While Swiss wages do go up with age, this trend varies considerably from one sector to another, a new government study reveals.
Wages have steadily increased in Switzerland over the past 15 years.
In 2024 (the last year for which official data is available), the median gross monthly salary for a full-time position was 7,024 francs, compared to 6,788 in 2022.
One of the factors influencing wages (other than position and professional experience) is the employee’s age.
This is what emerges from the new Swiss Earnings Structure Survey, published by the Federal Statistical Office on February 24th.
Substantial sectorial variations
The study reveals significant differences: the median monthly salary ranges from 5,570 francs for employees under 30, to 7,288 francs for people aged 30 to 49.
But by far highest earners are those aged 50 and over: their median salary is close to 8,000 francs per month in years leading up to retirement.
As is the case with wages in general, gaps between age groups can vary considerably depending on the profession.
Generally, the higher the salary, the greater the difference, and vice-versa.
Some examples
For company CEOs, senior managers, and other top executives under 30, the monthly salary is 6,505 francs, compared to 10,277 francs for those aged 30-49 – that is, a hefty increase of 58 percent.
This trend is also apparent in sectors on the lower end of the pay scale, but to a much lesser degree.
For those working in the retail sector, for instance, the increase is minimal.
From a median salary of 4,712 francs for those under 30, the pay rises to 5,058 francs for the next age group – an increase of barely 7 percent.
Another finding: women are still paid less than men
Significant wage gaps persist between men and women.
In 2024, this difference stood at 8.4 percent on average, though it sometimes reached as high as 25 percent, depending on the economic sector.
The gap is not, however, offset by how old an employee is,
On the contrary, the study found that age often exacerbates this disparity.
It is very common for women over 50 to be paid less than their male colleagues aged 30 to 49 in the same profession.
The median salary for women is 7,135 francs per month across all professions, compared to 7,471 francs for their male counterparts.
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