Salaries by Industry Switzerland 2026: Who Earns What – and Why
CHF 14,304 in the tobacco industry. CHF 4,496 at the hairdresser. In between: nearly CHF 10,000 – per month. The industry determines the salary more than education, region, or gender. Here is the complete ranking with all figures from the FSO Earnings Structure Survey 2024.
In the tobacco industry, you earn three times as much as at the hairdresser – in the same country, at the same time. The industry is the strongest salary factor in Switzerland.
Federal Statistical Office (FSO), Earnings Structure Survey 2024
📊 The Ranking: All Industries at a Glance
The Earnings Structure Survey (SES) 2024 by the Federal Statistical Office covers over 2 million employment relationships – and reveals a picture that many don't expect. It's not education that most determines salary. Not the region. Not gender. It's the industry.
Between the tobacco industry (CHF 14,304 median salary) and personal services (CHF 4,496) lies a gap of CHF 9,808 per month – that's CHF 117,696 per year. Those working in the "wrong" sector earn over 4 million francs less over an entire career than someone in the top industry. And this has little to do with individual performance – but with margins, regulation, and market power.
Those who take the Swiss median salary (CHF 7,024) as a benchmark will see: only the upper half of industries lies above it. The lower half – and these are millions of employees – earns significantly less. Particularly affected: women, part-time employees, and workers without collective agreement protection.
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💰 Top Industries: Where Switzerland Pays the Most
Four industries stand out – with median salaries that sometimes exceed double the national median. What they have in common: high margins, strong regulation or niche positioning, and a disproportionate share of highly qualified positions.
1. Tobacco Industry – CHF 14,304
+104% above medianThe surprise at the top. Not banks, not pharma – the tobacco industry pays the highest median salaries in Switzerland. The reason: extremely high margins for a regulated product that creates addiction. A few large corporations (Philip Morris International is headquartered in Lausanne), small workforces, high specialization. Additionally, the industry competes for talent with pharma and tech – and must pay accordingly.
2. Banking – CHF 10,723
+53% above medianSwitzerland's financial centre – Zurich, Geneva, Lugano – is one of the largest in the world. UBS, Credit Suisse (now part of UBS), private banks, and asset managers employ around 100,000 people. The high median reflects not only banker bonuses but also the mass of well-paid IT, compliance, and middle-office positions. For those interested in the salary of a Federal Councillor (CHF 478,000): numerous bank CEOs earn a multiple of that.
3. Pharmaceuticals – CHF 10,159
+45% above medianBasel is the pharmaceutical capital of the world. Roche and Novartis are among the largest pharmaceutical companies globally. The industry exports over CHF 90 billion annually – more than any other sector. The high salaries are explained by the enormous research effort, competition for scientists, and margins on patent-protected medications. Lab technicians and production staff also benefit from the industry effect.
4. Research & Development – CHF 9,139
+30% above medianETH Zurich, EPFL Lausanne, CERN, R&D departments of major corporations – Switzerland invests approximately 3.4% of GDP in research and development (one of the highest rates worldwide). The positions almost always require university degrees, often doctorates. Competition for talent is international, which drives salaries upward.
⚖️ Mid-Range: Solid Salaries, but No Wealth
The mid-range includes industries around the national median salary of CHF 7,024 – plus/minus CHF 1,000. This is where the broad mass of the Swiss economy works: manufacturing, trade, transport, construction. The salaries are decent but far from the top industries.
Machinery industry (CHF 7,632): Swiss precision manufacturing – from ABB to Bühler to Schindler – pays above the median. The watch industry, which technically belongs to it, sits significantly lower: watchmakers earn below the national median despite CHF 25.6 billion in exports.
Construction (CHF 6,616): Physically demanding, weather-dependent, seasonal fluctuations. The collective agreement guarantees a minimum wage of around CHF 5,200 for unskilled workers – more than in hospitality. Foremen and site managers earn well above the industry median.
Aviation (CHF 7,134): Swiss, Helvetic Airways, airport operators – the industry pays just above the median. The range, however, is enormous: pilots earn CHF 12,000+, baggage handlers under CHF 5,000.
📉 Low-Wage Industries: Where Every Second Worker Is Below the Threshold
The FSO defines "low wage" as less than 2/3 of the median salary – i.e., below approximately CHF 4,683 gross per month. In four industries, the low-wage share reaches a quarter or more. This means: hundreds of thousands of employees in Switzerland earn wages that, despite full-time work, are barely enough to live on – especially in expensive cities like Zurich or Geneva.
Retail – CHF 5,214
24.6% low wageMigros, Coop, Aldi, Lidl, Denner – Swiss retail employs over 300,000 people. Nearly a quarter earns a low wage. Particularly affected: part-time workers and cashiers. Digitalization (self-checkout, e-commerce) puts the industry under additional pressure.
Hospitality – CHF 4,744
47.8% low wageAlmost every second employee in hospitality earns a low wage. The collective agreement guarantees a minimum wage, but it ranges from CHF 3,582 to CHF 4,382 depending on qualifications. The industry has struggled with staff shortages since the pandemic – yet wages rise only slowly. Those working in hospitality can at least count on lower taxes at the tax return.
Accommodation – CHF 4,715
48.7% low wageHotels, hostels, holiday apartments – the accommodation sector pays even less than hospitality. Seasonal work, a high proportion of foreign workers, and dependence on tourism push wages down. In Ticino and mountain regions, wages are particularly low.
