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Weekend side jobs: 10 tasks you can offer now.

Moving help, cleaning, windows, gardens, babysitting, dogs, furniture, tutoring, computers, errands. What Swiss households pay for each today, what they expect, and the three rules that apply — with a calculator for your own weekend.

Published Last updated 5 min read
Painting of a young woman in a denim jacket loading a cargo bike with a toolbox, a bucket and a potted plant on a sunny modern residential street
Saturday, 8 a.m. — a toolbox, a bucket and a plant: three jobs, one bike.
Before we start · In plain words

Ten tasks people around you pay for every weekend. None needs a diploma.

Most side income in Switzerland is not clever — it is practical. Somebody is moving, somebody’s windows are dirty, somebody needs Saturday evening off. The ten tasks below are the ones households ask for most, with what they pay today and how to start.

  1. Pick two tasks you can do well.One regular (cleaning, dog walking, tutoring) and one occasional (moving, windows, assembly). Regular pays the bills, occasional pays more per hour.
  2. Set an hourly price in the range below.Start at the lower end, raise it after the first good reviews. Never below CHF 20.35 if a family employs you.
  3. Take the first job close to home.Short travel, same neighbourhood, a client who tells the neighbours.
  4. Let the paperwork happen.Companies deduct AHV above CHF 2 500 a year, families from the first franc, and you declare it all in spring. Two short articles explain it.
01 · Three numbers

What the weekend is worth.

CHF 25–45
an hour is what private households in Switzerland pay for most hands-on tasks — cleaning, gardening, moving, repairs
knows · myky [7]
CHF 20.35
the legal minimum per hour for household staff from 5 hours a week, 2026. Below it is illegal, even on a Saturday
SECO · NAV 2026 [1]
0
permits needed for any of the ten tasks on this page. Only the AHV and tax rules apply, and they are simple
Labour Act · AHV [12]
02 · The ten tasks

What each one pays, and what to know before the first one.

Rates are what private households in Swiss cities pay directly, before AHV and tax. Agencies and platforms charge the client more and pay you less.

  • Moving helpCarrying, loading, a few hours on a Saturday morning. Teams of two are booked most.
    CHF 25–40 / h
  • CleaningRegular weekly slot, same flat, same day. The most reliable income of the ten.
    CHF 25–35 / h
  • Window cleaningSpring and autumn peaks. Bring a squeegee; the client provides the ladder.
    CHF 30–40 / h
  • Gardening, lawn, hedgesMarch to November. Mowing and weeding first, hedges when you have the tools.
    CHF 30–40 / h
  • BabysittingEvenings and weekends. Teenagers earn less, experienced sitters and nannies more.
    CHF 15–25 / h
  • Dog walkingLunchtime and weekend walks. Two dogs of the same owner pay more.
    CHF 20–30 / h
  • Furniture assemblyPriced per piece rather than per hour: CHF 40–60 for a shelf or a bed, more for a wardrobe.
    CHF 40–60 / job
  • TutoringMaths, French, English. Students charge CHF 25–40 a lesson, teachers more.
    CHF 30–45 / h
  • Computer and phone helpSetting up a new phone, printer, Wi-Fi. Often one hour, often repeat clients.
    CHF 30–50 / h
  • Shopping and errands for older peopleGroceries, pharmacy, a lift to the doctor. Reliability beats speed.
    CHF 25–35 / h

Household help averages CHF 25.80 an hour across Switzerland — CHF 27.30 in Zürich, 25.20 in Basel, 23.10 in Geneva. [10] Handyman and moving tasks were the most requested side jobs in 2026. [8]

03 · Build your weekend

Tick the tasks, set the hours, see the money.

A rough estimate from the rates above — before AHV and tax, and before you become good enough to charge more.

04 · The three rules that apply

Sunday, AHV, taxes — and nothing else.

Sunday is allowedPrivate households are outside the Labour Act, and work on your own account has no Sunday ban. Only employees of companies need a Sunday permit. [12]
AHV: the CHF 2 500 lineA company deducts AHV only if it pays you more than CHF 2 500 a year. A family deducts it from the first franc — about 6.4 % — and insures you against accidents for about CHF 100 a year. [11]
Taxes: every francThere is no tax-free allowance. Weekend money goes into your tax return like a salary, minus a flat deduction of 20 %. See Side income and taxes.

