How much money does a person working in Engineering make in Switzerland?
Average Yearly Salary
105,000 CHF
( 8,750 CHF monthly)
LOW
33,200
CHF
AVERAGE
105,000
CHF
HIGH
221,000
CHF
All salary figures displayed here are per year except when noted otherwise.
All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.
A person working in Engineering in Switzerland typically earns around 105,000 CHF. Salaries range from 33,200 CHF (lowest average) to 221,000 CHF (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).
Salary Variance
The provided figure represents the median compensation that encompasses housing, transportation, and other perks. The salaries within the Engineering domain in Switzerland exhibit significant discrepancies across various professions. In case you seek information about the remuneration of a specific position, please refer to the salaries listed below for respective job titles.
Salaries for specific jobs
Engineering | |
3D Printing Engineer | 105,000 CHF |
Acoustics Engineer | 113,000 CHF |
Assembly Engineering Technician | 85,600 CHF |
Assistant Chief Engineer | 125,000 CHF |
|
Associate Engineer | 97,700 CHF |
AutoCAD Drafter | 67,500 CHF |
Autocad Operator | 69,600 CHF |
Automation Engineer | 116,000 CHF |
Automation Engineer | 115,000 CHF |
Avionic System Support Engineer | 109,000 CHF |
Biochemical Engineer | 101,000 CHF |
BMS Engineer | 110,000 CHF |
Bridge and Lock Tender | 63,300 CHF |
Broadcast Engineer | 110,000 CHF |
CAD Design Engineer | 111,000 CHF |
CAD Designer | 68,200 CHF |
CAE Engineer | 111,000 CHF |
Ceramics Engineer | 104,000 CHF |
Chemical Engineer | 120,000 CHF |
Civil Drafter | 67,500 CHF |
Civil Engineer | 118,000 CHF |
Civil Site Engineer | 115,000 CHF |
Civil Technician | 68,400 CHF |
Cognitive Engineer | 110,000 CHF |
Commissioning Engineer | 108,000 CHF |
Communications Engineer | 123,000 CHF |
Condition Monitoring Engineer | 96,900 CHF |
Contract Associate Engineer | 103,000 CHF |
Contract Engineer | 104,000 CHF |
Control Systems Engineer | 108,000 CHF |
Controls Engineer | 110,000 CHF |
Controls Software Engineer | 97,800 CHF |
Corrosion Engineer | 102,000 CHF |
Design Engineer | 118,000 CHF |
Director of Engineering | 235,000 CHF |
Drafter | 67,500 CHF |
Drafting Manager | 125,000 CHF |
Drilling Engineer | 114,000 CHF |
Drilling Foreman | 34,200 CHF |
Electrical Draughtsman | 54,700 CHF |
Electrical Engineer | 130,000 CHF |
Electrical Engineering Manager | 155,000 CHF |
Electromechanical Engineering Technologist | 116,000 CHF |
Electromechanical Equipment Assembler | 57,100 CHF |
Energy Engineer | 121,000 CHF |
Engine Assembler | 50,400 CHF |
Engineer | 115,000 CHF |
Engineering Account Manager | 126,000 CHF |
Engineering Chief Designer | 127,000 CHF |
Engineering Consultant | 155,000 CHF |
Engineering Key Account Manager | 166,000 CHF |
Engineering Lab Technician | 104,000 CHF |
Engineering Manager | 150,000 CHF |
Engineering Planning Manager | 163,000 CHF |
Engineering Production Manager | 206,000 CHF |
Engineering Project Analyst | 132,000 CHF |
Engineering Project Coordinator | 137,000 CHF |
Engineering Project Director | 233,000 CHF |
Engineering Project Leader | 152,000 CHF |
Engineering Project Manager | 164,000 CHF |
Engineering Research and Development Manager | 181,000 CHF |
Engineering Safety Coordinator | 91,000 CHF |
Engineering Sales Manager | 156,000 CHF |
Engineering Technician | 91,000 CHF |
Engineering Technologist | 85,700 CHF |
Environmental Engineer | 108,000 CHF |
Equipment Engineer | 102,000 CHF |
Equipment Engineering Manager | 148,000 CHF |
Estimator | 93,000 CHF |
Fabrication Specialist | 82,200 CHF |
Fabricator | 53,400 CHF |
Facade Engineer | 106,000 CHF |
Fiber Analyst | 67,900 CHF |
Field Engineer | 118,000 CHF |
Field Engineering Manager | 194,000 CHF |
Fire Engineer | 114,000 CHF |
Fitter and Turner | 36,800 CHF |
Forestry Strategic Planner | 131,000 CHF |
Generation Engineer | 116,000 CHF |
Genetic Engineer | 120,000 CHF |
Geological Engineer | 118,000 CHF |
Geotechnical Engineer | 123,000 CHF |
Heavy Equipment Mechanic | 62,900 CHF |
Highway Engineer | 117,000 CHF |
HSE Professional | 103,000 CHF |
Human Machine Interface Engineer | 101,000 CHF |
HVAC Engineer | 126,000 CHF |
