Pet sitting in Austria: 22 questions answered for 2026 sitters

Earnings depend on the mix of services and the hours you put in. Active Petme sitters in Austria typically earn €344–€1032 per month. Sitters who lean into overnight boarding and house sitting reach the top of that range, while drop-in and dog-walking-only sitters sit in the lower half. You keep up to 90% of every booking: Petme's service fee is 10-15%.

A common pattern: 3–5 dog walks during weekday lunchtimes, 1–2 drop-in visits in the evenings, and one overnight stay across the weekend. That's roughly 12–15 hours of actual paid time per week and clears €95+ before factoring in repeat clients. Sitters who go full-time stack multiple boarding stays back-to-back.

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.

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. Boarding is where most full-time Petme sitters concentrate their income because the per-booking value is the highest.

Petme takes 10-15% from each completed booking and the sitter keeps up to 90%. There's no signup cost, no monthly subscription, and no charge to keep your profile live. The fee covers payment processing, customer support, and the Petme Protection Plan that covers every booking automatically.

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.

Every booking is covered by the Petme Protection Plan, which includes up to 20,000 in veterinary expenses if something happens to the pet in your care. It's automatic on every reservation: no separate purchase, no claim paperwork upfront. Petme also offers 24/7 customer support so you're never left handling an emergency alone.

No formal qualifications are required to apply 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.

Most new sitters in Austria go live within 24–48 hours of submitting verification. Your first booking typically lands within 1–2 weeks if your profile has at least 4 good photos, a written bio, clear service descriptions, and a competitive rate for your city. Sitters who add availability over a major holiday (Christmas, summer break) often book their first stay within days.

Yes: most Petme sitters in Austria start while working full-time elsewhere. Dog walking fits into lunchtime windows; drop-in visits work around evenings; weekend boarding stacks on top of a Monday-to-Friday office job. You set your own availability and accept only the bookings that fit your schedule.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Yes: Vienna has an active sitter WhatsApp group; Graz and Salzburg have smaller ones. We connect you after approval.

"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)

Apply at petme.social/at/become-a-pet-sitter. Verification returns within 48 hours.