What is a fair wage for a nanny?

For parents, finding a trustworthy nanny for childcare is an important issue. Those who have already found such a person should also hire them correctly and pay them fairly. But what is a fair wage? Here you can find our wage recommendations and the minimum wages for nannies in Switzerland.

Nannies have become an indispensable part of many Swiss households. A nanny, also known as a nanny or childcare worker, is responsible for the well-being and upbringing of the children and for minor household chores that are related to the children. A nanny – in contrast to a babysitter – is responsible for a foreign household for one or more days a week. A nanny study in German prepared for the city of Zurich shows: The nanny labour market is little regulated and working conditions are often precarious. It is mostly women who work as nannies. What many parents do not know: Anyone who employs a nanny for even a few hours a week in a private household for a wage automatically becomes an employer with all rights and obligations. At the latest when an employment contract is drawn up, the question arises as to how high the salary for a childcare worker in Switzerland should be.

Cantonal average wages for nannies

The following wage information is based on 4055 in quitt registered employment contracts of nannies and babysitters employed in Switzerland. These wage data is also used by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office. In the following table the wages are given as gross hourly wages. This means that the statutory deductions for social security and 5 percent withholding tax are still deducted from them. With our wage calculator for nannies, you can also have the net hourly wage calculated simply and quickly, taking into account all deductions and compulsory accident insurance.

Our infographic shows the cantonal differences in average hourly wages on quitt. Nannies earn an average of 29.30 francs per hour in Switzerland. But wages vary greatly depending on the canton.

Wage distribution of monthly wages for private childcare in Switzerland

Our partner “nannyverein.ch” also publishes non-binding wage recommendations (PDF, in German) and useful information on wage and expenses on its website as a nanny interest group.

The following graph shows the pro rata distribution of the employment contracts with real monthly wages of nannies, which are registered on quitt. The basis is a 100% full-time-employment with 42-hours per week.
About a quarter (24%) of the childcare workers registered with quitt earn between 4000 and 4500 francs per month.

Gross minimum wages for nannies in Switzerland

In Switzerland, the Standard Employment Contract for Workers in the Domestic Economy (NAV Hauswirtschaft) applies. It sets the minimum wage for domestic staff employed by private households.

The NAV Hauswirtschaft does not apply where childcare is provided only occasionally by young people (classic babysitting), or where it takes place outside the family home, for example with a childminder or at a lunchtime care scheme (Art. 2 para. 3 let. b and c NAV Hauswirtschaft).

An adult nanny on a permanent contract who works in the family’s household will not normally fall under these exceptions, and is therefore in principle subject to the NAV, regardless of whether childcare makes up most or all of her work.

The cantons of Ticino, Geneva, Neuchâtel, Jura and Basel-Stadt additionally have a cantonal minimum wage, which applies to all employees who usually work on cantonal territory. This applies to nanny employment relationships too.

• Unskilled employees without professional experience: CHF 20.35
• Unskilled employees with 4 years of professional experience in housekeeping: CHF 22.30
• Trained domestic workers with three years of basic vocational training and a Federal Certificate of Competence (EFZ): CHF 24.55
• Trained domestic worker with two years of vocational training and a professional certificate (EBA): CHF 22.30

Source: Fedlex
As of january 2026

What do you need to know about nanny wages?

Parents choose nannies for childcare because they can usually provide more comprehensive care for their children than daycare in a crèche. The nanny’s education and experience should be rewarded in the salary. A nanny with a degree as a specialist child care worker should be paid according to these guidelines. So-called “live-in nannies” live in their own room in the family home. Accommodation and meals are thus provided by the families, so there are no costs for external accommodation. Experts also speak of employment contracts with “board and lodging”. These are payments in kind and wage components. With full board and lodging, a flat rate of 990 francs is added to the gross wage. In principle, nannies who are accommodated with families in Switzerland directly on site are cheaper than nannies who have to provide their own board and lodging.

Nannies and the occupational pension scheme

Since many nannies are employed on a monthly salary due to the many hours of work per week, they must make contributions to the occupational pension scheme (2nd pillar) if their gross salary exceeds CHF 1’837.50 per month or CHF 22’050 per year. They must therefore be registered with a pension fund by the employer or their parents.

quitt offers all services needed when it comes to employing, registering and insuring your nanny in accordance with all legal requirements. quitt handles all administrative employer obligations, offers a favorable pension fund solution and provides all important documents such as the monthly pay statements and a professional employment contract. Further information about the employment of a nanny can be found here.