Working as a cleaner in Switzerland: CHF 25-33 an hour, and how to start
Canton : I earn CHF an hour, hrs a week.
Tap the numbers to change them. No job yet? Enter the wage you are being offered.
A good, market-level wage
Above the CHF 20.35 minimum and within the usual CHF 27-32.
Net per month
CHF 1'187
Gross per month
CHF 1'361
Your employer adds
CHF 108
Includes 8.33 % holiday supplement (4 weeks' holiday), AHV/IV/EO, ALV, accident insurance, family allowances and 5% withholding tax under the simplified procedure. Same method as the wage calculator.
Working in the city of Lucerne, Zurich or Winterthur? Those cities have minimum wages of their own.
The city of Lucerne has had a municipal minimum wage of CHF 22.75 since 1.1.2026. The city of Zurich (CHF 23.90) and Winterthur (CHF 23.00) have decided theirs, and the Federal Supreme Court confirmed on 12 May 2026 that it is valid - but it is not yet in force there, and the city of Zurich has said it will give at least six months' notice before it starts. What counts is where the work is done, so the household's address. For the skill level selected, CHF 20.35 per hour applies here today.
Employed by a cleaning company? Then the GAV Reinigung applies: from CHF 21.40/h.
Clino is not a job agency. Looking for work: how it works →
The legal minimum is CHF 20.35 an hour, CHF 24.59 in Geneva. The check above shows what you take home. After that: whether you may work here and where to find families.
May I work in Switzerland?
What applies to you?
Two questions, and you see exactly what your path looks like.
1. Your passport
2. Where are you now?
Your first steps after you arrive
- 1Register at your commune within 14 days.
- 2Make sure each family registers you with social insurance (AHV/OASI) – that's their duty and costs you nothing.
- 3Open a Swiss bank account for your salary.
- 4Take out health insurance within 3 months (it's mandatory).
Language: You'll work in the household's language – German, French or Italian. A few words go a long way in building trust. Learn German for the household job.
Where to actually find work now: the concrete channels
There are three doors into cleaning work in Switzerland – and you can open all three at the same time. Working directly for families pays the most. Platforms are the fastest legal start but pay noticeably less. Cleaning companies and Spitex offer stable hours at collective-agreement wages.
Door 1: Directly for families
CHF 25–35/h gross
2–6 weeks to build up
Door 2: Platforms that employ you
CHF 21–25/h gross
1–3 weeks to your first job
Door 3: Cleaning companies & Spitex
CBA: from CHF 21.40/h + 13th salary
Apply like for any job
what you earn as a caregiver →Your 7-day plan to the first enquiry
Every channel above works, but only if you actually open it this week. Equipment, pricing and paperwork for your start are covered in a separate guide. A realistic first week looks like this:
- 1
Get your materials ready
Three sentences about you (experience, free days, region), references, target rate (direct: CHF 25–30/h). Build a professional CV in 10 minutes with our free CV builder.
- 2
Post free ads
tutti.ch and/or anibis.ch: with photo, region, free days, languages and the sentence «AHV registration expected» – it signals to families that you work professionally.
- 3
Create free profiles
Fill out Homeservice24 and Care.com completely – complete profiles get contacted first. Romandie: also Yoopies. On tili.ch families post part-time jobs, and searching is free.
- 4
Join Facebook groups
3–5 groups: your city plus your language community. Introduce yourself briefly (region, days, rate, references, phone number) and reply fast to new requests. Re-post at most every 1–2 weeks.
- 5
Become visible offline
A6 card with tear-off phone strips on 5–10 Migros/Coop pinboards (free, stays up ~14 days). Check whether your commune is on Crossiety. And tell your community's mission or church – the network after the service is a classic job exchange.
- 6
Set up a safety net
Apply to Helpling or Batmaid and to 2–3 cleaning companies or your local Spitex – even if you'd rather work directly: this gives you income from week 2–3.
