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Are you wondering what the current median salary in Switzerland is and what salary you can expect?
In the workplace and in families, people unfortunately rarely talk openly about money and their own salary. In this article, you will therefore gain valuable insights into the median salary in Switzerland by age and gender. You will also be given a median salary calculator to help you categorise your Swiss salary.
As a bonus, you'll even get 3 important tips on how to increase your median salary across Switzerland! But first, let's take a look at where you stand with your current salary compared to the median salary in Switzerland.
Where do you stand with your current salary? With just one click, you can calculate the comparison to the median salary. Use the combination of orientation within the income distribution and median salary calculator.
According to the FSO, the upper class earns at least 150% more than the Swiss middle class and thus starts at a gross 10,128 francs per month.
Notice:
If someone earns exactly the median wage, the person is exactly at the median in the income distribution. This means that 50% of the income earners earn less and 50% earn more than this person. The median is a statistical value that indicates exactly this point in the distribution.
However: The graphic above shows how unsymmetrical dthe income distribution in Switzerland is. If someone earns exactly the median wage, this does not mean that this person is in the centre of the income distribution.
The median therefore does not reflect the density and distribution of salaries. The number of "Upper X%" in the calculator indicates this inequality.
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Have you ever wondered what the median salary in Switzerland is by age and gender?
The latest study by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) from 2024 shows that the median salary in Switzerland in 2022 was CHF 6,788 gross per month, which equates to an annual salary of CHF 81,456.
And as far as the breakdown of the median wage by age is concerned, Swiss workers earn in the Age from 30 - 39 years median around CHF 6,600 per month (women and men combined, each for a full-time position).
Below you will find more detailed examples of the median salary in Switzerland by gender and age (data from the Swiss Salary Structure Survey 2022):
Of course, these figures can vary depending on your industry and experience, but they can still be a useful reference for your next salary negotiation. If you want to orientate yourself even more precisely to get a better idea of the income distribution in Switzerland, use the median salary calculator above.
Frequently asked question: What is the median salary in Zurich? In 2022, the median salary in the city of Zurich was CHF 8,127 gross per month, slightly higher than in the canton of Zurich and also higher than the Swiss median salary.
Source: Federal Statistical Office (as at 2022)
Wage differences in Switzerland are considerable depending on the sector. Our salary table shows the median monthly salary in various sectors for 2022.
| Branch | Median monthly salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| Tobacco industry | 13'299 |
| Banking and finance | 10'491 |
| Pharma | 10'296 |
| IT | 9'412 |
| Insurances | 9'018 |
| Teaching and education | 8'809 |
| Public administration | 8'433 |
| Machinery industry | 7'245 |
| Building trade | 6'410 |
| Retail trade | 5'095 |
| Gastronomy | 4'601 |
| Hotel industry | 4'572 |
The differences between individual sectors are clearly evident. For example, wages in Switzerland in the tobacco industry or in the financial sector are around two to three times higher than in the catering or hotel industry.
The Swiss median salary and the Swiss gross salary differ significantly. The unequal distribution of income that we saw earlier often leads to distorted impressions of salaries in Switzerland.
The Median is therefore a meaningful value that indicates the arithmetical centre. The average salary in Switzerland is heavily distorted by very high salaries.
An illustrative example?
Imagine you are on a hike in the Swiss Alps with a group of people. The median is like the hiker who walks right in the middle of the group. Whether some are very fast or very slow, this hiker in the middle always stays in the same place, right between the fastest and slowest.
The average speed is like adding up the speed of all the walkers and then dividing by their number. If a few people run and others stroll, this will affect the average speed. A few very fast walkers will raise the average, while many slow walkers will lower the average.
If you convert the gross median salary of CHF 6,788 to a 40-hour working week, you get a average hourly wage of CHF 42.43.
However, part-time work and other factors distort such a calculation.
According to the Federal Statistical Office, the middle class ranges from 70% to 150% in relation to the median salary across Switzerland. With a median salary of CHF 6,788, the middle class therefore ranges from CHF 4,752 to CHF 10,182 gross per month.
By the way, readers have repeatedly asked what a typical, average wage is throughout Switzerland. Here we are talking about exactly this data, or the median wage is the more correct figure, by the way.
Also frequently asked: Median salary Zurich. According to zh.ch, the median salary in the canton of Zurich is currently around CHF 7,114 per month.
You are right in your assumption that income plays a big role. But don't underestimate that how much you have left at the end of the month depends on your money habits.
In Switzerland, there are many so-called HENRYs (High Earner Not Rich Yet), i.e. people who earn a lot but also spend far too much, invest and save far too little and therefore have no money on the side in the long term despite a high income.
If you earn at least a middle-class income but do not yet have a high net worth, I heartily recommend the FinanceTimetable!
But what if you're earning really badly and want to increase your income? Then I have 3 tips for you here for a better result in your comparison with the median salary by age with your colleagues:
In order to improve your negotiating position, it is important to constantly to further your education in your field of expertise and be among the best. By broadening your expertise, you can not only acquire trusted expertise, but also Confident in the next salary negotiation go.
And who knows, maybe you can even start your own business.
But not only your technical knowledge is important in the workplace, but also your ability to express yourself and argue. The author Jack Nasher has written entertaining and very helpful books (also available as audiobooks).
"Intelligent people learn from the mistakes of others".
We have compiled our top selection for you from all our tests and experience reports:
In many cultures, the topic of money is taboo and even in Switzerland we are not exactly world champions when it comes to talking openly about money. However, it can be very helpful to discuss your salary with colleagues and friends.
This way you can not only get a better orientation, but also find out if you are paid fairly compared to other colleagues. You will be surprised what your colleagues earn.
