With the demand for specialised expertise remaining high across many sectors, Swiss companies are willing to pay more for qualified employees, a new study reveals.
According to the 2027 Salary Guide compiled by Robert Half recruitment consultants,“the Swiss labour market is increasingly being shaped by AI, digitalisation, and evolving skill requirements. There is a particularly strong demand for professionals who combine technical expertise with adaptability, analytical thinking, and proficiency in using new technologies.”
Therefore, ”Companies are increasingly aligning their compensation with in-demand qualifications.”
The survey also reveals that 45 percent of employers in Switzerland are willing to exceed their planned salary thresholds to secure top talent—a figure that rises to 53 percent within the IT sector.
Don’t miss our journalists’ daily news roundup from Switzerland
Where the money is
Among the highest wages in 2027 will be found in the IT field, where AI-savvy engineering managers will earn 170,000 francs a year.
Next top earners (144,000 francs) will be data architects for AI, followed by Full-Stack Developers (134,000), AI engineers (129,250),AI product managers (131,750), and AI / ML System Performance Specialist (131,000).
Salaries will also be high in the Finance sector, were CFOs can expect to be paid 277,500 a year, followed by Head of Internal Audit (209,000), Head of Compliance Audit (190,750), and Finance Director -184,000.
In the commercial sector, head of recruitment will earn most: 163’750 francs, followed closely by the SecurityManager(165,000), and Head of Procurement (148,500).
All these are base salaries, excluding bonuses,
And, as the survey found, 54 percent of employers are open to negotiating these figures upwards for the most qualified employees.
Regional differences
These figures apply to Switzerland as a whole.
But according to Robert Half, professionals in these categories working in Zurich will earn 10 percent more, and those in Geneva, 6 percent more.
Experience-based disparities
The highest salaries will, logically, be paid to the most experienced professionals in these fields, with beginners earning considerably less.
But in many of these jobs, ‘even ‘less’ still represents a significant salary – especially given the growth potential.
For instance, while a seasoned CFO will earn 373,500 francs a year, a newbie’s salary will be a much lower but still enviable 203,750 francs.
What do other studies reveal?
Data released by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) in 2026 points to the strongest growth (3.3 percent) in public administration as well as in highly specialised, scientific and technical fields (2.6 percent).
In the third place was the trade sector, with a 1.5 percent increase.
The industrial sector trailed behind
Lesser overall wage growth was observed in the industrial sector, where ssalaries went up by an average of 1.5 percent.
In terms of industry groupings, manufacturing as a whole recorded an increase of 1.7 percent, while wages in the construction went up by 1.3 percent.
On the positive side (at least for women), their wages recorded an average increase of 2.3 percent in 2025 across all sectors, compared to 1.5 percent for men
