What is the median wage in Switzerland?

The Federal Statistical Office (FSO) has revealed the gross median wage in Switzerland, as part of the 2024 Swiss Wage Structure Survey. 

Gross median wage is 7.024 Swiss francs

In 2024, the gross median salary for a full-time position in Switzerland was 7.024 Swiss francs per month, according to an FSO press release. This was 236 Swiss francs more, around 3 percent, than in 2022. Gross salary is the amount an employee earns before taxes.

32,6 percent of people working in Switzerland received bonuses in 2024, averaging 11.967 Swiss francs, a slight increase compared to 2022.

The lowest-paid 10 percent of employees in the alpine nation earned less than 4.635 Swiss francs a month. This is compared to the highest-paid 10 percent of employees who received over 12.526 Swiss francs per month.

Between 2008 and 2024, the wages of the lowest-paid employees rose 18,1 percent compared to a 16,8 percent rise for the highest-paid workers.

Wages vary by job, qualification and residence permit

The amount employees took home each month varied by industry. Sectors that had “considerably higher” wages compared to the average included research and development (9.139 Swiss francs), pharmaceuticals (10.159 Swiss francs), banking (10.723 Swiss francs) and tobacco (14.304 Swiss francs).

Employees that held a university degree received a higher gross monthly salary compared to those without. Wages also varied depending on the type of residence permit held. In jobs that require a high level of responsibility, someone with a C permit (11.966 Swiss francs) earned more than someone with a Swiss passport (10.989 Swiss francs). 

However, in roles with less responsibility, Swiss employees (6.765 Swiss francs) received, on average, more than someone with a B permit (5.421 Swiss francs) or a C permit (6.034 Swiss francs).

Swiss wages are highest in Zurich

The FSO reported that the wage gap between men and women decreased from 9,5 percent in 2022 to 8,4 percent in 2024. However, the gap widened for jobs with more responsibility and were higher up in a company.

Lastly, location also played a part in influencing how much a worker in Switzerland was paid. Those living in Zurich (7.502 Swiss francs) earned more than the national average, whereas employees in Ticino (5.708 Swiss francs) earned over 1.300 Swiss francs less.