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Caregiver salary calculator Switzerland

Gross, net and total cost of your caregiver: hourly or live-in.

What does a caregiver really cost you? Net for her, total cost for you: exact for your canton, including salary in kind, BVG and presence time.

AHV/ALV/UVG/FAK rates 2026 · No registration required

Example: 24h care in Zurich

4'500+990Cash wage per monthCHF 4'500Board & lodging (salary in kind)+ CHF 990AHV-relevant gross wage= CHF 5'490
To the calculator
Official data 2026Source: BSV + SVA Zürich
Examples:

Gross wage (AHV-relevant) / month

CHF 5'490.00

incl. salary in kind CHF 990

Net to the caregiver

CHF 4'813.65

of which CHF 990 as board & lodging, rest in cash

Total employer cost

CHF 6'191.63

incl. Clino CHF 19.90/mo

Typical for 24h care: CHF 3'500 to 5'500 gross (cash wage, excluding board & lodging).

42 h
0 h

Compensated at +25% per the SECO model NAV; fix the exact rate in the contract.

45

Determines the BVG contribution rate (7–18%).

Board & lodging = salary in kind, CHF 990/monthCHF 4'500.00 + 990.00

If the caregiver lives in the household, meals and lodging count as salary in kind at the official AHV rate of CHF 33/day: breakfast 3.50, lunch 10, dinner 8, lodging 11.50. These CHF 990/month are ADDED to the cash wage for AHV and social insurance purposes, but they are not paid out in cash.

Cash wage per monthCHF 4'500.00Salary in kind (board & lodging)+ CHF 990.00AHV-relevant gross wageCHF 5'490.00

CHF 33/day = breakfast 3.50 + lunch 10.00 + dinner 8.00 + lodging 11.50.

Where does your employer franc go?

Breakdown of the monthly total cost CHF 6'191.63

  • Net in cashCHF 3'823.65 · 61.8%
  • Board and lodgingCHF 990.00 · 16.0%
  • Caregiver deductionsCHF 676.36 · 10.9%
  • Employer contributionsCHF 681.73 · 11.0%
  • Clino flat feeCHF 19.90 · 0.3%

Annual projection (Zürich)

Gross wage / year

CHF 65'880.00

Net wage / year

CHF 57'763.74

Total cost / year

CHF 74'299.50

FAK rate Zürich: 1.02% · UVG-NBU active (≥ 8 h/week) · FSIO/Suva rates 2026

BVG (pension fund) is mandatory here

The annual wage exceeds CHF 22'680; occupational pension (2nd pillar) is mandatory and already included in the net / employer cost above. For a live-in caregiver this is practically always the case.

Simplified procedure? Not available here.

The annual wage exceeds CHF 22'680; the simplified settlement procedure is therefore excluded. Registration runs through the ordinary procedure with individual withholding tax. Clino detects the threshold automatically and handles the ordinary settlement for you.

You know the numbers. Clino prepares the paperwork.

Contract, AHV registration, payslips with salary in kind and withholding tax: all for CHF 19.90/month.

CHF 19.90/moFixed priceSwiss provider
Start for free →Or create the employment contract first: free, no account

Are you the caregiver?

Send us your result on WhatsApp and we will tell you whether the numbers are right. Or check your rights: minimum wage, vacation, board & lodging on the payslip.

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How much does a caregiver earn in Switzerland?

A live-in caregiver typically earns CHF 3'500 to 5'500 gross cash wage per month, plus board & lodging (CHF 990/month salary in kind).

Cash wage (gross) CHF 3'500

Total family cost CHF 5'037/ month

2'977
990
523
547

Cash wage (gross) CHF 4'500

Total family cost CHF 6'192/ month

3'824
990
676
702

Cash wage (gross) CHF 5'500

Total family cost CHF 7'346/ month

4'670
990
830
856
  • Cash in her hand
  • Board and lodging
  • Caregiver deductions
  • Employer contributions

Assumptions: live-in, 42 hours/week, age 45, BVG included, no 13th-month salary, no night presence. Net before individual withholding tax. Family cost includes the Clino flat fee of CHF 19.90/month. Calculated for the canton of Zurich. AHV/ALV/UVG/FAK rates 2026.

The minimum wage for caregivers (federal NAV for domestic work)

CHF 20.35/h

Without training

CHF 22.30/h

At least 4 years of experience or EBA

CHF 24.55/h

EFZ or 3-year apprenticeship

Gross minimums valid across Switzerland. If your canton has a higher minimum wage, the higher one counts.

What do gross, net and employer cost mean?

Example: 24h care in Zurich · CHF 4'500 cash wage (gross)

  1. Total cost to the family

    CHF 6'192

    Gross wage plus your contributions: what the care really costs you.

  2. − Employer contributions + Clino flat fee

    − CHF 702

  3. = Gross subject to AHV

    CHF 5'490

    The wage before any deductions.

  4. − Caregiver deductions

    − CHF 676

  5. = Caregiver net

    CHF 4'814

    Gross minus the caregiver's deductions.

  6. − Board and lodging

    − CHF 990

  7. = Cash in her hand

    CHF 3'824

Presence time and 13th-month salary. Night on-call is not free time: it must be compensated.

