The highest paid jobs in Switzerland revealed
By Jan de Boer
A new study from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) has revealed which jobs in Switzerland are the best paid. With median salaries continuing to rise, the report found that some industries continue to pay above and beyond others.
Median salaries in Switzerland continue to rise
According to the latest FSO data, the median salary for a full-time worker in Switzerland amounted to 6.788 francs a month before tax in 2022, totalling 81.456 francs a year. For reference, this means that 50 percent of the working population earns less than 6.788 francs a month, while the other half earn more.
The government noted that the median salary has increased consistently the last 15 years, though higher earners have seen the most benefit. In all, the lowest paid 10 percent of employees in Switzerland earned 4.487 francs a month or less in 2022, while the top 10 percent earned more than 12.178 francs.
Salary rates were also highly dependent on level of education. The Swiss median salary for bachelor graduates of university stood at 10.210 francs a month. This fell to 9.000 francs a month for those who have graduated from an institution of higher education, and 6.190 francs for those who have only completed vocational training.
Which jobs in Switzerland offer the highest salaries?
In terms of which jobs offer the highest salaries in Switzerland, the FSO found that those in the tobacco industry are best compensated for their work. In 2022, the median salary for a tobacco worker stood at 13.299 francs a month before tax.
Banking took second place in 2023, with a median salary of 10.491 francs a month. In what will be good news for those planning a move to Basel, workers at pharmaceutical companies rounded out the podium with 10.491 francs.
10 highest paid job sectors in Switzerland
In all, here are the 10 highest paying job sectors in Switzerland (in gross median salary per month):
- Tobacco industry (13.299)
- Banking (10.491)
- Pharmaceutical industry (10.296)
- Information Technology (9.412)
- Insurance (9.018)
- Scientific research and development (8.996)
- Telecommunications (8.969)
- Education (8.577)
- Public administration and defence (8.433)
- Legal and accounting services (8.146)
For more information, check out the official study.
Thumb image credit: Roman Babakin / Shutterstock.com
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Jan studied History at the University of York and Broadcast Journalism at the University of Sheffield. Though born in York, Jan has lived most of his life in Zurich and has worked as a journalist, writer and editor since 2016.
While he has plunged head-first back into life in Switzerland since returning to the country in 2020, he still enjoys a taste of home at pub quizzes and karaoke nights.Read more