Salary Guide 2026 Switzerland: Stay or Leave for a Higher Salary?
Zurich, October 16, 2025 – The majority of Swiss employees are confident that they will be able to negotiate a higher salary in 2026. This is one of the findings of the Robert Half Salary Guide 2026. The big question, however, is: should they change employers to achieve a significant salary increase?
According to the Robert Half Salary Guide 2026, 52% of employees surveyed believe they can secure a higher salary through negotiations in the coming year. However, 75% currently lack the courage or willingness to take the necessary risks to convincingly argue for a raise.
Further questions arise: employees carefully weigh their options. 63% believe that staying with their current employer in 2026 will lead to a higher salary. At the same time, the findings show that changing employers often enables bigger salary jumps. Employers are particularly willing to pay more for specialist knowledge (68%) and professional experience (66%). Those who take on leadership responsibilities within companies (59%) can also expect higher salaries.
Beyond Base Pay: Total Compensation in Focus
Base salaries are only part of the equation. For many professionals, bonus offerings have long been a central factor when evaluating jobs. Variable compensation is steadily gaining importance: 70 percent of employees view bonuses as an essential part of their pay package, outweighing many other benefits. Moreover, 51 percent earn up to 10 percent of their total compensation through variable pay — such as bonuses, commissions, or performance incentives.
Examples from the 2026 Salary Guide
Some positions that particularly stand out:
HR Business Partner: Median salary CHF 125,250
Head of Sales: Median salary CHF 160,500
Supply Chain Manager: Median salary CHF 125,250
Executive Assistant: Median salary CHF 110,500
Leadership roles in Sales, HR, and Supply Chain well above the 120,000-franc mark.
Julia Meir Lawi, Branch Director Geneva at Robert Half:
“In Switzerland, we clearly see that companies not only value experience and specialist knowledge, but are also placing greater emphasis on performance, long-term prospects, and flexibility. At the same time, employees are closely monitoring economic developments and the slightly higher unemployment rate. Especially in uncertain times, transparent salary structures and fair bonus models are key to attracting and retaining talent.”
About the Robert Half Salary Guide
The Robert Half 2026 Salary Guide features more than 90 salaries for positions across selected fields.
The insights of the 2026 Salary Guide are based on an online survey developed by Robert Half and conducted by an independent research institute among 750 respondents between June and July 2025. The sample included 250 employers with hiring responsibilities in their companies as well as 500 employees from the fields of finance and accounting, IT, and administration. Respondents came from a cross-section of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large organizations from the public sector, private companies, and listed corporations across Switzerland.
Since 2006, Robert Half has published the Salary Guide for professions in finance and accounting as well as in administrative and IT roles, including positions in banking and financial services. The guide helps HR decision-makers and employees assess the market-standard salary levels they should aim for and provides a realistic framework for orientation. The 2026 Salary Guide offers a detailed look into current market and salary trends in these fields.
Note to Editors
Robert Half is a global, specialized provider of talent solutions. We support candidates in taking their next career step and assist companies in finding temporary staff, permanent employees, and freelancers in finance and accounting, IT, administration, and legal, as well as for banks and financial service providers. In addition, we offer executive search services for the placement of leadership roles. The Robert Half group also includes Protiviti, a global consulting firm. Together, the two companies provide managed solutions for a wide range of projects. Robert Half, including Protiviti, is listed among the Fortune® World’s Most Admired Companies™ and Forbes Best Employers for Diversity. Both Robert Half and Protiviti are also ranked among the 2023 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For.
Further information: roberthalf.com/ch/en/about
Media Contact:
Moritz Ballerstädt
T: +49 (0)172 4517362
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