Domestic work
Domestic worker and caregiver pay in Italy 2026: minimums and net
Domestic work · · 2 min read
By Lorenzo Schiavone · calculator developer
In 2026 a live-in caregiver (badante) at level CS has a minimum of €1,193.84 gross a month, and an hourly household worker (colf) at level B €7.01 an hour. The employer takes only contributions from pay: IRPEF and local surtaxes are not withheld and are settled through the tax return, which is also where the cuneo relief and the trattamento integrativo arrive.
2026 minimums by level
Minimum pay in force from 1 January 2026. Live-in workers also receive board and lodging; live-in levels D and DS add an allowance of €207.69 a month.
| Level | Live-in, € a month | Non-live-in, € an hour |
|---|---|---|
| A | 908.10 | 6.51 |
| AS | 958.55 | 6.76 |
| B | 983.16 | 7.01 |
| BS | 1,053.39 | 7.45 |
| C | 1,123.63 | 7.86 |
| CS | 1,193.84 | 8.30 |
| D | 1,404.51 | 9.57 |
| DS | 1,474.73 | 9.97 |
Contributions: a fixed amount per hour
In domestic work INPS contributions are not a percentage but an amount for every paid hour. In 2026 the worker’s share is €0.43 an hour with effective hourly pay up to €9.61, €0.48 up to €11.70, €0.59 above; over 24 hours a week it is €0.31 for every hour. The collective agreement adds €0.02 an hour of contractual assistance.
An example: live-in caregiver, level CS
At €1,193.84 a month for 13 payments the annual gross is €15,519.92. Over 54 hours a week your contributions are €926.64: during the year you receive €14,593.28. Through the tax return, in Milan, you owe €1,401.45 of IRPEF and €179.50 of regional surtax, but receive €773.44 of cuneo relief and €1,200 of trattamento integrativo: the estimated annual net is €14,985.77. Board and lodging are not part of the calculation.
13th payment and TFR
The 13th payment is due and paid by December; there is no 14th. TFR accrues every year, equal to annual pay divided by 13.5, and is paid when the job ends.
Why filing a return matters
With nothing withheld from pay, the return is where you pay the tax due and obtain the reliefs you are entitled to. Keep the pay certificate your employer gives you each year.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a live-in caregiver earn in 2026? ▾
The minimum runs from €908.10 a month (level A) to €1,474.73 plus allowance (level DS), in addition to board and lodging.
Do caregivers pay tax? ▾
Yes, but not through the payslip: IRPEF is settled through the tax return.
Is there a 14th payment in domestic work? ▾
No. The agreement provides the 13th payment.
Sources and method
- Ministry of Labour · domestic work, minimum pay 2026
- INPS · circular 9 of 3 February 2026, contributions for domestic workers
- Domestic work collective agreement of 28 October 2025 · 13th payment, TFR and contractual assistance
- Agenzia delle Entrate · circular 4/E of 16 May 2025, dependent family members
- QuantoNetto.Com · method, sources and limits of the estimates
Each guide states the period it covers and the assumptions behind its examples. Net pay estimates flag any prior-year municipal rates. The actual monthly payslip may differ from the annual average.