.35/h NAV, guideline
FAK contribution
cantonal 0.80 to 2.95%
Register within
30 days after start
No minimum wage of its own, the NAV applies. Clino sets FAK and NAV from your address.
From a city rooftop to a mountain village: one fair solution for the whole of Switzerland. CHF 19.90 a month, 30 days free.
Register, nothing charged before day 30Exact minimum wage for your canton: register correctly now.
As of 2026, guideline. Minimum wages vary by canton. NAV 2026: unskilled from CHF 20.35/h, after 4 years 22.30/h, with EFZ 24.55/h. Cantons with their own minimum (above NAV): Geneva 24.59/h, Basel-Stadt 22.20/h (since 2026), Ticino from 20.00/h (by sector), plus Neuchatel and Jura. AHV/IV/EO 5.3% per side, ALV 1.1% per side, FAK cantonal 0.80 to 2.95%. AHV from the 1st franc, register within 30 days of the first working day. Illustrative, not legal advice.
