You care for others.We look out for you.
Everything you need to know as a caregiver in Switzerland — pay, night shifts, board and lodging, registration. On one page.
Are you legally employed?
3 quick questions — get an instant assessment.
Do you have a written employment contract?
Do you receive a payslip every month?
Are AHV contributions deducted from your wage?
Don't have a job yet?
Find out if you can work, what you should earn, and where to apply.
Your 6 rights
What you're legally entitled to — whether you help by the hour or live with the family.
Minimum wage (federal NAV)
Federal NAV household work: min. CHF 20.35/h gross (2026), CHF 22.30 with 4+ years' experience, CHF 24.55 with EFZ diploma. Applies from 5 h/week, higher in some cantons, Geneva excluded.
Paid night presence
On-call nights aren't free time: they must be set out in your contract and compensated — in money or time off.
Paid holidays + free day
At least 4 weeks' holiday per year (5 if under 20 / over 50) — and at least one free day per week (CO art. 329).
Pay when sick
Your family must pay you even when sick (Bernese scale, etc.) — also as a live-in.
Accident insurance (UVG)
Mandatory from the first hour of work — paid by the family. From 8 h/week you're also covered in your free time.
Contract + correct board & lodging
Hours, pay, nights, room — in writing. If you live in, board and lodging count as wages: CHF 990/month (AHV rate).
A message for you
Your work carries this country.
Switzerland is getting older — and without caregivers like you, many people couldn't grow old at home. You have the same rights as any other employee: no matter where you're from, whether you help a few hours a week or are there around the clock.
What you lose by working off the books
Drag the slider — see the difference in wage, nights, insurance, pension, and housing.
CHF 30 gross, provable
Often CHF 20–25 cash, no proof
Set out in the contract and compensated
"It's just part of the job" — free, on call
UVG from hour 1, family pays
None — you pay hospital out of pocket
Full contribution years credited
0 years — up to CHF 312/month less
Board and lodging in the contract, the notice period protects you
A dispute = homeless overnight
What do you earn in your canton?
Pick your canton — we show the typical gross wage for private senior care and the legal minimum wage (where one exists).
Earning less? That's wage dumping.
Afraid to ask your family?
We get it — especially if you live with the family. Here are the three most common worries — and what actually happens.
"If I ask to be registered, I lose my job AND my room."
Firing you in retaliation for a legitimate request is abusive (CO art. 336) — you can claim up to 6 months' wages. And even if they give notice, the notice period applies: you may stay in your room until it ends and you have time to find a new position.
"I'll be reported or deported."
The AHV office does NOT routinely report registrations to migration authorities. If you have a permit (including as a circular migrant from the EU), nothing changes. If not, talk to a counselling service (Caritas, FIZ) — they know paths that don't put your safety at risk.
"The family will be overwhelmed — it'll get complicated."
Most families simply don't know how — often it's the adult children organising their parents' care on top of their own jobs. With Clino, registration takes 5 minutes and costs CHF 19.90/month. Frame it as relief, not a demand. The generator below drafts the message kindly.
What's left of your wage?
Gross vs. net in 30 seconds — by canton, with holiday pay and 13th month.
Ask your family to register you
Send a clear, friendly message — we draft it for you. WhatsApp or email.
Hi [Employer name], I wanted to ask if we can sort out the AHV registration. It's a legal requirement and protects us both — you're covered if something happens to me during care work, and I build up pension years. It's easier than it sounds: clino.ch prepares everything automatically (contract, payslip, registration). Costs CHF 19.90/month. Here's the link: https://clino.ch/en/register-caregiver?utm_source=worker_msg&utm_medium=referral Thank you! [Your name]
Tools for you
Calculators, checks, and templates — free, no signup.
Full Pension Calculator: AHV + BVG
Your whole pension in one calculator — 1st and 2nd pillar, with wage, contribution years and occupational savings.
Employment Check for Cleaners
In 2 minutes, check if you're correctly employed — contract, AHV, UVG, salary statement, withholding tax, wage.
Caregiver Salary Calculator (incl. room & board)
Gross, net and true employer cost of a caregiver — hourly or live-in, including salary in kind (room & board) and BVG.
AHV Pension Gap Calculator
Calculate how much pension you're missing from AHV gaps — monthly and over 20 years.
Contract Checker
Check your existing employment contract for gaps — what's missing, what's unlawful?
Wage Calculator (Employee View)
What's left after deductions? Net pay, holiday pay, 13th month — from the employee's perspective.
Caregiver Employment Contract Generator
Legally sound contract for private senior care — duties, presence time, room & board and emergency protocol, tailored to your household.
Holiday Entitlement Calculator
Exact holiday entitlement by age and years of service — under Swiss CO and NAV.
Notice Period Calculator
When does notice end? Last working day, continued pay obligations and legal deadlines.
Termination Letter Template
Legally compliant termination for both sides — employer and employee, ready to use.
Recommendation Letter Generator
Personal recommendation letter for your help — warm, professional, in 5 languages.
Stand out as a pro
Three free tools that set you apart from the competition.
What caregivers experience again and again
Summarised, anonymised situations caregivers in Switzerland face every day — you might recognise yourself.
"I was on call every night — but only the daytime hours were paid. Nobody told me night presence must be compensated."
"After twelve years of care work without registration, I have zero AHV years. Had I known, I'd have asked sooner."
"My senior's daughter thought registration was a bureaucratic monster. With Clino everything was done in one evening."
"I was afraid to ask because I live with the family. With the template I put it kindly — they even thanked me."
Summarised typical situations · Anonymised · Not individual interviews
More knowledge for you
Four guides that genuinely help you — free, in your language.
Hiring a caregiver: the guide
The complete hiring guide — perfect to send to your family.
Withholding tax with a B/L permit
How the flat 5% works and what appears on your payslip.
Work permit for household jobs
EU/EFTA, third countries, rotation work — which permit you need.
Your reference letter
You're entitled to one — how to read and request a good reference.
Frequently asked questions
Does my night presence count as working time?
I live with the family — how do board and lodging count?
Do I need a nursing qualification to care for seniors?
Am I entitled to a pension fund (BVG)?
Agency or private employment — what's the difference?
I'm from the EU and commute for care stints — does all this apply to me too?
Can I care for several seniors / households?
What does Clino cost me?
Create your free profile
One link, all your families, AHV-compliant — ready in 5 minutes.
Which path suits you?
Choose your situation - we'll show you the right path.
What best describes you?
Grow your skills for free — with a real certificate.
Short online courses for your job, in your language. In about 40 minutes you download a PDF certificate — and show families you mean business.
- 100% free
- In your language
- PDF certificate with QR code
Choose your course
Senior Care
Dignified care at home: safety, dementia knowledge and your boundaries.
~45 min·FreeCleaning & Household
The classic: rights, safety and pro techniques for cleaners.
~40 min·FreeNanny & Childcare
Safety, child development and professional skills for childcare.
~40 min·FreeGerman for Household Work, Level 1
The 150 words and phrases you actually need at work, explained in your language.
~40 min·FreeGet 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 when they register you
Create your pack (2 min)
Ready? First payslip in 5 minutes.
Start for free