Average salaries in Switzerland: what you could earn
Switzerland is considered to be the country with the highest salaries in the world. Salaries are particularly high in the Zurich region. But what does that mean for you? Comparis answers this question and many more.
29.01.2024
iStock/Marlon Trottmann
1. What is the average salary in Switzerland?
In Switzerland, the average gross salary is almost 80,000 francs per year. This is equivalent to over 85,000 euros (as at January 2024). As a comparison, this is far above the average German income of 56,334 euros (as at 2022).
Average salary in Switzerland: net salaries
In addition, there are the lower taxes in Switzerland. The net salary in Switzerland is on average about 81% of the gross salary. This also takes taxes into account.
In neighbouring Germany, your net salary is on average 62% of your gross salary. In Austria, it is 67%. This also takes taxes into account.
The median net monthly salary in Switzerland is almost 5,100 francs per month. That's a good 61,000 francs per year. The Swiss earn more than 5,450 euros per month. This amounts to approximately 65,400 euros per year (as at January 2024).
Remember: this is the median salary. This means that 50% of the population earns more than the average salary, 50% earns less.
Do you earn 60,000 euros per year in your current job? Then you can expect an annual income of 96,000 to 102,000 francs in Switzerland.
However, don’t forget to take into account the higher cost of living in Switzerland. The cost of living is approximately 43% higher in Switzerland than in Germany, for example. To maintain the same standard of living, your Swiss salary should therefore be higher than your previous salary.
Why do people earn more in Switzerland?
High Swiss salaries are often associated with high labour productivity (link in German). According to OECD data, this is the highest in the world after Iceland. Lower salary deductions also contribute to the higher salaries. Example: unlike in some countries, in Switzerland employers do not pay any contribution to your health insurance.
Is there a minimum wage in Switzerland?
There is no national statutory minimum wage in Switzerland. However, some cantons have introduced a minimum wage:
Neuchâtel: 21.09 francs per hour (from 2024)
Jura: 20 francs per hour
Geneva: 24.32 francs per hour (from 2024)
Basel City: 21.70 francs per hour (from 2024)
Ticino: depending on the industry, 19.75 francs or 20.15 francs (from 2024)
In addition, voters in the cities of Zurich and Winterthur voted in favour of a minimum wage in June 2023. However, the law is not yet in force.
In some industries, the cantonal minimum wages do not apply. Instead, there is usually a collective employment contract (CEC) with a fixed minimum wage.
2. How salaries in Switzerland are distributed between the sexes
In Switzerland, as in other European countries, there is a gender pay gap. This means that men usually earn more than women.
Positions at a company can be divided into five levels:
No managerial function: you do not manage any employees.
Bottom management: you supervise the work of others according to detailed instructions. This also includes planning and organizing work on a case-by-case basis.
Lower management: you manage a subsection of employees, or have some administrative duties. This includes responsibility for completing tasks as well as some planning and organization.
Middle management: you manage a department or have high-level administrative duties. This includes responsibility for planning and organization in a particular business area. You will also help develop long-term action plans.
Upper or senior management: you run the company or participate in its management.
What are the reasons for the gender pay gap?
Only half of the salary differences can be explained by the Federal Statistical Office:
The preferred industries of women
More frequent part-time employment for women
Job title: men are more likely to work in management positions. In addition, women are less likely to receive special payments or bonuses.
Stereotype: women often receive less pay when they have children. However, men often receive a higher salary when they are fathers.
3. Regional differences between salaries in Switzerland
According to data from the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), salaries differ depending on the region – significantly, in some cases.
Employees earn the most in the Zurich region . Here, the average monthly wage according to the FSO was 7,113 francs. Salaries range from around 6,150 francs per month for ordinary employees to around 11,475 francs per month for executives.
Median wages in the different regions in Switzerland:
| Region | Monthly wage in francs (median) | Annual salary in francs (median) |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Geneva region (Vaud, Valais, Geneva) | 6,731 | 80,772 |
| Espace Mittelland (Bern, Fribourg, Solothurn, Neuchâtel, Jura) | 6,600 | 79,200 |
| Northwestern Switzerland (Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Aargau) | 6,789 | 81,468 |
| Zurich (Zurich) | 7,113 | 85,356 |
| Eastern Switzerland (Glarus, Schaffhausen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, St. Gallen, Graubünden, Thurgau) | 6,274 | 75,288 |
| Central Switzerland (Lucerne, Uri, Schwyz, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Zug) | 6,585 | 79,020 |
| Ticino | 5,546 | 66,552 |
Source: Federal Statistical Office
4. Summary: Swiss salaries are higher – but so is the cost of living
If you move to Switzerland, you can expect a higher income than in most other countries. However, it’s important to remember that the cost of living is also significantly higher. You need more money to maintain your current standard of living in Switzerland.
More information about costs in Switzerland:
Cost of insurance in Switzerland
An important topic for foreigners is also withholding tax in Switzerland.
This article was first published on 25.08.2022
