DON’T MISS
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Career
Swiss news & articles
Which job sector pays the most in Switzerland?
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

Which job sector pays the most in Switzerland?

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

The best employers in Switzerland for 2025 revealed by new surveyThe best employers in Switzerland for 2025 revealed by new survey
How do working hours in Switzerland compare to the rest of Europe?How do working hours in Switzerland compare to the rest of Europe?
From salaries to working hours: What do workers in Switzerland value the most?From salaries to working hours: What do workers in Switzerland value the most?
What does it mean to be in poverty in Switzerland?What does it mean to be in poverty in Switzerland?
Salary survey reveals dramatic wage differences between Swiss and expat workersSalary survey reveals dramatic wage differences between Swiss and expat workers
In-demand jobs in Switzerland: Which roles have the highest salaries?In-demand jobs in Switzerland: Which roles have the highest salaries?
How much do you need to earn to be considered wealthy in Switzerland?How much do you need to earn to be considered wealthy in Switzerland?
Which jobs in Switzerland see the most early retirements?Which jobs in Switzerland see the most early retirements?
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usSitemapRSS feeds
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Apr 1, 2022
Jan de Boer

Editor at IamExpat Media

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

Brand new figures from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) have revealed the average salaries of people working in standard professions. The report found that some sectors pay far more than others and that jobs in Switzerland remain highly lucrative compared to the rest of Europe.

Average gross monthly wage in Switzerland is 6.555 francs

The report found that the average gross monthly wage in Switzerland is 6.555 Swiss francs. This means that workers in Switzerland benefit from some of the highest salaries and the lowest taxes in the world; good compensation perhaps for the high cost of living.

Around 10 percent of residents in Switzerland are considered to earn a “low wage” - meaning their take-home pay is less than two-thirds of the median salary, making a threshold around 4.443 Swiss francs a month. Despite the narrowing of the gender pay gap in Switzerland in recent years, two-thirds of low-income earners are women.

Banking sector has the highest salaries in Switzerland

The highest salaries in Switzerland can be found in the Swiss banking and financial sector, with an average net salary of 10.211 Swiss francs a month. The high salary is said to reflect the unsociable working hours and overtime that many in the sector have to cope with.

Rounding out the top three were workers in the pharmaceutical industry and in Swiss pharmacies (10.400 Swiss francs a month), followed by workers in IT (9.200 Swiss francs a month). The lowest-paid job sector was the personal services sector - like beauticians and hairdressers - with monthly wages of 4.211 Swiss francs before tax. 

Location and education had a large impact on Swiss wages

Wages in Switzerland are also heavily impacted by education. On average, those who attended higher education at a university or technical college were found to earn almost 2.000 Swiss francs a month more than those who completed the Swiss school system through apprenticeships or vocational training.

The FSO report also highlighted how wages change depending on where you live, with some Swiss cantons and cities offering far higher wages than others. Canton Zurich was found to have the highest median wages in the country, with Canton Ticino having the lowest.

By Jan de Boer