Personal Services – CHF 4,496
56.3% low wageHairdressers, beauticians, laundries, cleaning services – this is where the low-wage share is highest. More than one in two earns a low wage. The industry is characterized by micro-businesses, low bargaining power, and a high share of women. A hairdresser apprentice starts at around CHF 800/month, a qualified hairdresser earns a median of CHF 4,200.
56.3% low-wage share in personal services. More than one in two doesn't earn enough to pay rent in Zurich – let alone save for retirement.
Industry Salaries Quiz
2 questions – test your knowledge
1.Which industry pays the highest median salary in Switzerland?
2.What is the low-wage share in hospitality?
🎯 What Determines Your Salary: The 5 Key Factors
Your salary isn't random. Five factors determine where you land on the salary scale. The industry is the most powerful lever – stronger than anything else. Understanding this lets you negotiate more effectively or even consider switching industries.
Industry (biggest factor)
CHF 9,808 difference between top and bottom. A pharma lab technician earns more than a head chef in hospitality – solely because of the industry.
Education level
University/ETH: CHF 10,533 vs. apprenticeship: CHF 6,390. A university degree brings +65% salary. But: Swiss Advanced Professional Education (HF, FH) closes the gap to CHF 8,000–9,500.
Region
Zurich CHF 7,502 vs. Ticino CHF 5,708 – CHF 1,794 difference per month. But: the cost of living in Zurich absorbs much of that. More in the cantonal comparison.
Gender
Gender pay gap: 8.4% (FSO SES 2024) – a historic low. Women earn a median of CHF 590 less per month. Details in the salary article.
Role / hierarchy
Management vs. staff: managers earn 40–100% more depending on the industry. In finance, the leverage is greatest.
📍 Regional Differences: Where the Industry Pays Best
The 26 cantons differ not only in taxes – industry salaries also vary considerably by major region. The reason is simple: top industries are geographically concentrated. Pharma in Basel, banking in Zurich and Geneva, tobacco in French-speaking Switzerland. Those living in a region without these industries have fewer well-paid options.
Zurich (CHF 7,502) benefits from the financial centre and a concentration of tech companies (Google, Microsoft, various startups). Northwestern Switzerland (CHF 7,210) owes its second place to Basel's pharmaceutical and chemical industry. Ticino (CHF 5,708) is the only region significantly below the national median – shaped by tourism, hospitality, and the cross-border effect: Italian workers push wage levels down.
The difference between Zurich and Ticino is CHF 1,794 per month or CHF 21,528 per year. But: anyone using this figure as an argument for relocation must also compare the tax burden and rents. A 3.5-room apartment in Zurich costs a median of CHF 1,600 – in Ticino half that. The real difference shrinks.
📈 Trends 2026: Where Industry Salaries Are Headed
Nominal wages in Switzerland rose by +1.8% in 2024 – after adjusting for inflation, a real wage increase of +0.5% remained. But behind the average lie major differences between industries.
IT & Tech: Above-average growth
The IT skills shortage continues to drive salaries upward. Cybersecurity specialists, data engineers, and AI experts negotiate from a position of strength. The industry grows faster than new talent emerges – this will continue to push salaries higher in 2026.
Healthcare: Catching up due to staff shortages
The nursing initiative is showing effects: the federal government invests in training, and hospitals raise wages to retain staff. Nurses and medical practice assistants benefit – but the adjustment is slow.
Hospitality & Retail: Stagnation despite staff shortages
Paradox: the hospitality sector can barely find staff – but wages hardly rise. The reason: margins don't allow it. A restaurant with 8% profit margin cannot pay 20% higher wages. The pressure grows, but no solution is in sight.
Pandemic
Inflation surge
Catch-up effect
Real wage +0.5%
CHF 9,808 difference per month. CHF 117,696 per year. Over 4 million in a career. The industry determines the salary more than anything else.
❓ Industry Salaries Switzerland – Key Answers
Based on the FSO SES 2024 and SECO labour market data
People also ask
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All industry salaries are based on the Earnings Structure Survey (SES) 2024 by the Federal Statistical Office – Switzerland's largest salary survey covering over 2 million employment relationships. Median salaries are standardized to a 40-hour week (gross, including 13th month salary pro rata). Low-wage shares indicate the percentage of employees earning less than 2/3 of the national median salary.
If you understand industry salaries, you'll want to know this
Salaries, taxes, cantons – everything is connected
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Discussion
5 voices from the community
Diese Grafik sollte jeder Berufsberater an der Wand haben. Wer mit 18 die falsche Branche wählt... naja.
Bin Coiffeuse, eigener Salon. CHF 4'496 Median kann ich bestätigen. Nach 10 Jahren verdien ich weniger als ein Pharma-Laborant am ersten Tag 😅
Arbeite im Detailhandel, CHF 4'900. Mein Mann im Bau, CHF 5'600. Zusammen kommen wir knapp über die Runden mit 2 Kindern. Krankenkasse allein kostet uns 1'400 im Monat.
Habt ihr die Prämienverbilligung geprüft? Bei eurem Einkommen könnte ein Anspruch bestehen. Mehr dazu in unserem Krankenkassen-Artikel.
12 Jahre Pharma und wusste nicht dass Tabak noch besser zahlt. Allerdings gibts dort nur wenige tausend Jobs in der ganzen Schweiz.
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Economy · 23.03.2026