- 7
Activate your network
Tell everyone you have free capacity. Talk to caretakers and property managers – one agency manages dozens of households and is constantly asked for cleaners. Ask each existing client for one referral.
Save or share the plan
How to introduce yourself to a family
Schneider
online
Hello Mrs Schneider, Mrs Keller told me you're looking for a cleaner. I've been cleaning private homes in Zurich for five years, I work reliably and carefully and I have good references. I'm still free on Thursday and Friday mornings. May I introduce myself briefly?
16:20Hello! Yes, that sounds good. Could you come by on Thursday at 10am?
16:52Gladly, Thursday at 10am works for me. See you then and thank you!
16:55Which channels fit your situation?
Permit, canton, languages, goal – our free tool shows you your personal channels, your minimum wage and the next steps in 2 minutes.
Build my personal channel planThe honest agency check: Batmaid, Helpling & Co.
Platforms employ you legally – that's real value when you're starting out. But you should know the numbers and conditions before you sign. We analysed price breakdowns, employee reviews and press investigations (as of July 2026).
Where does the cleaning hour go?
Platform: the client pays CHF 43.90
Your base wage: CHF 21–23/h gross (CHF 25–28 including holiday supplements and 13th salary)
Employed directly by the family
Average wage CHF 32.90/h gross (quitt payroll data, March 2026; CHF 29–35 is typical)
Numbers: Batmaid's own price breakdown (batmaid.ch, Geneva example: base wage CHF 22.81 of CHF 43.90; Zurich and Vaud lower) and quitt's wage statistics for direct employment. The difference is the platform layer: operations, marketing, VAT, margin.
Our honest verdict
- 1Good as a springboard: fast, legal, insured – ideal for starting out, first references, and if you don't speak much German or French yet.
- 2Working directly for families you earn 30–50% more per hour (avg. CHF 32.90 vs CHF 21–23 base) – but always insist on AHV registration.
- 3The proven path of many pros: start via the agency, build up your own families on the side with the channels above, and switch once your week is full.
What cleaners report
The positives (from reviews)
- Legally employed from day one: permanent contract under the collective agreement, AHV, accident and sick-pay insurance (Batmaid says it pays the first 30 sick days, insured up to 720 days).
- Flexibility is the most praised point in positive reviews: you choose workload and times, the app handles scheduling and payments.
- Collect references and experience – the classic entry route, especially without the local language.
- Helpling publishes CHF 24.75/h gross – more transparent and higher than Batmaid's base wage in most regions.
The criticism (from reviews and investigations)
- Only a few guaranteed hours (typically 4 h/week). In 2024 the WOZ documented monthly incomes swinging between CHF 800 and 1,600.
- Unions (Unia, Allpura) criticise that travel time between jobs is not paid as working time – at cleaning companies under the collective agreement it would be.
- Last-minute client cancellations can make booked hours vanish unpaid.
- Recurring in employee reviews: late or incorrect wage payments and support that is hard to reach.
- If you're only deployed 12–15 h/week you often stay below the pension-fund entry threshold (CHF 22,680/year) – no second-pillar pension builds up.
Batmaid customer reviews on Trustpilot: 3.0 out of 5 from 1'822 reviews (1 October 2026; has replied to about 20% of negative reviews). Employees rate Batmaid around 3 out of 5 on Indeed and Glassdoor – with the pay sub-score clearly lower on both.
By the way: according to its own footer, putzfrau.ch is operated by Batmaid SA – same group, different sign.
Compare all 8 platforms with a net calculator: Open the big platform comparison
Sources: batmaid.ch/about-us (price breakdown, retrieved 4 Jul 2026) · Trustpilot batmaid.ch (4 Jul 2026) · helpling.ch/apply · employee reviews on Indeed and Glassdoor · WOZ no. 7/2024 «Arbeit auf Abruf» · Work/Unia (May 2024) · quitt wage statistics (March 2026) · cleaning-sector collective agreement 2026.
