Working as a nanny in Switzerland: what you earn (CHF 23-42 an hour) and take home
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 30-40.
Net per month
CHF 3'786
Gross per month
CHF 4'107
Your employer adds
CHF 326
Includes 8.33 % holiday supplement (4 weeks' holiday), AHV/IV/EO, ALV, accident insurance and family allowances. Above CHF 22'680 a year the ordinary procedure applies: BVG and any withholding tax at the cantonal rate are not included here.
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.
Clino is not a job agency. Looking for work: how it works →
The NAV for domestic work (at least CHF 20.35 an hour, CHF 24.55 with an EFZ) applies if you mainly do household work. If you mainly look after children, it excludes you, and the market wage counts instead, which varies by canton. Work out below what you take home.
And what do you earn babysitting?
Occasional babysitting is usually paid CHF 20 to 30 per hour, depending on city, experience and number of children. The NAV minimum wage of CHF 20.35 legally applies only from 5 hours per week with the same family; below that the wage is freely negotiated, though at least the NAV rate is fair there too.
AHV applies to babysitting too: you are liable from the first franc. Only up to the end of the year you turn 25, and only if you earn at most CHF 750 per family per year does the wage stay AHV-free. Above that, the family must register you. Without registration the UVG substitute fund still pays after an accident, but only once you can prove you worked there.
Which canton is worth it? Language, pay and living costs
Where you work as a nanny influences three things: the language (you care in the family's language), the average wage and the cost of living. Filter below by language region and sort by what matters to you.
Map of Switzerland: pay & living costs
Avg gross wage CHF/h
Canton finder: language, pay & cost of living
Compare language, average wage and cost of living. Filter by language and sort by what matters to you.
Language region
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Avg wage = average gross hourly wage in active household-help contracts (quitt, Schweizer Haushaltshilfen-Report 2026, 2025 data). Cost of living and the wage/cost score are a rough orientation (rent + price level). Job availability and the actual rent in your town can change the picture.
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. More resources for nannies, including wages by canton, your rights and a CV template, are collected on our page for nannies.
Your rights as an employed nanny
As soon as you work regularly for a family, you are an employee under the Code of Obligations. These rights apply whether you work 4 or 40 hours a week:
Written contract
You're entitled to a clear employment contract stating pay, hours and duties.
4 weeks' holiday (5 under 20)
At least 4 weeks of paid holiday per year, pro rata for part-time.
Pay when sick
If you're ill, your pay continues - depending on years of service (e.g. the Bernese scale).
Insured from hour one
Your family must insure you against work accidents (UVG) and pay AHV.
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, nanny
- 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 irregular 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. This income is not taxed again.
- 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 and no proof you ever worked. And that proof is the first thing you need for unemployment benefit or after an accident.
Example: 15 h/week at CHF 22.30/h in Zurich, simplified procedure (wages up to CHF 22'680/year). In the ordinary procedure BVG is added and tax is assessed normally.
What makes a professional nanny
Parents trust you with what matters most. Those who do more than just supervise get recommended and paid better. Here's what counts:
Safety & emergencies
Spot dangers before anything happens, and react correctly when it does.
Understanding development
Know what children need at each age - and what's normal.
Parent communication
Clarify expectations, set boundaries and act professionally.
Knowing your rights
Be fairly employed and speak confidently about pay and conditions.
Nanny & Childcare
Safety, child development and professional skills for childcare.
- ~40 min
- in your language
- PDF certificate with QR code
Introducing yourself as a nanny
Keller
online
Hello Mrs Keller, I saw your ad. I've worked as a nanny for four years, caring for children from 1 to 10 warmly and reliably, and I hold a first-aid certificate. I'm well available in the afternoons. May I introduce myself briefly?
15:05Hello! Yes, that sounds very good. Would you have time on Thursday?
15:30Gladly, Thursday works for me. See you then and thank you!
15:33Your first steps as a nanny
You don't need to know everything at once. These four steps take you from 'I love kids' to 'I work as a professional, fairly employed nanny'.
Get yourself ready
A child first-aid course and a bit of experience (siblings, babysitting, an internship) are enough to start. A certificate helps you stand out.
Find a family
Through platforms, notice boards, daycares or referrals. Be clear about what you offer: the children's ages, hours and tasks.
Agree pay and terms
Put the hourly wage, working hours, holidays and notice period in writing before you start.
Get registered
The family registers you with the compensation office and insures you. Only then are you truly protected.
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
Cash in hand means gaps in your AHV, and for unemployment benefit you have to prove the work and the wage yourself. Both sides risk back-payments. Insist on being declared.
No money up front for a job
A temp agency may not charge you anything (Art. 19 AVG). A placement agency may ask a registration fee, but its commission only once you have an employment contract (Art. 9 AVG). Anyone who wants money first for a job or a permit is not legitimate.
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
Only registration puts you into the AHV, from the first franc. You are covered for accidents even without it: then the UVG substitute fund pays and recovers the money from the household. 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 nanny CV, ready in 3 minutes
Swiss format on 1 page, with what families ask first: children's ages, languages, first aid.
- PDF in 6 languages
- Free, no account
- With a link the family uses to register you legally
How to get employed correctly
Correct employment protects you: only then are you insured, build AHV pension contributions, and have something to fall back on in a dispute. Undeclared work costs you exactly these protections.
Insist on proper registration
Many families don't know how registration works - you can raise it with them. Clino prepares the contract, payslip and registration for the family for a flat CHF 19.90 a month.
Working without a contract?
We help you for free to understand your work situation and get things sorted. Write to us or leave your details. We'll get back to you personally.
One quick thing: where are you right now?
Frequently asked questions
Do I need training to work as a nanny?
Do I have to pay taxes and AHV as a nanny?
What's the difference between a nanny, babysitter and au pair?
How much holiday am I entitled to?
Is a nanny certificate worth it?
How much does a babysitter earn in Switzerland?
Become a professional nanny - free
Learn safety, development and parent communication in 6 short modules. At the end you'll be holding your certificate.
Get employed legally, without the awkward conversation
We prepare your personal employment pack and send it to your employer in their language. Free.
+ CHF 50 for you once they pay for Clino
Create your pack (2 min)