Cleaning, ironing, cooking: a varied workload
A domestic worker cleans, irons, does the shopping, prepares meals and sometimes looks after laundry or pets. In Lausanne or Zurich, many work a few hours a week in several homes, while others work full time in a single residence.
When the federal standard contract applies
The federal standard employment contract (CTT) for domestic work covers private households throughout Switzerland except Geneva, once the work averages about five hours a week for the same employer. Its minimum wages cannot be reduced by an individual agreement.
The three hourly minimums for 2026
Without training or experience, the federal minimum is 20.35 francs gross. An AFP (Federal VET Certificate) or four years of experience gives 22.30 francs, a CFC (Federal VET Diploma) 24.55 francs. In Neuchâtel or Basel-City, the higher cantonal minimum normally applies.
Geneva's special arrangements
In Geneva, a cantonal standard contract replaces the federal text. In 2026, its first band follows the Geneva minimum wage of 24.59 francs per hour, and a CFC holder receives 25.11 francs. The cantonal labour inspectorate provides information.
AVS contributions due from the first franc
Even for a few hours, the household must register the employee with the compensation fund and pay AVS old-age, AI disability, APG income compensation and unemployment insurance contributions. For household staff, the small-earnings exemption does not apply, except for certain young people.
Geneva Chèque service and Vaud Chèque emploi
To simplify paperwork, Geneva offers the Chèque service and Vaud the Chèque emploi, which calculate contributions and produce the pay statements. These schemes also protect the employee, who is insured against accidents even when working only two hours a week.
Holidays, sickness and the hourly supplement
Like any employee, a domestic worker is entitled to four weeks of holiday a year, five until their 20th birthday. When paid by the hour, they often receive an 8.33% supplement; the contract must also cover pay during illness.
Living in: what to check
A live-in position, common in villas on the Vaud Riviera or in Graubünden, includes a room and meals. Their value is deducted from gross pay according to official scales; make sure the room offers real privacy and that rest periods are respected.
Permits: a narrow door outside the EU
European nationals can be hired as domestic workers and obtain an L or B permit. For other nationalities, work authorisations in Switzerland are reserved for qualified specialists, which in practice rules out most domestic jobs.
Private household staff of diplomats in Geneva
Private household staff employed by diplomats fall under a specific federal ordinance and receive a legitimation card from the FDFA (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs). Large private estates work differently, as described on our page on household staff in large residences.
Housekeeping AFP and CFC to move up
The AFP for housekeeping assistants takes two years and the CFC for housekeeping managers three years, combining work in a company with vocational school. These qualifications open doors to hospitals, care homes and hotels, and lead to the job of hotel housekeeper in Switzerland.
Private homes or a cleaning company
Many alternate between private families and cleaning companies, which in French-speaking Switzerland are bound by their own collective agreement. Comparing with the job of cleaning operative in Switzerland helps you choose between flexible hours and collective protection.
Finding housework hours legally
- Identify the standard contract that applies in the canton where you work, federal or Geneva, and note the hourly minimum matching your profile.
- Prepare a Swiss CV with a photo listing the tasks you master, the languages you speak and the families you have worked for.
- Ask each former employer for a work certificate or reference letter with a phone number that can be reached.
- Look for hours through licensed placement agencies, local adverts and word of mouth in your neighbourhood.
- Insist on a written contract stating hourly pay, holiday supplement, working hours and travel costs.
- Check that the employer registers you with the AVS, for example through the Chèque service, and keep all your payslips.
Minimum hourly wages for domestic workers
| Profile or item | Amount 2026 | Note |
|---|---|---|
| No qualification, federal CTT | 20.35 CHF gross/h | All cantons except Geneva |
| AFP or four years' experience, federal CTT | 22.30 CHF gross/h | All cantons except Geneva |
| CFC, federal CTT | 24.55 CHF gross/h | All cantons except Geneva |
| Geneva, first band | 24.59 CHF gross/h | CFC holder: 25.11 CHF/h |
| Basel-City and Neuchâtel | 22.20 and 21.35 CHF/h | Cantonal minimum, the more favourable rate normally applies |
| Holiday supplement | 8.33% of pay | For four weeks, when paid by the hour |
What families ask domestic workers to provide
- CV with photo and languages spoken
- Work certificates and references from families
- Identity document and residence permit
- Housekeeping AFP or CFC if you hold one
- Criminal record extract, often required for childcare
- AVS-AI insurance certificate showing your AVS number
Pitfalls when working for private households
- Agreeing to work without AVS registration to earn more net, at the risk of losing accident cover and part of your future pension.
- Accepting a flat monthly fee which, divided by the hours actually worked, falls below the hourly minimum of the standard contract.
- Paying an agency to get a job: in Switzerland, placement fees charged to workers are strictly limited, and any advance payment demanded should raise alarm.
- Coming from outside the EU on the strength of a domestic job promise: without a permit, the work is illegal and the employee has no protection.
- Not recording your hours, which makes any claim for unpaid wages to the cantonal labour inspectorate harder.
Questions domestic workers often ask
How much does a domestic worker earn per hour in 2026?
Outside Geneva, the legal minimum ranges from 20.35 to 24.55 francs gross depending on training and experience. In Geneva, it reaches 24.59 francs. Actual pay then depends on negotiation, the canton and the tasks involved, such as cooking or childcare.
Can I work for several families at the same time?
Yes, that is actually the most common situation. Each household is then a separate employer that must register you with the AVS and insure you against accidents. Your hours add up to your income, but each employment relationship follows the standard contract separately.
Can an employer provide housing instead of part of my salary?
Yes, board and lodging can form part of the salary, provided they are set out in the contract and valued according to official scales. Total pay, in kind and in cash, must not fall below the applicable minimums of the standard contract.
Do you need a CFC to become a domestic worker?
No, no diploma is required. However, the CFC for housekeeping managers or the AFP for housekeeping assistants guarantees a higher hourly minimum and opens up positions in institutions such as care homes or hospitals, which are generally better regulated.