Your Rights as a Domestic Worker in Switzerland
As an employee in a private household, you are protected by the Swiss Code of Obligations (OR) and the Labour Act (ArG). This applies regardless of whether you work full-time or just a few hours per week.
Written Employment Contract
You have the right to a written employment contract. It must include salary, working hours, duties, and notice periods. Use the Clino Contract Check to review your contract. Template to forward to the household (free).
Holiday Entitlement
4 weeks of paid holiday
You are entitled to at least 4 weeks of paid holiday per year (under 20: 5 weeks). For hourly wages, a holiday supplement of 8.33% (4 weeks) or 10.64% (5 weeks) is added to the gross salary.
Sick Pay
In case of illness, you are entitled to continued pay. In the first year of employment, this is at least 3 weeks, then graduated by years of service (Bern, Basel, or Zurich scale depending on the region).
Maternity Leave
14 weeks
After giving birth, you are entitled to 14 weeks of maternity leave at 80% pay (through the income replacement scheme EO). Requirement: You must have been OASI-insured in the 9 months before the birth.
Protection Against Dismissal
During illness, pregnancy, and military service, dismissal is prohibited. The notice period is 1 month in the first year of service, then 2-3 months depending on the contract.
Accident Insurance (UVG)
Your employer must insure you against occupational accidents. From 8 hours per week with the same employer, non-occupational accidents are also covered.
For a detailed breakdown of pay, holidays, sickness and protection against dismissal, see our overview of your rights as a cleaner.
Before you say yes: warning signs
Most families mean well. You still turn these offers down, or renegotiate them first.
Never work cash-in-hand
Undeclared cash costs you AHV pension, accident insurance and unemployment cover and both sides risk back-payments. Insist on being declared.
'Self-employed' is a grey zone here
Platforms like Helpling treat you as self-employed. AHV usually rejects that for cleaning (you count as the household's employee). Insurance and back-payment risk then fall on you.
A real agency never charges YOU
Placement and temp agencies are paid by the employer. If an 'agency' asks you for money for a job or permit, walk away, it's illegal.
Beware 'permit brokers'
No one can 'arrange' a permit for a cleaner/carer from abroad for a normal family. Never pay for it; verify everything on sem.admin.ch.
On platform leads, the family declares you
You're only insured if the household actually registers you (AHV from the first franc). Ask to see the compensation office's confirmation.
Get everything in writing, keep your own record of hours, and insist on being registered. Anyone who refuses has a reason. Your rights in a household job.
Your employer says you're 'self-employed' and must register yourself? In most cases, that's not true. Anyone who regularly cleans in a household is legally considered an employee. More about bogus self-employment →
Detailed guide for employers: Register Your Cleaner - How It Works in 5 Steps
Social Insurance - What Gets Deducted?
Social insurance contributions are deducted from your gross salary. These contributions protect you in old age, in case of disability, and in case of unemployment. Your employer pays the same amount on top.
What a proper payslip looks like
Every month, in writing. The deductions are not a loss - each line buys you something. Follow the numbers:
Maria Gonzalez, cleaner
- 1
Check this against the hours you actually worked. Keep your own record.
- 2
Your 4 weeks of holiday, paid out with every payslip on hourly pay instead of later.
- 3
The basis for everything below - and the number that belongs in your contract.
- 4
Your pension. Your employer pays the same amount again on top, you are not carrying it alone.
- 5
Unemployment insurance: daily benefit if the job disappears.
- 6
Accident cover for your free time. The premium for accidents at work is paid by your employer, from hour one.
- 7
In the simplified procedure this settles your tax. No tax return for this income.
- 8
What lands in your account. Cash with no payslip is a warning sign.
No AHV line means you are not registered
Then it is undeclared work, however kindly it is meant. Without registration you have no pension credit, no unemployment benefit and no proof you ever worked. And that proof is the first thing you need after an accident.
