How much net is left from gross?
Most 24-hour caregivers in Austria work self-employed (the free trade ‘Personenbetreuung’). That means you receive your daily wage gross and pay social security and tax yourself. Here's what's left, made simple.
Two things come off your gross daily rate: the SVS contributions (your social security) and income tax. As a self-employed caregiver, both are often lower than many think — thanks to allowances and reduced contributions at the start.
From gross to net, step by step
Daily wage × care days. Example: 75 €/day × about 180 care days a year ≈ 13,500 € gross per year. (Many work in a 2-week rotation.)
Pension, health and accident insurance plus self-employment provision — together about 27 % of profit. In the first years as a new founder, reduced minimum contributions apply. In return you're fully insured (pension, doctor, hospital).
Up to about 13,000 € annual income you pay no income tax at all in Austria. Above that the rate rises in steps. There's also the Gewinnfreibetrag (15 % of profit is automatically tax-free).
With smaller incomes a large part often remains, because tax kicks in late. The higher the annual profit, the more SVS and tax take proportionally.
Rough sample calculation
For orientation only — your real figures depend on income, year and expenses.
| Gross income per year | ≈ 13.500 € |
| – SVS contributions (about 27 %, reduced at the start) | ≈ 2.700 € |
| – Income tax (small income, much tax-free) | ≈ 0–300 € |
| = Net per year (approx.) | ≈ 10.500 € |