Salary Benchmark

What does a nanny earn in Switzerland? 2026 salary benchmark

Q: How much does a full-time nanny earn in Switzerland?

A full-time nanny earns roughly CHF 3,800-6,500 gross per month - as recommended by the Swiss Nanny Association. Beginners without training start nearer CHF 3,800-4,200, while qualified nannies with a diploma reach CHF 5,200-6,500.

Q: What's a fair hourly rate for a nanny?

The market range is CHF 25-40+/h gross, depending on experience and qualification. For irregular work, the holiday supplement of 8.33% (for 4 weeks of holiday) is added on top. The legal floor for domestic work is CHF 20.35/h (NAV, unskilled).

Q: Is there a statutory minimum wage for nannies?

For domestic-work tasks, the SECO's NAV Hauswirtschaft applies: CHF 20.35/h unskilled, CHF 22.30/h with 4+ years' experience, CHF 24.55/h with a Fachausweis. Some cantons have higher minimums - Geneva, for example, CHF 24.59/h.

Q: In which canton do nannies earn the most?

In the economically strong cantons of Zurich, Zug and Geneva, nanny wages sit at the top of the range. Geneva also has the highest statutory minimum wage in Switzerland at CHF 24.59/h.

Q: What does a nanny really cost the family?

On top of the gross wage come around 15% employer contributions (OASI/IV/EO, ALV, accident insurance, family allowances) and, for full-time, the BVG pension fund. The true total cost is therefore about 15-20% above the gross wage. At CHF 5,000 gross that's around CHF 5,750-6,000 per month.

Q: Do I have to pay BVG (pension) for a nanny?

Yes, as soon as the annual wage exceeds CHF 22,680 (as of 2026) - which is practically always the case for a full-time nanny. The BVG contribution is split between employer and nanny; the employer's share increases the true cost.

A full-time nanny in Switzerland earns roughly CHF 3,800-6,500 gross per month - depending on experience, qualifications and canton. Here's the transparent 2026 salary benchmark: hourly rate, monthly pay by experience tier, NAV minimum wages, cantonal differences, and what a nanny really costs you as a family.

Reading time: 7 min · Last updated: June 2026

Answer in 30 seconds

A full-time nanny in Switzerland earns roughly CHF 3,800 to 6,500 gross per month, depending on experience, qualifications and canton.

Hourly rate: CHF 25-40+/h gross, plus an 8.33% holiday supplement for irregular work.
Legal floor: NAV Hauswirtschaft, CHF 20.35/h unskilled to CHF 24.55/h with Fachausweis.
True family cost: gross wage plus about 15% employer contributions, plus BVG full-time.

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Experience level

Hourly wage (gross)CHF 31/h

Hours per week25 h

Canton

Gross wage / month

CHF 3'637.97

incl. holiday supplement

Net to the nanny

CHF 3'171.14

after OASI/ALV/accident (source-tax guide)

Your cost / month

CHF 3'926.46

gross + employer contributions

How the money flows: you pay the total cost, social contributions come off the top - what remains is the nanny's net wage.

At this workload the annual wage exceeds CHF 22,680 - the pension fund (BVG) is added on top and raises your cost further.

Calculate with BVG, 13th salary and canton details →Handle pay & registration with Clino →

The anchor recommendation: Swiss Nanny Association

The Swiss Nanny Association - the professional body for nannies in Switzerland - recommends a gross salary of CHF 3,800 to 6,500 per month for a full-time nanny, scaled by experience and qualification. This range is the most credible reference point on the market - far more reliable than anonymous forum figures.

swissnanny.org →

Hourly rate: what a nanny earns per hour

If you employ a nanny by the hour or part-time, you pay an hourly rate. The 2026 market range:

•Entry level / no training: CHF 25-28/h gross
•With experience: CHF 28-34/h gross
•Qualified (FaBe/diploma): CHF 34-40+/h gross

Don't forget the holiday supplement on hourly pay

For irregular or hourly work, the holiday entitlement is paid out as a supplement on the hourly rate: 8.33% for 4 weeks of holiday, 10.64% for 5 weeks. If you agree CHF 30/h, you effectively pay around CHF 32.50/h with the supplement.

The legal floor: the NAV Hauswirtschaft

For domestic-work tasks, the SECO's standard employment contract (NAV) for household services sets binding minimum wages nationwide. Pure childcare isn't necessarily covered, but as soon as the nanny also helps in the household, the NAV is the legal floor:

CHF 20.35/h

Unskilled

CHF 22.30/h

4+ years' experience

CHF 24.55/h

With Fachausweis

NAV minimum wages as of 2026. These are floors - the typical market nanny wage is well above them. Some cantons set their own, higher minimums.

Monthly pay by experience tier

The overview below shows the typical gross monthly wage at roughly 100% workload, scaled by experience and training:

Nanny gross wage per month (full-time, 2026)

No training, < 4 years' experienceCHF 3,800-4,200

No training, 4+ years' experienceCHF 3,900-4,700

EFZ / FaBe childcareCHF 4,500-5,500

Qualified / diplomaCHF 5,200-6,500

Gross wages, approx. 100% workload. Typical 2026 market ranges - the actual wage depends on scope of duties, weekly hours and canton. Hourly or part-time work commands a higher per-hour rate than the full-time monthly wage (see the hourly section above).

