Swiss household employment
Municipal minimum wage: cities that go above their canton
Also written: Kommunaler Mindestlohn · Salaire minimum communal · Salario minimo comunale
Which Swiss cities have their own minimum wage?
Three cities set a minimum wage above the rules of their canton: Zurich and Winterthur, voted in by their residents in 2023 and upheld by the Federal Supreme Court on 12 May 2026, and Lucerne, in force since 1 January 2026. Each applies to work performed within the city's territory, whoever the employer is and wherever the worker lives.
What it means if you employ someone at home
The canton of Zurich sets no minimum wage of its own, so inside the city of Zurich or Winterthur the municipal rate is the only statutory floor there is. Helpore applies it to every contract at a city address. For Zurich and Winterthur the cities have not yet announced the start date; Helpore applies the rate already, because a floor applied early can only raise a wage.
You are the employer. With Helpore Admin, Helpore prepares a contract if you want one and, under your signed power of attorney, files the declarations and produces the payslip in your name; with Admin Light, Helpore prepares the maths and the documents and you file and pay. Both are optional. You stay the employer in every case and can also do all of this yourself.
The numbers
The 2026 hourly rates:
- City of Zurich statutory minimum wage, start date pending
- CHF 23.90 / hour
- Winterthur statutory minimum wage, start date pending
- CHF 23.00 / hour
- City of Lucerne statutory minimum wage
- CHF 22.75 / hour
Common questions
Is the Zurich minimum wage in force yet?
The court has confirmed it is valid law. The city has said it will announce the date it takes effect with at least six months' notice. Helpore does not wait for that date.
I live in the city but the household is outside it. Which rule applies?
The address where the work is done. A household in Dübendorf is outside the city of Zurich even though it is minutes away.