Here’s the deal
- There are three figures: net pay (what arrives), gross pay (what's agreed), and your employer costs (gross plus contributions).
- For a mini-job, gross is usually the same as net, because the employer pays a flat-rate tax. Exception: the pension insurance employee share of 13.6 %, unless the worker opts out.
- From 603 € a month the job becomes subject to social security, and then net pay is below gross.
- What counts for you is the employer gross: the wage plus around 14.6 % (mini-job) or around 21 % (subject to social security).
"Is that €16 gross or net?" is one of the first questions asked when hiring, and it’s also one of the most common sources of confusion. Three different figures are usually mixed up. We break them down to show you exactly what your domestic helper receives and what you actually pay.
What is the difference between gross and net?
Gross pay is the agreed-upon wage before any deductions. Net pay is the amount that actually lands in your domestic helper's pocket. On top of that, there is a third figure that is often overlooked: your total employer costs, which consist of the gross wage plus the additional contributions you pay. The wages in the quitt Household Help Report 2026, for example €16.86 for a cleaner, are gross figures.
Tip: Always agree on a gross wage with your domestic helper, not a net one. The net wage depends on tax brackets and exemptions, which can change. By agreeing on a gross wage, both sides know exactly where they stand from the start.
What is the net pay for a mini-job?
For a mini-job, gross pay is usually the same as net pay. This is due to flat-rate taxation: instead of calculating and withholding income tax individually for the domestic helper, the employer pays a fixed flat-rate tax of 2% (part of the roughly 14.6% in total contributions) to the Minijob-Zentrale. This settles the tax on the wages. Consequently, no income tax is deducted from the domestic helper, and they receive the full agreed-upon amount.
There is one exception: pension insurance. Mini-jobbers are subject to pension insurance and pay an employee share of 13.6%. On €400 gross, that is €54.40 per month, leaving €345.60 net. Anyone who opts out of compulsory pension insurance receives the full €400 net, but they forgo building up pension entitlements.
What is the net pay for employment subject to social security?
Once earnings exceed €603 per month, the job becomes subject to social security. At this point, social security contributions apply to the domestic helper (initially reduced in the transition zone) and, depending on the tax bracket, income tax. The net pay is therefore lower than the gross pay.
The amount of income tax depends on the tax bracket. In tax bracket I, the most common case, no income tax is applied up to approximately €1,350 gross per month, after which it rises gradually. If the job is a second job (tax bracket VI), income tax is due from the very first euro.
A rough example: on €1,000 gross in tax bracket I, after reduced social security contributions, about €850 net remains, as no income tax is due at this level. For details on which deductions apply, see What payroll deductions apply to a domestic helper?, and for information on when a mini-job ends and a midi-job begins, see Mini-job or midi-job. The exact net figures for your specific case can be found using the wage cost calculator.
What is the total cost of a gross wage to the employer?
What matters to you as an employer is the employer gross: the gross wage plus your contributions. For a mini-job, this is around 14.6%. At €16.86 per hour, that is an additional €2.46, bringing the total to €19.32 per hour. For employment subject to social security contributions, this rises to around 21%, meaning an additional €3.54 on top of €16.86, for a total of €20.40 per hour.
A monthly example for a mini-job at €400 gross: plus 14.6% (€58.40) results in €458.40 in employer costs. For a detailed breakdown of the costs, see How much does a cleaner cost?
What does quitt handle for me?
quitt calculates the gross, net, and employer costs, deducts the correct contributions, and handles all payments accurately. You simply enter the key details, and quitt takes care of registration, payroll, and insurance. You remain the employer and decide who you hire and what you pay them.
Found a household helper? Start the registration and quitt handles the rest. You can see what the service costs on the pricing page.
Work out your costs in 30 seconds
The free wage cost calculator shows you gross, net and employer costs for your household help, with no obligation and right away.
