Petme sitter guide · Austria

Your pet sitting side income in Austria

Vienna sitters work a quieter, more relationship-driven market than Berlin or Munich: fewer bookings, but higher repeat-rate and steadier income.

Austria's pet sitting market is smaller than Germany's but the structure of dog ownership and the cultural reliability of repeat clients makes it one of the most stable in Europe. This guide answers what new Austrian sitters need to know.

Apply to be a Petme sitter in Austria

Up to 90%

of every booking kept by the sitter

20,000

Protection Plan maximum for eligible vet costs

200k+

pet parents on the platform

4.9 / 5

average sitter rating

Earnings snapshot

What Petme sitters actually earn in Austria

You keep up to 90% of every booking one of the strongest take-home rates in the industry. The numbers below are the live rate bands in Austria. Sitters set their own price within these bands, and most active sitters earn €344 to €1,032 per month, depending on the mix of services and how many overnight stays they take.

Service	Rate range	Per
Dog walking	€10 to €20	walk
Drop-in visit	€10 to €18	visit
Pet boarding (at sitter's home)	€25 to €50	night
House sitting (at owner's home)	€35 to €60	night
Doggy day care	€20 to €40	day

Top Austria cities for sitter demand right now:

ViennaGrazLinzSalzburgInnsbruck

Ready to set up a profile and pick your rates? Start your application.

The practical side

Everything sitters in Austria need to know before signing up

Earnings are only half the picture. Below are the tax, scheduling, protection, and payout realities of running a Petme sitter profile in Austria. We've written them out the way an experienced sitter would explain them to a friend.

Cashback for high performers

Beyond the up to 90% you keep on every booking, Petme pays cashback on top. The more you sit and the stronger your reviews, the larger the cashback tier you unlock. High-performing sitters with consistent 5-star reviews and steady booking volume earn the biggest bonus. Automatic, no claim paperwork, paid out alongside your normal weekly payouts.

Apply in Austria

Protection on every booking

The Petme Protection Plan provides up to 20,000 on every reservation. Automatic on every booking. No separate purchase required. The 24/7 support team is there for emergencies, so you are never alone with a problem at 3am.

Seasonal demand

Austrian demand peaks during the July-August summer holidays, the Christmas to New Year window, and the February school break. Vienna sees the longest stretch; ski-town markets (Innsbruck, Salzburg) see a stronger February peak.

Payouts within 2 days

Petme releases your payout automatically once a booking is marked complete. The money lands in your bank account within 2 business days. No invoicing, no chasing the owner. The platform takes care of it.

Set your own schedule

Accept only the bookings you want. Pause your profile any time. There are no minimum hours and no schedule lock-in. Most Petme sitters in Austria start while holding another job and only go full time once their calendar fills naturally.

FAQ

Pet sitter questions about Austria, answered straight

These are the questions Petme sitters in Austria actually ask before signing up, and the ones they wish they had asked sooner. Each answer is specific to Austria, not a generic template.

How much do pet sitters earn in Austria?

Earnings depend on the services you offer and the hours you put in. As a worked example at Austria rates, eight dog walks a week at the lowest walk rate come to about €344 a month, and four nights of house sitting a week at the top rate to about €1032. Overnight boarding and house sitting pay the most per booking, drop-ins and walks the least. You keep up to 90% of every booking: Petme's service fee is 10-20%.

What does a typical week look like for a Petme sitter in Austria?

You set the week yourself. One example: 4 dog walks during weekday lunchtimes, 2 drop-in visits in the evenings and one overnight stay at the weekend. At the lowest Austria rates that week comes to about €95. Taking more overnight stays is the quickest way to raise it, because they pay the most per booking.

How much do dog walkers make in Austria?

Dog walking pays €10–€20 per walk on Petme. A 30-minute neighbourhood walk is typically priced near the lower end; longer walks, multi-dog walks, or walks in busy city centres command the upper end. You set your own rate when you build your profile.

How much does overnight pet boarding pay in Austria?

Boarding at the sitter's home pays €25–€50 per night, and house sitting (you stay at the owner's home) pays €35–€60 per night. Overnight care pays more per booking than any other Petme service, so a few stays a month move your income the most.

