That’s how much you earn with a technical college degree

class=”sc-29f61514-0 kHgAwW”>

It reinforces some of the stereotypes about wages in Switzerland, but it also brings to light surprises: the 2023 wage survey by FH Schweiz, the umbrella organization for university graduates of applied sciences. Blick had exclusive access to the study’s data, which interviewed 13,463 people from all Swiss language regions – all with a university degree of applied sciences but with different academic degrees.

Wages are rising again

First opinion: Gross salaries of FH graduates have increased markedly compared to the last survey in 2021. The average salary is currently CHF 104,000. Two years ago this value was just under 100,000 francs.

Important: The average salary is defined by the fact that 50 percent of respondents earn salaries above and 50 percent below this value. Unlike the mean, individual outliers above or below the mean do not distort the picture.

According to the Swiss University of Applied Sciences, the significant increase in wages according to the latest survey has to do with the economic recovery and increased staffing needs. In addition, many employees were able to negotiate at least one cost of living adjustment at annual meetings. According to the survey, 70 percent of respondents received a pay increase this year. More than 50 percent achieved a wage increase of up to 5 percent. The percentage of those who receive nothing in terms of salary is significantly lower than it was a year ago.

Classic results for industries

Median wages broken down by sector – what is striking here is that finance, insurance, pharmaceuticals, IT and public administration are clearly ahead as ever. The average salary in finance and insurance is CHF 120,000. At the other end of the scale is the arts/culture/entertainment field with a median salary of just CHF 69,271. Practically half!

The architecture and engineering sector recorded the most significant wage increases. The median here is almost CHF 95,000 compared to CHF 87,100 two years ago.

The location of the job is related to the amount of salary. Salaries in German-speaking Switzerland are generally higher than in French-speaking Switzerland and Ticino. Among the cantons, Zurich is clearly at the top with an average income of just over CHF 111,000 per year. However, the cantons of eastern Switzerland have grown the most: within two years, average wages have risen from CHF 100,000 to CHF 106,000.

It can be assumed that the high wages are related to the age of the respondents. Almost 70 percent of those surveyed are under the age of 40. Additionally, low salary levels have increased disproportionately: Since the last study, lower management has caught up significantly with an average salary of CHF 106,000 (formerly: CHF 101,000).

High median wages have more to do with seniority. About 60 percent of the respondents work in managerial positions, and 13 percent in senior management. “The study confirms that graduates from universities of applied sciences play a key role in society and the economy,” says Toni Schmid (59), Managing Director of FH Schweiz to Blick.

Women’s wages still low

The study also reveals that women’s median wages are lower than men’s. There is a huge difference across Switzerland: the median wage of 113,000 francs for men and 92,000 francs for women. The difference is particularly evident in German-speaking Switzerland.

Figures should be approached with caution, as gender, managerial position, age and other criteria are mixed here and not taken into account specifically. However, the number of respondents and the up-to-dateness of reference wages allow the conclusion that women’s wages and/or the proportion of women in higher management positions are lower – corroborating the results of a study by the union federation.

Looking at the results, it is also seen that the desire for further education is higher in women than in men. While only 37 percent of women state that they do not plan any other education, this rate is 42 percent for men. In general, however, there is great interest in further education. 60 percent of respondents have a plan for the foreseeable future.

Source :Blick