The detail behind each block
1

Gross wage (AHV-relevant)

For a live-in caregiver, board & lodging is mandatorily part of it: CHF 990/month salary in kind (official AHV rate CHF 33/day), even though it is not paid in cash.

2

Net wage (what the caregiver receives)

Deducted are AHV/IV/EO 5.3%, ALV 1.1%, from 8 hours/week UVG-NBU 1.432%, and in the simplified procedure the flat 5% withholding tax. In cash she receives the net minus the CHF 990 board & lodging.

3

Total employer cost

Added are AHV/IV/EO 5.3%, ALV 1.1%, UVG-BU 0.5%, FAK depending on the canton, above CHF 22'680/year the employer half of BVG, plus the Clino flat fee of CHF 19.90/month.

4

Presence time and 13th-month salary

The calculator uses +25% on the hourly rate (SECO model NAV for 24h care); you fix the exact rate in the contract. The 13th-month salary is optional but common.

For the family and for the caregiver

Are you the family?

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Contract, AHV registration, UVG, BVG and payslips with salary in kind: Clino prepares everything and reminds you of every deadline. Flat CHF 19.90/month.

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Do you work as a caregiver?

Know your rights and your numbers

Minimum wage, paid vacation, board & lodging on the payslip, accident insurance: check that your job is properly set up and stand up for yourself.

A question about your case? Message us on WhatsApp

Wage, contract or registration questions: a real person answers, usually the same day. For families and caregivers alike.

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Frequently asked questions

How is a caregiver's net wage calculated in Switzerland?
From the AHV-relevant gross wage, AHV/IV/EO (5.3%), ALV (1.1%) and, above 8 hours/week, UVG-NBU (1.432%) are deducted; in the simplified procedure the flat 5% withholding tax is added. For a live-in caregiver, the salary in kind for board & lodging (CHF 990/month) also counts towards the AHV-relevant wage, but it is not paid out in cash.
What does 24h care in a private household really cost?
Typically CHF 3'500 to 5'500 gross cash wage per month. On top come the salary in kind for board & lodging (CHF 990/month), the employer contributions (AHV/IV/EO 5.3%, ALV 1.1%, UVG-BU approx. 0.5%, FAK depending on the canton), roughly 8 to 12% on the gross wage, plus usually the employer half of BVG and the Clino flat fee of CHF 19.90/month. The calculator above shows you the exact figures for your canton.
Do board & lodging count as wage?
Yes. If the caregiver lives in the household, meals and lodging count as salary in kind at the official AHV rate of CHF 33/day, i.e. CHF 990/month (breakfast 3.50, lunch 10, dinner 8, lodging 11.50). This amount is added to the cash wage for AHV and social insurance purposes and belongs on the payslip.
Do I have to pay for presence time (night on-call)?
Yes. The SECO model NAV for 24h care requires presence time, i.e. the time during which the caregiver is present in the household and on call, to be compensated. You set the amount in the employment contract; the calculator above uses a +25% supplement on the hourly rate for presence hours.
Can I settle a caregiver via the simplified procedure?
Only up to CHF 22'680 gross wage per year and person. A live-in caregiver is practically always above this; registration then runs through the ordinary procedure with individual withholding tax, and BVG (pension fund) is also mandatory from this annual wage and from age 25. Clino detects the threshold automatically and prepares the ordinary procedure for you.
What is the minimum wage for a caregiver in Switzerland?
The federal standard employment contract (NAV) for domestic work sets gross hourly minimums: CHF 20.35 without training, CHF 22.30 with at least 4 years of experience or a 2-year federal certificate (EBA), CHF 24.55 with an EFZ or a 3-year apprenticeship. They also apply to live-in caregivers; where a higher cantonal minimum wage exists, that one applies. Board & lodging counts as salary in kind (CHF 990/month) and belongs on the payslip.
How is night care paid?
It depends on the night. Hours in which the caregiver actively works are normal working time and must be paid in full. Hours in which she sleeps in the household but must remain on call are presence time: the SECO model NAV for 24h care requires it to be compensated, and the calculator above uses a +25% supplement on the hourly rate. You fix the exact rate in the employment contract.
I work as a caregiver: how do I check whether my wage is correct?
Enter your hours and your gross wage in the calculator above: you immediately see your net and the contributions the family has to settle. Then check three things: your hourly wage is not below the NAV minimum, board & lodging appears as salary in kind (CHF 990/month) on the payslip, and you receive a payslip every month. If something does not add up, message us on WhatsApp: we help you figure out whether everything is correct.

Sources for this calculator:

  • FSIO, AHV/IV/EO and ALV contribution rates 2026: bsv.admin.ch
  • AHV/IV. Leaflet 2.06 Domestic work (salary in kind board & lodging CHF 33/day i.e. CHF 990/month): ahv-iv.ch
  • Suva, UVG premiums domestic work (VAVplus): suva.ch
  • SECO, standard employment contracts domestic work and model NAV 24h care: seco.admin.ch

Learn more

Hire a Senior Caregiver in Switzerland - Guide 2026

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Payslip for Household Workers: Template & Guide

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Withholding Tax for Household Employees

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Accident Insurance (UVG) for Household Employees

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Caregiver Salary Switzerland 2026: CHF 20.35–24.55/h

Read article→
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