Highest Paying Jobs in Switzerland: Which Roles Are Hiring the Most in 2025?
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At a glance: The Swiss labour market remains highly dynamic in 2025, driven by a significant talent shortage across several key sectors—healthcare, finance, IT and consulting. As a result, many roles within these areas offer both strong hiring potential and some of the highest salaries in Europe.
Whether you are considering a career change, exploring new opportunities as a Swiss resident, or working cross-border from France, you may be wondering: Which jobs are the best paid in Switzerland in 2025? Given the ongoing talent shortage, several fields are actively increasing salaries to attract qualified profiles. To help you navigate these opportunities, HR Challenges has analysed the 2025 Swiss job market for you.
Our 2025 analysis of the Swiss labour market
If you’re looking for work in Switzerland, it’s helpful to start by understanding the broader employment landscape before diving into the top-paying professions.
Despite Switzerland’s global appeal and a very low unemployment rate of 2.9%, many sectors are currently facing recruitment challenges—not due to lack of interest from candidates, but because of a structured and persistent labour shortage.
This imbalance pushes employers to significantly increase compensation in order to secure the right talent. As a result, Switzerland’s median annual salary now reaches CHF 83,000, according to Wainhouse—one of the highest in Europe.
The best-paid job categories in Switzerland in 2025
With such high earning potential, it’s natural to ask which occupations stand out in 2025.
Across the country, four categories clearly dominate the ranking: finance, healthcare, technology/engineering and legal/consulting professions. Here is a detailed breakdown prepared by HR Challenges.
Finance and Banking Professions
Switzerland’s reputation in global finance is longstanding, and this reality is reflected in local compensation levels. Many of the country’s top-paying roles belong to this sector.
Chief Financial Officers (CFOs), who oversee financial strategy and investor relations, can expect annual salaries ranging from CHF 200,000 to CHF 320,000.
Bank Directors typically earn a median salary slightly above CHF 200,000, with bonus structures that can significantly increase total compensation.
In finance, it is important to note that bonuses may represent 20% to 200% of the base salary, depending on performance, department and seniority.
Healthcare Professions
Healthcare remains one of the most secure—and best compensated—sectors in Switzerland, as in many other countries. Specialist roles, however, stand out far above the average.
Surgeons, including neurosurgeons, can earn between CHF 300,000 and CHF 800,000 annually.
Orthodontists also rank among the highest-paid professionals, with annual compensation around CHF 180,000.
Switzerland’s ageing population, combined with growing medical complexity, further heightens demand (and salaries) for highly specialised practitioners.
Engineering and Technology Professions
The third top-paying field is engineering and technology, heavily influenced by digital transformation and the rise of advanced technologies.
Key high-demand roles include:
Agronomical engineers
IT project managers
Solutions or enterprise architects
For these profiles, annual compensation generally falls between CHF 130,000 and CHF 150,000, though salaries can vary widely depending on expertise, certifications and industry.
Tech salaries are particularly dynamic, often evolving rapidly with innovation cycles and skills scarcity.
Legal and Consulting Professions
The last major category includes legal and consulting roles, which also feature prominently among the best-paid professions in Switzerland.
Financial Directors, mentioned earlier, can also be grouped into this category.
Lawyers, whether working independently or in firms, earn an average of CHF 120,000 annually—though fees and total income can vary substantially based on reputation, specialisation and client portfolio.
Consulting firms specialising in strategy, compliance or risk management also continue to offer highly competitive salary packages.
Where are salaries highest in Switzerland?
The most attractive salaries tend to cluster around major economic hubs, where large companies and industry ecosystems are concentrated. Among the top-paying locations:
Zurich – a powerhouse for finance, fintech and technology
Geneva – a global centre for banking and international organisations
Basel – home to leading pharmaceutical and life sciences companies
Zug – a major hub for brokerage, commodities trading and multinational headquarters
If you are exploring high-paying opportunities in Switzerland in 2025, these cities represent the most strategic locations.
High salaries in Switzerland are explained by several factors:
- Strong demand for specialised skills
High levels of responsibility, especially in strategic and medical roles
International competition, increasing pressure on employers
A limited talent pool, particularly in advanced technical and scientific fields
No. In fields like finance, banking and executive leadership, bonuses can add 20% to 200% on top of the annual base salary.
Yes. In Switzerland, compensation increases notably with experience—but also with company reputation, geographic region and level of specialisation.
