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Gardener and garden help in Switzerland: prices and tips

A garden helper mows the lawn, trims the hedge, weeds the beds and clears the leaves in autumn. Some people need help every week in summer, others once a season. Here you will find indicative prices with their sources, what to agree before the first visit and the AHV rules for households. On Workpop you post your gardening job for free.

If you pay someone for household work, you are usually their employer: AHV from the first franc and accident insurance. Workpop doesn’t do this for you. Guide: AHV for side jobs and household work

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Indicative prices

  • Private garden helper (household as employer)CHF 30–40 per hour

    Source: myky · As of 5 April 2026

  • Gardening companyCHF 60–100 per hour

    Source: renovero · As of 1 September 2026

Indicative prices, varying by region and provider. Legal minimum wages and social contributions may apply on top.

You set the price, in line with minimum wages.

Guide: prices and minimum wages

What garden help can include

Most garden jobs are regular upkeep: mowing, weeding, trimming hedges and shrubs, and keeping paths tidy. Others are seasonal, like planting in spring or clearing leaves in autumn. A balcony or terrace full of pots counts too.

  • Mowing the lawn and edging
  • Trimming hedges and shrubs
  • Weeding, planting and repotting
  • Raking and clearing leaves
  • Watering while you are on holiday
  • Taking green waste away

How much does a gardener cost?

Private garden helpers earn about CHF 30–40 gross per hour, according to myky (April 2026). Garden companies charge more: CHF 80–120 per hour according to myky, or CHF 60–100 per hour according to renovero (September 2026).

The price depends on the size of the garden, the tools needed and how often the helper comes. With a private helper you agree the price yourselves, in line with minimum wages. Some cantons have their own minimum wage – for example Geneva, Basel-Stadt or Ticino.

Describe the job and agree the details

Say how big the garden is, what needs doing and how often. Photos show more than words. Mention steep slopes, tall hedges or trees.

Agree who provides the tools – lawnmower, hedge trimmer, ladder – and who takes the green waste away. Rules for green waste differ by municipality: compost, green bin or recycling centre. For tall trees or work high up on a ladder, a specialist firm is often the safer choice.

Posting on Workpop is free and there is no commission. People nearby send you an offer; you can ask questions in the chat and choose at your own pace. When you agree, you both get a digital contract, and you pay the helper directly.

AHV and accident insurance for garden help

For AHV (Swiss old-age and survivors' insurance), household work also covers helpers in or around the house – for example a neighbour paid for garden work.

In general, a private household that pays someone for household work – such as cleaning, babysitting, gardening, homework help or helping older people – is their employer and must settle AHV/IV/EO contributions from the first franc.

The CHF 2'500 per year and per employer limit does not apply to work in private households. Exception: young people up to 31 December of the year they turn 25, if they earn no more than CHF 750 a year from that household.

Households must insure their staff against accidents with an approved insurer (not Suva). From 8 hours per week with the same employer, non-occupational accidents are covered too. With VAvplus, households can settle this accident insurance through their compensation office.

Workpop does not do this for you: check your obligations with your cantonal AHV compensation office.

What to agree on first

  • Tasks, garden size and how often
  • Who provides tools and machines
  • Who takes the green waste away
  • Water and power access
  • Hourly rate and how you pay
  • What happens in bad weather
  • AHV registration and accident insurance (the household's duty)

Time of year

Spring and early summer are the busiest time: the first mowing, planting and weeding. In summer, a helper can water the garden while you are away. Autumn brings leaves, hedge trimming and getting the garden ready for winter.

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Frequently asked questions

  • How much does a gardener cost per hour in Switzerland?
    As a guide, private garden helpers earn about CHF 30–40 gross per hour (myky, April 2026). Garden companies charge about CHF 60–100 per hour (renovero, September 2026) or CHF 80–120 (myky).
  • Do I have to pay AHV for a neighbour who mows my lawn?
    In general, yes. A neighbour paid for garden work counts as household work, and AHV/IV/EO contributions are due from the first franc – the CHF 2'500 limit does not apply. Exception: young people up to 31 December of the year they turn 25 who earn no more than CHF 750 a year from your household. Check with your cantonal AHV compensation office.
  • Do I need accident insurance for a garden helper?
    Yes. Households must insure their staff against accidents with an approved insurer (not Suva). From 8 hours a week with the same employer, non-occupational accidents are covered too.
  • Who takes the green waste away?
    Agree it before the first visit. Green waste rules differ by municipality, so check whether it goes on the compost, in the green bin or to the recycling centre.

Free to post, no commission: get offers and choose at your own pace. You set the price, in line with minimum wages.

Post a job: gardening