How does Petme's service fee work?

Petme takes 10-20% from each completed booking and the sitter keeps up to 90%. The fee covers payment processing, customer support, and the Petme Protection Plan for eligible vet costs.

How fast do payouts arrive in Austria?

Payouts are released automatically once a booking is marked complete in the Petme app. The money lands in your bank account within 2 business days. You don't need to invoice the owner or chase payment: the platform handles it end-to-end.

What protections do sitters get on every booking?

The Petme Protection Plan, which can contribute up to €20,000 toward eligible vet costs if something happens to the pet in your care. It is a discretionary fund, not insurance. Petme also offers 24/7 customer support so you're never left handling an emergency alone.

What do I need to start as a Petme sitter?

You need to be 18 or older, own a smartphone capable of running the app, complete ID verification, and demonstrate genuine experience around animals during your profile review. Some local rules apply for commercial-scale boarding: see the country-specific question below.

How quickly can I get my first booking?

It depends on the services you offer, your rates and how many owners near you are looking, so there is no fixed wait. What you control is the profile owners choose from: at least 4 clear photos, a written bio, clear service descriptions and rates in line with Austria. Opening your calendar over school holidays and Christmas, when owners travel, puts you in front of more requests.

Can I pet sit alongside my regular job?

Yes. You set your own availability and accept only the bookings that fit, so sitting in Austria can run alongside a full-time job: dog walks fit lunchtime windows, drop-in visits fit evenings, and weekend boarding fits around a Monday-to-Friday week.

What are the busiest cities for pet sitting in Austria?

Vienna dominates by booking volume, followed by Graz, Linz, and Salzburg. Innsbruck is smaller but reliable, especially during ski season.

Do I need a trade licence for pet sitting in Austria?

For regular pet sitting income, yes. Pet sitting is a non-regulated trade (no professional exam needed). Register at your local district authority; the process takes a few weeks.

Do I need to declare pet sitting income for tax in Austria?

Yes. Income tax is filed annually through the tax office. Social insurance goes through the self-employed insurance fund. Expenses are deductible.

How does pet sitting in Austria compare to gig delivery?

Lieferando and Mjam riders in Vienna report €10-13 per hour after costs. Petme pet sitting clears €13-19 per hour, with overnight boarding pushing the average higher.

What is the going rate for boarding in Vienna vs Graz?

Vienna sits at €30-50 per night, Graz at €25-42, Linz at €25-40. Salzburg sees a small ski-season premium in January and February.

When is the busiest season for pet sitters in Austria?

The July-August summer holidays, Christmas to New Year, and the February school break drive the main peaks. The Whit weekend in spring also delivers a reliable bump.

Is pet sitting more profitable than retail or service jobs in Austria?

Yes for most sitters. Austrian minimum wage equivalents in retail and hospitality sit at €11-13 per hour. Petme dog walkers in Vienna clear €13-19 per hour effectively, and boarders earn higher.

How does pet sitting in Austria differ from Germany?

Rates are similar in euros but Austria has a smaller, more relationship-driven market. Austrian sitters report higher repeat-client rates than their German equivalents. The Austrian trade licence process is slightly more bureaucratic than the German business registration.

What is it like sitting for popular Austrian dog breeds?

Labradors, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Dachshunds, and Australian Shepherds dominate Austrian Petme bookings. Bernese need cool spaces in summer. Dachshunds need stair protection. Working breeds want real outdoor time.

What is one thing Austrian sitters wish they knew before starting?

"Do not underprice in your first month. Vienna owners are loyal: once they pick you they stay, so set your rate where you want it to be in year two, not just at signup." (Anna H., Vienna)

Where do I go to apply as a pet sitter in Austria?

Go to petme.social/austria/become-a-pet-sitter. The form covers your experience and the services you want to offer, and once you pass identity verification your profile is visible to owners searching in your area.

Ready when you are

Apply to become a Petme pet sitter in Austria

The full apply page has the signup form, service-by-service rate setting, and ID verification flow.

Start your application