HVAC Supervisor | 102,000 CHF |
Industrial Engineer | 104,000 CHF |
Industrial Engineering Technologist | 109,000 CHF |
Instrument Engineer | 107,000 CHF |
Instrument Technician | 61,800 CHF |
Instrumentation and Control Engineer | 112,000 CHF |
Instrumentation Designer | 97,000 CHF |
Instrumentation Engineer | 113,000 CHF |
Instrumentation Manager | 115,000 CHF |
Irrigation Engineer | 106,000 CHF |
Licensed Aircraft Engineer | 118,000 CHF |
Locomotive Engineer | 109,000 CHF |
Maintenance Engineer | 103,000 CHF |
Maintenance Fitter | 38,300 CHF |
Maintenance Manager | 114,000 CHF |
Manufacturing Engineer | 107,000 CHF |
Marine Engineer | 113,000 CHF |
Materials Engineer | 111,000 CHF |
Materials Researcher | 102,000 CHF |
Materials Technician | 82,600 CHF |
Mechanical and Electrical Engineer | 117,000 CHF |
Mechanical Design Engineer | 121,000 CHF |
Mechanical Designer | 98,900 CHF |
Mechanical Engineer | 122,000 CHF |
Mechanical Engineering Manager | 163,000 CHF |
Mechanical Inspector | 107,000 CHF |
Mechatronics Engineer | 120,000 CHF |
Mining Engineer | 113,000 CHF |
Nanotechnology Engineer | 115,000 CHF |
Natural Language Processing Engineer | 122,000 CHF |
Oil and Petrochemical Engineer | 129,000 CHF |
Optical Engineer | 114,000 CHF |
Optical Instrument Assembler | 59,900 CHF |
PCB Assembler | 41,300 CHF |
Photonics Engineer | 127,000 CHF |
Photonics Technician | 105,000 CHF |
Pipeline Engineer | 99,500 CHF |
Piping Designer | 59,600 CHF |
Piping Engineer | 102,000 CHF |
Planning Engineer | 119,000 CHF |
Pressure Vessel Inspector | 52,700 CHF |
Principal Cost Engineer | 118,000 CHF |
Principal Engineer | 109,000 CHF |
Principal Support Engineer | 111,000 CHF |
Process Engineer | 107,000 CHF |
Process Operator | 63,800 CHF |
Product Development Engineer | 113,000 CHF |
Product Development Technician | 84,200 CHF |
Product Engineer | 115,000 CHF |
Product Safety Engineer | 103,000 CHF |
Production Engineer | 117,000 CHF |
Project Engineer | 118,000 CHF |
Proposal Manager | 150,000 CHF |
Purchasing Engineer | 99,400 CHF |
Quality Assurance Engineer | 111,000 CHF |
Rail Engineer | 114,000 CHF |
Regional Field Engineer | 127,000 CHF |
Remote Sensing Engineer | 114,000 CHF |
Robotics Engineer | 131,000 CHF |
Robotics Technician | 95,900 CHF |
Safety Engineer | 114,000 CHF |
Safety Inspector | 86,600 CHF |
Safety Manager | 129,000 CHF |
Safety Officer | 56,500 CHF |
Sales Engineer | 119,000 CHF |
Scheduling Engineer | 105,000 CHF |
Security Engineer | 125,000 CHF |
Service Engineer | 121,000 CHF |
Smart Home Engineer | 119,000 CHF |
Solar Engineer | 117,000 CHF |
Staff Engineer | 112,000 CHF |
Static Equipment Engineer | 114,000 CHF |
Stationary Engineer | 101,000 CHF |
Stress Engineer | 110,000 CHF |
Structural Analysis Engineer | 106,000 CHF |
Structural Designer | 98,800 CHF |
Structural Engineer | 107,000 CHF |
Structural Technician | 70,800 CHF |
Subsea Engineer | 144,000 CHF |
Supply Chain Specialist | 106,000 CHF |
Surveyor | 86,300 CHF |
Technical Affairs Officer | 55,300 CHF |
Technical Assistant | 57,000 CHF |
Technical Engineer | 96,000 CHF |
Technical Support Engineer | 96,900 CHF |
Tender Engineer | 105,000 CHF |
Test Development Engineer | 115,000 CHF |
Test Engineer | 108,000 CHF |
Transportation Engineer | 110,000 CHF |
Urban Engineer | 113,000 CHF |
Validation Engineer | 101,000 CHF |
Verification Engineer | 109,000 CHF |
Wastewater Engineer | 109,000 CHF |
Wind Energy Engineer | 109,000 CHF |
Wind Energy Operations Manager | 145,000 CHF |
Wireless Engineer | 126,000 CHF |
Work Planner | 82,900 CHF |
Engineering Jobs Pay Scale and Salaries in Switzerland
Share This Chart Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/charts/switzerland/engineering/median-and-salary-distribution-yearly-switzerland-engineering.jpg Salary Structure and Pay Scale Comparison
5% of people earn
106,000 CHF or more
10% of people earn
87,800 to 106,000 CHF
20% of people earn
47,300 CHF or less
65% of people earn
47,300 to 87,800 CHF
Minimum Salary 33,200 CHF |
Median 92,400 CHF |
Maximum 221,000 CHF |
Median Salary, maximum and minimum salary, minimum wage, starting salary, and the salary range
All salary figures displayed here are per year except when noted otherwise.