Hiring a nanny in Switzerland - the complete guide

Cantonal differences: where nannies earn the most

Pay levels vary strongly by region. In the economically strong cantons of Zurich, Zug and Geneva, nanny wages sit at the top of the range; in rural cantons they tend to be lower. Geneva also has the highest statutory minimum wage in Switzerland:

•Zurich, Zug: top level, often at the upper end of the range
•Geneva: statutory minimum wage CHF 24.59/h - the highest in Switzerland
•Rural cantons: tend to sit closer to the NAV floor

Canton ranking: where nannies earn the most

All 26 cantons by pay level. Switch between the market wage and the legal floor.

🥇
Geneva (GE)~CHF 31
🥈
Basel-Stadt (BS)~CHF 30
🥉
Zug (ZG)~CHF 30
4
Zurich (ZH)~CHF 29
5
Basel-Landschaft (BL)~CHF 28
6
Vaud (VD)~CHF 28
7
Aargau (AG)~CHF 27
8
Bern (BE)~CHF 27

Market hourly wages for domestic work (BFS estimates) - the best public proxy for the regional pay level. Nanny wages run higher but follow the same regional pattern: Geneva, Zug, Zurich and Basel-Stadt lead.

Geneva: mind the cantonal minimum wage

The canton of Geneva has a general statutory minimum wage of CHF 24.59/h (as of 2026) - the highest in Switzerland. If you employ a nanny there, you may never go below this rate, regardless of the NAV.

Are you the nanny?

Want to start working as a nanny yourself?

You've seen what nannies earn and where they earn the most. If you want to become a nanny yourself, our interactive step-by-step plan shows you how to get going: sort out your permit, negotiate fair pay, find families and get employed correctly - with a contract and OASI registration.

Become a nanny: the step-by-step plan →

What a nanny really costs you as a family

The gross wage is not the final figure. As an employer you pay employer contributions to the social insurances on top - and for full-time work the pension fund (BVG) is added:

✓Gross wage (what the nanny is agreed to receive)
✓+ approx. 15% employer contributions: OASI/IV/EO, ALV, accident insurance, family allowances, admin costs
✓+ BVG (pension fund): mandatory above CHF 22,680 annual wage - so almost always for full-time
✓= true total cost ≈ gross wage + 15-20%

Example: at a gross wage of CHF 5,000/month, the true total cost for the family is around CHF 5,750-6,000 including all employer contributions and BVG.

Where your franc goes

You pay (total cost)

≈ CHF 5,800

Gross wage

CHF 5,000

Nanny net

≈ CHF 4,350

Illustrative example at CHF 5,000 gross/month: the total cost includes employer contributions (plus BVG for full-time); the nanny's deductions come off the gross.

Nanny and BVG/pension fund: when it becomes mandatory →

Nanny wage calculator: gross, net and employer cost in 30 seconds →

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Frequently asked questions

How much does a full-time nanny earn in Switzerland?

A full-time nanny earns roughly CHF 3,800-6,500 gross per month - as recommended by the Swiss Nanny Association. Beginners without training start nearer CHF 3,800-4,200, while qualified nannies with a diploma reach CHF 5,200-6,500.

What's a fair hourly rate for a nanny?

The market range is CHF 25-40+/h gross, depending on experience and qualification. For irregular work, the holiday supplement of 8.33% (for 4 weeks of holiday) is added on top. The legal floor for domestic work is CHF 20.35/h (NAV, unskilled).

Is there a statutory minimum wage for nannies?

For domestic-work tasks, the SECO's NAV Hauswirtschaft applies: CHF 20.35/h unskilled, CHF 22.30/h with 4+ years' experience, CHF 24.55/h with a Fachausweis. Some cantons have higher minimums - Geneva, for example, CHF 24.59/h.

In which canton do nannies earn the most?

In the economically strong cantons of Zurich, Zug and Geneva, nanny wages sit at the top of the range. Geneva also has the highest statutory minimum wage in Switzerland at CHF 24.59/h.

What does a nanny really cost the family?

On top of the gross wage come around 15% employer contributions (OASI/IV/EO, ALV, accident insurance, family allowances) and, for full-time, the BVG pension fund. The true total cost is therefore about 15-20% above the gross wage. At CHF 5,000 gross that's around CHF 5,750-6,000 per month.

Do I have to pay BVG (pension) for a nanny?

Yes, as soon as the annual wage exceeds CHF 22,680 (as of 2026) - which is practically always the case for a full-time nanny. The BVG contribution is split between employer and nanny; the employer's share increases the true cost.

Sources

Swiss Nanny Association - salary recommendation for full-time nannies: swissnanny.org
SECO - standard employment contract (NAV) for household services, 2026 minimum wages
Federal Statistical Office (BFS) - Swiss Earnings Structure Survey
Canton of Geneva - cantonal minimum wage (labour inspection and relations act)

Wage figures as of 2026. NAV and cantonal minimum wages are adjusted annually.

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