The full rule set is in Side jobs in Switzerland: what is allowed; the money side in The CHF 2 500 AHV rule, explained and Side income and taxes; who insures you in Insurance for side work.

05 · Questions people ask

Short answers.

Which side jobs can I offer at the weekend without any training?

All ten on this page: moving help, cleaning, window cleaning, gardening, babysitting, dog walking, furniture assembly, tutoring, computer help and errands for older people. None needs a permit or a diploma — only reliability and, for some, your own basic tools.

How much do side jobs pay in Switzerland?

Private households pay roughly CHF 25 to 45 an hour for hands-on tasks; cleaning averages about CHF 33 gross, garden help CHF 30–40, babysitting CHF 15–25, dog walking from CHF 20. The legal minimum for household staff from 5 hours a week is CHF 20.35 an hour (2026).

May I work on Sundays?

For a private household or on your own account: yes, without a permit. The Sunday-work ban in the Labour Act applies to employees of companies.

Do I pay AHV on weekend money?

From a company: only if it pays you more than CHF 2 500 a year. From a family: from the first franc, through the simplified procedure. Self-employed on the side: register once your income passes CHF 2 500 a year.

Is cash in hand legal?

Cash is a legal way to be paid — not declaring it is not. The family still registers you for AHV and you still declare the income in your tax return.

Painting of a dog walker with three dogs on a sunny Swiss street

Every task. One app.

Werkara connects people who need help around the house with verified taskers nearby. Register in a few minutes and get your first task this week.

Become a tasker
References

Where the rules come from.

  1. [1]
    SECO — State Secretariat for Economic Affairs — NAV Hauswirtschaft 2026 — minimum wages for household staff: CHF 20.35 (unskilled), 22.30 (4+ years), 24.55 (EFZ) per hour, from 5 hours a week. www.seco.admin.ch
  2. [2]
    myky — Stundenlohn Reinigungskräfte (March 2026) — fair gross rate CHF 29–35, average CHF 32.90. www.myky.ch
  3. [3]
    myky — Stundenlohn Gärtner — private garden helpers CHF 30–40, firms CHF 80–120. www.myky.ch
  4. [4]
    Babysitting24 — Wie viel kostet ein Babysitter — average CHF 16 an hour, nannies about CHF 25. babysitting24.ch
  5. [5]
    Petsitting24 — Was ist ein fairer Lohn — dog walking from CHF 20 an hour privately, professionals from CHF 35. petsitting24.ch
  6. [6]
    Nachhilfe-Vergleich Schweiz — Kosten Nachhilfe — student tutors CHF 25–40, trained teachers CHF 50–80 per lesson. nachhilfe-vergleich-schweiz.ch
  7. [7]
    knows.com — Stundenlohn Schweiz — cleaning, gardening, moving help and simple handyman jobs at CHF 25–50 an hour. www.knows.com
  8. [8]
    20 Minuten — Handwerk ist der gefragteste Nebenjob (2026) — most requested side-job categories. www.20min.ch
  9. [9]
    Lohncheck — Umzugshelfer — private helpers CHF 20–30 an hour. lohncheck.ch
  10. [10]
    Blick — Haushalts-Report — household help averages CHF 25.80 an hour nationally, CHF 27.30 in Zürich, 25.20 in Basel. www.blick.ch
  11. [11]
    AHV/IV information centre — Merkblatt 2.01 / 2.06 — the CHF 2 500 rule and household jobs (2026). www.ahv-iv.ch
  12. [12]
    Swiss Confederation — Labour Act (ArG), Art. 2 — private households are outside the Labour Act; Sunday work for a family needs no permit. www.fedlex.admin.ch

Checked against the sources above on 5 October 2026; figures are for 2026 and change each January. The “last updated” date at the top changes whenever a figure is refreshed. Rates are market observations from the sources above, not guarantees; your city, experience and the client’s expectations move them. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.