Example: 10 h/week at CHF 30.00/h in Zurich, simplified procedure (wages up to CHF 22'680/year). In the ordinary procedure BVG is added and tax is assessed normally.
For a more detailed calculation with cantonal taxes and occupational pension, use our comprehensive Gross-to-Net Calculator Switzerland 2026.
Which canton is worth it? Language, pay and living costs
Where you work decides three things: the language (you work in the household's language), the average wage and the cost of living. Tap a canton on the map.
Map of Switzerland: pay & living costs
Avg gross wage CHF/h
Important: a high wage in Geneva or Zurich often goes straight to rent. In cantons like Valais, Jura or Solothurn you earn a little less, but rent and health insurance are lower - so more can be left at the end of the month.
Cleaning & Household
The classic: rights, safety and pro techniques for cleaners.
- ~40 min
- in your language
- PDF certificate with QR code
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a cleaner without a work permit?
No. To work in Switzerland, you need a valid residence permit with work authorisation (B permit, C permit, L permit, or F permit with work authorisation). EU/EFTA citizens benefit from the free movement agreement and can register through the notification procedure. Without a valid permit, work is illegal and can lead to fines and deportation proceedings. Planning to come to Switzerland from abroad to work as a cleaner? Our guide for cleaners from abroad explains all steps from permit to registration. No EU/EFTA passport? Our in-depth guide covers permit B/C/F/N/S, au pair rules and every exception in detail.
What can I do if my employer does not register me?
Talk to your employer directly first and point out the legal obligation. Recommend a simple solution like the simplified procedure. If the employer does not respond, you can contact the cantonal labour inspectorate or a union office. Your rights exist even without registration - but enforcement is harder. The Undeclared Work Check shows you the specific risks.
How much holiday am I entitled to?
At least 4 weeks per year (Art. 329a OR). Under 20: 5 weeks. For hourly wages, the holiday entitlement is added as a supplement to the gross salary (8.33% for 4 weeks, 10.64% for 5 weeks). The holiday supplement must be shown separately on the payslip. Calculate your exact salary with the Clino Calculator.
Can I work for multiple employers at the same time?
Yes, this is allowed and very common in the household sector. Each employer must register you separately with OASI and pay social insurance contributions. You build up OASI contributions with several employers this way. Important: Each employer must check the accident insurance obligation individually (from 8 hours/week per employer).
What happens if I get injured at work?
If you are properly registered, accident insurance (UVG) covers medical costs and pays daily allowance of 80% of your salary. Report the accident to your employer immediately. If you are not registered, the Ersatzkasse UVG still pays the statutory benefits. But you first have to prove you worked there, and without a contract or payslips that is a long and uncertain process. Another reason why proper registration is so important.
What is the monthly pay for cleaners in Switzerland?
At CHF 30/hour and 10 hours per week, gross monthly pay with the holiday supplement is about CHF 1,410, leaving roughly CHF 1,230 net after OASI, UI, NBUV and the 5 % source tax of the simplified procedure. Full-time office cleaning (42 h/week, CHF 27/hour) reaches roughly CHF 4,900 gross per month; since this is above the CHF 22,680/year BVG threshold, mandatory pension-fund contributions also apply (risk cover from 18, retirement savings from 25), so the net deduction is closer to 10-14 %.
How much do cleaning jobs pay in Switzerland?
Cleaning jobs pay CHF 25-35 per hour in private households in 2026. Zurich, Basel and Geneva sit at the high end (CHF 30-35); rural areas pay CHF 25-28. Office and commercial cleaning on a regular contract is typically CHF 24-28/hour.
Working without a contract?
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One quick thing: where are you right now?
Disclaimer: This article serves as a general guide and does not replace legal advice. The salary values and contribution rates reflect the 2026 status. For your individual situation, we recommend contacting the relevant OASI compensation office or a legal advice centre.
Last updated: September 2026 | All information without guarantee
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