If it is your first time looking for or changing jobs in Switzerland, it’s important to know what is considered a fair salary. Luckily, there are many different ways to check that you are getting a fair wage. Here’s what you need to know:
One of the first things new arrivals notice after moving to Switzerland is just how much higher salaries are compared to the rest of Europe. According to the latest data from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), the median gross monthly salary stands at 6.788 francs a month, or 81.456 francs a year.
This is in stark contrast to salaries in Switzerland’s neighbours. As of 2023, workers in Germany were reported to have an average gross monthly wage of just 4.479 euros (around 4.190 francs), with similarly low rates reported in Austria (4.291 euros a month), France (3.316 euros) and Italy (3.720 euros).
However, the higher salaries offered in Switzerland leave internationals and new arrivals vulnerable, as they often don’t know what a “good wage” looks like for their chosen occupation. What may seem an extremely generous wage in your home country could be an unfair salary in Zurich, especially when the cost of living is taken into account.
What’s more, wage rates vary dramatically by where you choose to live. Generally speaking, the highest salaries are offered in Canton Zurich, Zug and around Lake Geneva, while the lowest are offered in Ticino.
Therefore, it is vital that expats know what wage to demand and expect when moving to Switzerland or switching jobs. With this in mind, here’s how you can check if your wage is fair:
To give you a rough idea of what wages you can expect in Switzerland, the Federal Statistical Office offers a free salary calculator called Salarium. This uses wage data compiled by the government to show the median salary of workers across the country.
Users can filter the data via economic sector, specific occupation and location, after which the tool gives the median wage reported in the sector. However, the government notes that the programme is based on a “simplified model of the real world”, so it shouldn’t be used exclusively in salary negotiations.
Another great tool that goes into more detail is the Salary Calculator run by the Swiss Trade Union Federation. This free service allows employees to go further in depth, adding everything from job sector and occupation, location, age, level of education and time at their current employer to reveal a significantly more tailored overview of the salary you should expect.
Created in 2004, the calculator is the most widely accepted service of its kind in Switzerland. It is therefore an ideal source of reference for your next salary negotiation.
In addition, if you are set to work in a field which is governed by a collective labour agreement or CLA, the union which represents your industry will be able to provide you with information about the wages you are entitled to, and can help if it is found that you are being paid too little.
If you want the most comprehensive overview of salaries in Switzerland, then the Salary Book (Lohnbuch) published by the Office of Economic Affairs is for you. Published every year, the book lists the recommended and minimum wages of more than 9.400 different jobs in Switzerland.
The book also contains details of every collective bargaining and labour law agreement for all sectors of the economy. However, be warned that it is a hefty tome, coming in at 89 francs a copy.
With these resources, we hope that you are well on your way to securing a fair wage in Switzerland, as even though the number may seem high, it's always worth making sure it's as high as it can be.