The online business platform LinkedIn has revealed the best companies in Switzerland to work for in 2025. A clear trend has emerged from the data: nearly all the ‘winners’ are in the pharmaceutical or related fields.
The 4th annual LinkedIn Top Companies ranking features the 25 best employers to develop and advance your career in Switzerland.
According to the platform, the companies were evaluated using a methodology “based on exclusive LinkedIn data.”
It incorporates various elements related to the career advancement of employees, such as skills development, promotion opportunities, growth, company’s size and stability, gender diversity, and more.
These are the top-10 companies:
Roche (Pharmaceuticals)
Novartis (Pharmaceuticals)
Bristol Myers Squibb (Pharmaceuticals)
Medtronic (Medical Equipment)
Takeda (Pharmaceuticals)
Lonza (Pharmaceuticals)
Bachem (Pharmaceuticals)
Thermo Fischer Scientific (Biotechnology)
Procter & Gamble (Manufacturing)
UCB (Pharmaceuticals)
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How important is the pharma / biotech sector to Switzerland’s economy?
The epicentre of the country’s industry is located in Basel, home of such global heavyweights as Novartis and Roche.
According to KOF Economic Institute in Zurich, this industry is Switzerland’s “growth engine.”
“It has become the largest industry in Switzerland, contributing significantly to country’s goods trade surplus.”
And the industry umbrella association, Interpharma, points out that the sector’s productivity is five times higher than the Swiss average.
Why is the pharma sector so appealing for employees?
Because of its sheer size and the impact on the country’s economy, the industry is always seeking highly qualified specialists in the fields of research, development, and manufacturing.
Also, the pharma / biotech field is never stagnant — that is, there are constantly new inventions and discoveries, and a huge potential for further innovations.
Last but certainly not least, the pay scale is among the highest in Switzerland.
While an entry level job in one of the pharmaceutical fields may be close to the Swiss average of 80,000-plus francs a year, the earning potential will gradually grow to reach three-digit figures.
Just as an example, an average salary for a scientist working at Roche or Novartis ranges from 116,000 to 132,000 francs a year, according to Glassdoor recruiter.
More qualified professionals can command even more: closer to 200,000 francs a year, and top executives closer to 500,000.
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Can foreign nationals work in this field?
Many do.
And unlike most sectors in Switzerland, which give priority to nationals of the European Union and EFTA (Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein), big pharma companies actively recruit people from third countries, namely the United States.
In fact, Roche and Novartis pull out all the stops to attract foreigners — especially from the US — for top management positions.
“Depending on the size of the company, the number of [locally-based] candidates is very limited for certain positions. Hiring foreign executives is therefore inevitable,” according to recruiter Erik Wirz. “And in the United States, there are very qualified employees in the pharmaceutical or technological fields.”
READ ALSO: Why Swiss employers are eager to hire US professionals
How can you search for a job at one of the top-10 employers listed by LinkedIn?
You can peruse recruitment sites like Jobs.ch and JobsUp.ch, which have the most recent listings or, better yet, go on the company’s website and look at what job opportunities they have and how to apply.