Salary Range, Minimum Wage, and Starting Salary
Salaries in Engineering in Switzerland range from 33,200 CHF (starting average salary) to 221,000 CHF (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher). To clarify, the number presented is not the legally mandated minimum wage. Rather, it represents the lowest figure reported in a salary survey that involved thousands of participants and professionals from across the entire country.
Median Salary
The median income in the field of Engineering is 92,400 CHF, implying that half of the workforce in Switzerland earns less than this figure, and the other half earns more. It represents the central value of salaries. As a rule of thumb, you would prefer to be part of the group earning above the median wage, situated on the right-hand side of the salary distribution chart.
Percentiles and Salary Scale
Two values that are highly correlated with the median are the 25th and 75th percentiles. By examining the salary distribution diagram, it is possible to determine that 25% of individuals employed in Engineering in Switzerland earn less than 69,100 CHF, while 75% of them earn more. Additionally, the diagram reveals that 75% of individuals earn less than 114,000 CHF, while 25% earn more than that.
Pay Scale Structure
Data was regrouped into brackets to provide a better understanding of what salaries can be expected. This approach was deemed more accurate than relying solely on the average salary, as it offers greater insights into the distribution of salaries in the field of Engineering in Switzerland. The analysis revealed that roughly 65% of all reported salaries fell within the range of 47,300 CHF to 87,800 CHF. Approximately 20% of salaries were below the 47,300 CHF mark, while 10% ranged from 87,800 CHF to 106,000 CHF. Only 5% of individuals earned a gross salary of 106,000 CHF or higher.
Salary Comparison by Years of Experience
How does a person's salary progress over time?
Share This Chart Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/images/salary-by-experience.jpg The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally, the more years of experience the higher the wage.
Generally speaking, employees in Engineering in Switzerland having experience from two to five years earn on average 32% more than freshers and juniors across all industries and disciplines.
Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average 36% more than those with five years or less of work experience.
As you hit the ten years mark, the salary increases by 21% and an additional 14% for those who have crossed the 15 years mark.
Those figures are presented as guidelines only. The numbers become more significant if you consider one job title at a time.
Change in salary based on experience varies drastically from one location to another and depends hugely on the career field as well. The data displayed here is the combined average of many different jobs. To view accurate figures, choose a specific job title.
“ On average, a person's salary doubles their starting salary by the time they cross the 10 years* experience mark. ”
Salary Comparison By Education
How does the education level affect your salary?
Share This Chart Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/images/salary-comparison-by-education.jpg Change in salary based on education varies drastically from one location to another and depends hugely on the career field as well. The data displayed here is the combined average of multiple jobs. To view accurate figures, choose a specific job title.
It is well known that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income?
We compared the salaries of professionals at the same level but with different college degree levels across many jobs in Engineering in Switzerland, below are our findings.
Workers with a certificate or diploma earn on average 17% more than their peers who only reached the high school level.
Employees who earned a Bachelor's Degree earn 24% more than those who only managed to attain a certificate or diploma.
Professionals who attained a Master's Degree are awarded salaries that are 29% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.
Finally, PhD holders earn 23% more than Master's Degree holders on average while doing the same job.
Is a Master's degree or an MBA worth it? Should you pursue higher education?
A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in Switzerland costs anywhere from 51,800 CHF to 155,000 CHF and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.
Employees can't expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming they already have a job. In most cases, a salary review is conducted once education is completed and the degree has been attained.
