How to Find Cleaning, Nanny & Home-Help Work in Switzerland in 2026 — Legally, On Your Own Terms

If you are looking for cleaning, nanny or home-help work in Switzerland, the demand is real and growing — Swiss households across Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Lausanne, Bern, Zug and Ticino are constantly looking for reliable cleaners, childminders and domestic help. The harder questions are where to find the right work, how to get hired, what you can fairly charge, and how to make sure every hour is declared so it actually counts towards your pension, your insurance and your future in Switzerland.

This guide answers all of that. It is written for Helpers — the people doing the work — and grounded in the 2026 Swiss rules for domestic work.

If you would rather skip the job-board grind and start on your own terms, you can create your free Helper profile and join as one of our first Founding Helpers.

Where the work is: your options in 2026

There are four common ways to find cleaning and childcare work in Switzerland, each with trade-offs:

1. Word of mouth and referrals. Still the most common route. A trusted recommendation from one family to the next is powerful — but it is slow, unpredictable, and the work is often undeclared, which leaves you unprotected.
2. Classifieds and job boards. Sites listing cleaning and nanny jobs give you volume, but you compete with many applicants, you have to vet each household yourself, and many listings are informal or cash-in-hand.
3. Cleaning and placement agencies. Agencies bring you steady work and handle some admin, but they typically take a significant cut of what you earn, and they decide your rate and schedule, not you.
4. Direct-booking platforms like Helpore. You create a profile once, set your own rate and availability, and get matched with nearby households — with the employment contract, AHV/AVS registration, accident insurance and payroll handled for you, so every hour is declared from the start.

The right choice depends on how much control you want over your rate and schedule, and how much you value being properly declared and insured.

How to get hired: a simple step-by-step

Whether you go through a platform, an agency or referrals, the way you present yourself decides how quickly you get booked.

1. Decide what you offer. Cleaning, ironing, deep cleans, childcare, elderly support, cooking, pet care? List your services clearly. Specialising (e.g. experienced nanny with first-aid) can earn more than "everything for everyone".
2. Set your area and availability. Households book the people who fit their schedule. Be specific about the regions and days you can work.
3. Write a clear, honest profile. A short introduction, your experience, languages you speak, and what makes you reliable. Swiss households value punctuality, discretion and consistency above all.
4. Gather references. Even one or two previous families willing to vouch for you make a big difference. Ask permission to list them.
5. Be reachable and responsive. Fast, polite replies win bookings. Confirm details in writing.
6. Show you work declared. Increasingly, households prefer to hire people who are properly registered — it protects them too. Being on a platform that handles AHV and insurance is a selling point, not a hurdle.

What to charge

You can never go below the legal minimum that applies to your work and canton. For most domestic work the federal standard employment contract (NAV Hauswirtschaft) sets the floor. From 1 January 2026, the gross minimum hourly wages are:

• Unskilled: CHF 20.35/hour
• Unskilled with 4+ years' domestic experience, or an EBA: CHF 22.30/hour
• Trained with an EFZ: CHF 24.55/hour

Holiday pay is added on top (commonly 8.33% for four weeks), and some cantons set higher floors — for example Geneva at CHF 24.59/hour. In practice, experienced cleaners and nannies in private households charge CHF 25–34 per hour gross, with city rates at the top of the range.

For a full breakdown of market rates and a four-step method to set your own number, read our companion guide: How much should you charge as a cleaner or nanny in Switzerland?

Working declared: AHV, insurance and a contract

This is what separates real, protected work from risky cash jobs.

• AHV/AVS social contributions. Declared domestic work is subject to AHV/AVS, and registration is mandatory once you earn CHF 750 or more per year with the same employer — regardless of how few hours you work. The employee share (around 5.3% for AHV/IV/EO plus unemployment insurance) is deducted from your gross wage, and it builds your pension.
• Accident insurance (UVG). Your employer must insure you against accidents. If something happens on the job, you are covered.
• A written contract. A clear agreement on tasks, hours, rate, notice and holiday pay protects both sides.

Sorting this out yourself for each household is a lot of paperwork. Platforms exist precisely to handle it. For the full legal picture, see our legal hiring guide for Switzerland.