A tip to start the conversation? Be open about yourself and communicate honestly about your own income.
Time and again, studies show that the majority of employees have never asked for a pay rise in their lives.
This rate is particularly high for women and, depending on the country, is around a shocking 60 - 70%.
Maybe you have a particularly fair boss and he gives you inflation compensation every year without being asked and a salary increase on top. However, this boss probably does not exist.
Remember that you actually earn less every year if you don't get at least an inflationary adjustment (about +2% per year).
You can only get a drastastic salary increase if you ask for it and negotiate it skilfully. Such a salary negotiation may seem intimidating at first glance, but it is important that you are fairly remunerated for your work.
Here are 3 Negotiation tipsto increase your chances of a more successful negotiation:
"Intelligent people learn from the mistakes of others".
We have compiled our top selection for you from all our tests and experience reports:
Comparing your salary to the Swiss median wage or average hourly wage can be interesting, but is only of limited use. This is because it is often less relevant how high your income is, but much more important what you make of it.
Are you saving enough for short-term savings goals? attractive interest rate accounts? Do you have a Plan for your investments? Do you have a Financial plan for the coming year?
The linked articles give you more important tips for your finances. However, the best way to get more out of your money is to Free Wealth Letters. Here you will receive very useful and helpful financial tips in your email inbox every week.
Any questions? Feel free to share your views on the median wage in the comments.
By the way, here you can find out how high the Median wealth in Switzerland is up to date.
Eric is the founder of Schwiizerfranke.com and certified IAF wealth advisor. Since 2019, he has been helping Swiss citizens to organise their finances comprehensibly, independently and efficiently.
📌 Note: This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute personalised investment advice.
Good day
An interesting site in itself, but does the computer seem to be confused?
- The bars are labelled several times with gross and net wages, so which is it?
- If you set your salary to the median salary, then you have to be in the upper 50%, not in the upper 23% as in the calculator. at 4200Fr. gross or net (whatever the graph is supposed to represent now) you are in the median according to your data.
Hi Mario
If you enter the median wage, you will see in the bar chart that you are exactly at the median.
However, where you lie within the income distribution is another matter. Please read the article; this is listed below in the frequency distribution chart from the FSO 🙂
Hello, Eric,
In the article you write that CHF 6,665 is the gross median salary in Switzerland.
By definition of median, this would mean that 50% of the population earn more and 50% earn less than this amount.
But if you transfer this value to the calculator, it says "You belong to the top 23 % in Switzerland".
But that can't be right... can it? Please give me a brief explanation.
Hello Max,
Thank you very much for your thoughtfulness and the very good question!
Your understanding is correct. If someone earns exactly the median wage, they are exactly at the median in the income distribution. This means that 50% of income earners earn less and 50% earn more than this amount. The median is a statistical value that indicates exactly this point in the distribution.
However, even if someone earns exactly the median wage and is therefore in the centre of the distribution, this does not mean that the income distribution is symmetrical. The distribution can be (and is) very asymmetrical.
If someone earns exactly the median wage, this person is right in the centre of the income distribution. However, this says nothing about the shape or dispersion of the distribution, especially in relation to incomes that are significantly above the median.
As this description may not help you any further, I have added another chart from the FSO at the top of the article. There you can see that the income distribution becomes very asymmetrical as salaries increase. The figure for the "Top X%" indicates this inequality.
I hope this answer and the graphic will help you 🙂
Kind regards
Eric
The statement "You belong to the top x per cent in Switzerland" clearly refers to the number of people, not the "distribution" (of salaries) mentioned in the comment response - which "can be (and is) very asymmetrical", of course.
I don't think the confusion is on Max's part.
Hello Niko,
if the median wage is entered in the calculator, it says "you belong to the top 23% in the distribution of income in Switzerland." I guess you just missed the second part of the sentence, didn't you?
If, for example, the sentence was cut off on the mobile phone or something similar, please let us know 🙂
hello,
if i want to calculate the annual salary from the median salary, do i have to calculate x12 or x13?
With kind regards
Hello Christian,
x12 gives you the annual salary.
"By the way, readers have repeatedly asked what a typical average salary is across Switzerland. This is exactly the data we are talking about here, and the median wage is the more correct figure."
Exactly not! The median wage and the average wage are two different statistical values: in the case of the average, all wages are added together and divided by the number of wage earners; in the case of the median, the statistical distribution is balanced on both sides.
Hi Claudia,
with the Median you will get the more precise information. Am I misunderstanding you, or do we already mean the same thing? 🙂
According to your information, I already belong to the middle class. Is this designation independent of the number of children requiring support?
Do I belong to the middle class with an income of CHF 90,000 regardless of whether I have 0 or 5 children (I have 3)?
Thank you very much.
Hello Manu
according to this definition of the Federal Statistical Office, yes 🙂 this definition refers to income and has nothing to do with expenses or the number of children.
Kind regards,
Eric
Hi Eric
Have you possibly swapped gross and net in the first table/mask? The statistics seem to me to be all in gross, only up there it has net.
Hi Chris
Thanks for taking a closer look and thinking along! But I haven't been able to identify any errors yet. Do you mean the FSO graph with the green and orange bars?
This correctly gives the Gross-Wage by gender and age. Or do you mean something else?
Dear greetings
Eroc
Hi Eric
Sorry, that was very badly worded. The calculator at the top is in net, but the rest of the article then only talks about gross. The calculator shows a median of 6665 CHF net, but in the paragraph below it is 6665 CHF gross. Please correct me if that is not correct 🙂
You're right! There was a twist in it. I have now added it again below so that there is no confusion 🙂
Thank you for your advice!