Workers lay reinforcement steel in a tunnel between Bellinzona and Lugano.
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From baker to banker, Swiss workers earn salaries that must be put into perspective.
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Like anywhere in the world, salaries in Switzerland vary depending on factors like education, experience and location. Each year, canton Zurich’s Office for Economy and LabourExternal link publishes a guide outlining salaries for nearly every profession imaginable. This year’s 800-page Lohnbuch 2017External link (in German) compiles salary data such as minimum suggested wages plus typical salary ranges based on age and experience.
You can learn more about working conditions in Switzerland in swissinfo.ch’s guide to salaries, which covers everything from pay and deductions to contracts and working hours.
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While the figures might seem high – especially in some branches – it’s important to remember that Switzerland also has a high cost of living. For example, people spend about a third of their income on rent alone.
Do software developers earn less than bus drivers?
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A recent report on Swiss salaries left many wondering whether software developers really only earn a mediocre amount compared to other professions.
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According to salary data from the Conference of Education Directors for German-speaking Switzerland, a Zurich-area upper secondary school teacher – the highest academic level besides university – can expect to earn CHF110,590 in the first year, or CHF8,506 per month under the Swiss 13-month salary system. But a teacher in the same job in neighbouring…
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