Do you need a permit?

• EU/EFTA citizens benefit from freedom of movement and can take domestic work, registering with their commune if they live and work in Switzerland beyond three months.
• Third-country (non-EU/EFTA) nationals generally need a valid residence and work permit before starting a job. Permits for unskilled domestic work are limited, so check your status with the cantonal migration office first.

Never start work on the assumption a permit will "sort itself out" — being declared and being authorised to work are both essential.

How to spot a job scam

The vast majority of households are genuine, but scams exist. Walk away from any offer that:

• Asks you to pay a fee to get hired, or to "unlock" or "release" your first wage.
• Requests your bank or card details before any work is agreed.
• Pays only in untraceable cash and refuses a contract.
• Pressures you to start immediately without confirming who you are working for.
• Sounds too good to be true — far above market rates for vague, "no questions asked" work.

Legitimate work always comes with a clear contract, declared pay and an employer who registers you for AHV and accident insurance. We explain the real cost of undeclared work in Cash-in-Hand vs. Compliant Work.

The simplest legal route: find work on your own terms with Helpore

Here is where the options narrow down. If you want steady work and full control and proper protection, Helpore is built for exactly that.

• You set your own rate and choose your own availability and working areas.
• You keep 100% of your gross wage — there is no agency commission taken from your pay. The household pays a separate service fee on top, so your rate is never reduced by a cut.
• The admin is handled for you. Helpore arranges the employment contract, AHV/AVS registration, accident insurance and payroll, so every hour is declared from the first minute.
• You get matched with nearby households looking for exactly your services.
• Joining is free for Helpers. Creating a profile costs you nothing.

Helpore launches to households across Switzerland on 1 September 2026, and we are signing up our first Helpers now.

Become a Founding Helper

There are only 100 Founding Helper spots. Founding Helpers get:

• Founding status as soon as you join and are verified
• Priority placement when households start booking from September
• A welcome pack sent to your home after your first 30 booked hours

If you clean, care for children, support older people or help in the home, now is the moment to claim your spot.

• Create your free Helper profile
• Learn more about working as a Helper
• See how much to charge as a cleaner or nanny

Frequently asked questions

How do I find cleaning work in Switzerland in 2026?

You can find cleaning work through referrals, household platforms and agencies, or direct sign-up services. The fastest legal route is a platform that handles the contract, AHV/AVS registration, accident insurance and payroll for you, so you can start working declared from the first hour. On Helpore you set your own rate and availability and keep 100% of your gross wage.

Do I need a permit to work as a cleaner or nanny in Switzerland?

EU/EFTA citizens can work in domestic roles under freedom of movement, registering with the commune if they stay and work beyond three months. Non-EU/EFTA nationals generally need a valid residence and work permit before starting; permits for unskilled domestic work are limited, so check with the cantonal migration office first.

What is the minimum wage for cleaners and nannies in Switzerland in 2026?

From 1 January 2026, the federal NAV Hauswirtschaft sets gross minimums of CHF 20.35/hour (unskilled), CHF 22.30 (4+ years' experience or EBA) and CHF 24.55 (EFZ), excluding holiday pay. Some cantons set higher floors, such as Geneva at CHF 24.59/hour. Most private-household cleaners and nannies earn CHF 25–34/hour.

How can I spot a cleaning or nanny job scam?

Be cautious of any offer that asks you to pay an upfront fee, requests money to release your wage, wants bank details before work is agreed, pays only in untraceable cash, or pressures you to start without a contract. Legitimate work comes with a written contract, declared pay and AHV and accident insurance.

Does Helpore charge Helpers to find work?

No. Joining Helpore is free for Helpers and there is no commission taken from your wage. You set your own rate, choose your availability, and keep 100% of your gross pay; the household pays a separate service fee on top.

Official sources

• Federal standard employment contracts (NAV) overview: seco.admin.ch
• Federal Council communication on the NAV Hauswirtschaft wage update (effective 1 January 2026): admin.ch media release
• AHV/AVS domestic work leaflet 2.06 (2026): ahv-iv.ch/p/2.06.e
• Working in Switzerland and permits (EU/EFTA and third-country): ch.ch/en/work