Many people pursue higher education as a tactic to switch to a higher-paying job. The numbers seem to support this tactic. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.
The decision really depends on the situation and experience among many other factors. Putting all variables aside, if a person can afford the costs of higher education then the return on investment is definitely worth it. Degree costs can be recovered roughly in a year or so.
Salary and Compensation Comparison By Gender / Engineering / Switzerland
Share This Chart Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/charts/switzerland/engineering/salary-comparison-by-gender-yearly-switzerland-engineering.jpg Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? In the field of Engineering in Switzerland, the average difference between the salary of male and female employees is 4%.
Male | | 107,000 CHF |
Female | -4% | 103,000 CHF |
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value
Salary Comparison By Gender in Switzerland for all Careers
Share This Chart Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/charts/switzerland/salary-comparison-by-gender-yearly-switzerland.jpg
Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage / Engineering / Switzerland
How much are annual salary increments in Switzerland for individuals working in Engineering? How often do employees get salary raises?
Professionals working in Engineering in Switzerland are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 10% every 14 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 9% granted to employees every 15 months.
Share This Chart Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/charts/switzerland/engineering/annual-salary-increment-rate-switzerland-engineering.jpg The figures provided here are averages of numbers. Those figures should be taken as general guidelines. Salary increments will vary from person to person and depend on many factors, but your performance and contribution to the success of the organization remain the most important factors in determining how much and how often you will be granted a raise.
Switzerland / All Professions
Share This Chart Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/charts/switzerland/annual-salary-increment-rate-switzerland.jpg The term Annual Salary Increase usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rare that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one-year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.
How to calculate the salary increment percentage?
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 / Increase Frequency
“The average salary increase in one year (12 months) in Switzerland is 7%.”
Worldwide Salary Raises: All Countries and All Jobs
Share This Chart Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/images/salary-increment-world.jpg Salary Packages and Schemes
Not all compensation increases are reflected directly in the salary. Some companies offer upgraded packages to their staff instead of cash money. The figures displayed here account only for direct increments to the base salary.
Bonus and Incentive Rates / Engineering / Switzerland
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?Share This Chart Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/charts/switzerland/engineering/annual-salary-bonus-rate-switzerland-engineering.jpg
47% of surveyed staff in Engineering reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 53% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 3% to 5% of their annual salary.
Received Bonus | | 53% |
No Bonus | | 47% |
Types of Bonuses Considered
Individual Performance-Based BonusesThe most standard form of bonus, where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.
Goal-Based BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
Bonuses Are Not Commissions!
People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.
What makes a position worthy of good bonuses and a high salary?
The main two types of jobs |
Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
Example: A graphics designer working for a graphics designing company. | Example: A graphic designer in the marketing department of a hospital. |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
“Try to work for companies where your skills can generate revenue. We can't all generate revenue and that's perfectly fine.”
Bonus Comparison by Seniority Level
Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.
Hourly Average Wage / Engineering / Switzerland
50 CHF
per hour The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in Engineering in Switzerland is 50 CHF.This is the rate they get paid for every worked hour.
Hourly Wage = Annual Salary / ( 52 x 5 x 8 )
About The Hourly Pay Rate
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually, jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fixed amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.
What is the minimum hourly rate of pay?
The minimum pay rate per hour for people working in Engineering in Switzerland is 16 CHF. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.
Salary Comparison By City
Basel | 112,000 CHF |
Bern | 108,000 CHF |
Biel | 97,600 CHF |
Geneve | 114,000 CHF |
Lausanne | 110,000 CHF |
Lugano | 99,700 CHF |
Luzern | 104,000 CHF |
St. Gallen | 102,000 CHF |
Winterthur | 106,000 CHF |
Zurich | 116,000 CHF |
Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison
Where can you get paid more, working in a private company or the government? The difference between the public or government sector salaries and the private sector salaries in Switzerland is 4% on average across all career fields.
Private Sector | | 122,000 CHF |
Public Sector | +4% | 127,000 CHF |
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value
Salary Statistics and Calculation Guide
What is considered to be a good and competitive salary in Engineering in Switzerland?
A good and competitive compensation would range anywhere between 92,400 CHF and 114,000 CHF. This is a very rough estimate. Experience and education play a very huge part in the final earnings.
Gross Salary (before tax) and Net Salary (after tax)
All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.
Base / Basic Salary
The base salary for jobs in Engineering in Switzerland ranges from 33,200 CHF to 69,100 CHF. The base salary depends on many factors including experience and education. It is not easy to provide a figure with very little information, so take this range with a grain of salt.
What is the difference between the median and the average salary?
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people earn more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary