Average Scientific Programmer Salary in Switzerland for 2024

In this article, we will look at the average Scientific Programmer salary for 2024 in Switzerland and how that compares to other countries and professions. We'll also look at interesting salary data points like median salary, 25th and 75th percentile salaries, salary amounts based on experience, bonus ranges and more!

The data in this article has been compiled using official government salary data, salary surveys, and other sources such as job postings which contain salary information.

All salary information is in the local currency, which is the Swiss franc. To keep things simple, we are using the CHF currency code instead of the currency symbol Fr..

How Much Does a Scientific Programmer Make in Switzerland?

A Scientific Programmer working in Switzerland will typically earn around 160,700 CHF per year, and this can range from the lowest average salary of about 71,700 CHF to the highest average salary of 252,400 CHF.

Average Annual Salary
160,700 CHF
Average Monthly Salary
13,391 CHF

Lowest Annual Salary
71,700 CHF
Lowest Monthly Salary
5,975 CHF

Highest Annual Salary
252,400 CHF
Highest Monthly Salary
21,033 CHF

These are average salaries for a Scientific Programmer in Switzerland and include benefits such as housing and transport. It's also possible for a Scientific Programmer to earn more or less than the average salaries shown above.

Scientific Programmer salaries will vary a lot based on your experience, location, skills, and gender. Keep reading below to research more data on each of these areas.

Distribution of Scientific Programmer Salaries in Switzerland

So we've looked at the average salaries a Scientific Programmer will earn in Switzerland. The next interesting data point is the distribution of salaries.

Salary ranges

We already know that a Scientific Programmer can earn between 71,700 CHF and 252,400 CHF on average in Switzerland. This is known as the range in statistics.

The difference between the maximum and minimum values is a good indicator of variability in salaries, and can be used by employers to figure out how much they can expect to pay, and for employees to know how much they can earn.

Median salary

The median salary for a Scientific Programmer in Switzerland is 172,300 CHF. This is the middle value in the distribution of salaries.

What this means is that approximately 50% of the population earn less than 172,300 CHF, and 50% of the population earn more than 172,300 CHF.

If you are earning more than the median salary, that's a good indicator that you are being paid well.

If you're not earning more than the median salary, your objective should be to increase your earnings to be at least as high as the median salary (which you can do by asking for a pay rise, looking for a better paying job, etc).

Percentiles

Percentiles are similar to the median salary, but instead of looking at the middle value, they look at the values in the top and bottom half of the distribution.

For the average Scientific Programmer salary in Switzerland, 25% of the population are earning less than 111,700 CHF while 75% of the population earn more than 111,700 CHF.

75% of the population earn less than 229,000 CHF, and 25% of the population earn more than 229,000 CHF.

Like the median salary, the 25th and 75th percentile salaries can be used to determine which quartile you fall into so that you know whether you are being paid well enough compared to others in your profession and location.

The difference between a median and an average salary

The median and average salary are both indicators you can use to see if you are being paid fairly based on the overall population.

  • If your salary is higher than the average and the median salary, you are earning well compared to others.
  • If your salary is lower than the average and the median salary, it could indicate you are not being paid well enough.
  • If you are somewhere in between then it's tricky to determine if you are being paid well enough and you might need to research more closely.

Scientific Programmer Salary by Experience Level in Switzerland

The most important factor in determining your salary after the specific profession is the number of years experience you have. It stands to reason that more years of experience will result in a higher wage.

We have researched the average scientific programmer salary based on years of experience to give you an idea of how the average changes once you've worked for a certain amount of time.

  • 0 - 2 Years Experience. A Scientific Programmer in Switzerland that has less than two years of experience can expect to earn somewhere in the region of 84,900 CHF.
  • 2 - 5 Years Experience. With two to five years of experience the average Scientific Programmer salary would increase to 111,700 CHF.
  • 5 - 10 Years Experience. From five to ten years of experience as a Scientific Programmer, the average salary would be 163,500 CHF.
  • 10 - 15 Years Experience. Once you have more than ten years of experience the average salary reaches around 199,700 CHF.
  • 15 - 20 Years Experience. A Scientific Programmer with 15 to 20 years of experience can earn an average of 218,700 CHF.
  • 20+ Years Experience. For a Scientific Programmer with more than 20 years, the expected average salary increases to 235,300 CHF.

Average Salary by Experience Chart

0-2 Years
84,900 CHF
2-5 Years +34%
111,700 CHF
5-10 Years +48%
163,500 CHF
10-15 Years +22%
199,700 CHF
15-20 Years +9%
218,700 CHF
20+ Years +8%
235,300 CHF

Scientific Programmer Salary by Education Level in Switzerland

As well as experience in a job, your education plays a big role in how much you can earn. A lot of higher paying positions require a high level of education, but how much can a degree increase your salary?

In our research we have compared the salaries of employees in the same job and career level with different levels of education to see how much more you can earn at each education level.

The salary you can earn based on your education is very specific to both your location and the career path you choose.

In our research, we looked at the average salary for a Scientific Programmer in Switzerland based on the education level of the employees in order to find out whether a better education level would increase your salary.

  • Bachelor's Degree. A Scientific Programmer in Switzerland with a bachelor's degree education can earn an average salary of 94,200 CHF.

  • Master's Degree. A Scientific Programmer in Switzerland with a master's degree education can earn an average salary of 150,100 CHF.

  • PhD. A Scientific Programmer in Switzerland with a phd education can earn an average salary of 250,600 CHF.

Average Salary by Education Chart

Bachelor's Degree
94,200 CHF
Master's Degree +57%
150,100 CHF
PhD +68%
250,600 CHF

How Much is a Master's Degree or MBA Program?

The approximate cost of a master's degree or post-graduate program like an MBA in Switzerland is around 51,600 to 155,000 CHF and takes two years to complete.

As you can see above, there are financial benefits from reaching master's degree level, but don't expect to see much of a salary increase until you have completed the degree.

It's common for people to pursue an MBA or other post-graduate program in order to switch to a a job that pays more. On average, you can expect to earn around 10% more when switching to a new company.

Whether you decide to pursue a master's degree depends on many factors. If you are able to afford it, the numbers suggest that the return on investment is worth it and you could recover the costs in a few years from the salary increase you would receive.

Scientific Programmer Salary Compared by Gender

In the modern age, we know that there should never be a pay gap between men and women. Unfortunately, in many professions, there is still a significant difference between the salaries earned by men when compared to the salary of women in the same job.

In Switzerland, a male scientific programmer will earn an average of 164,100 CHF, while a female scientific programmer will earn around 157,600 CHF.

This means that a male scientific programmer earns approximately 4% more than a female scientific programmer for performing the same job.

Average Salary by Gender Chart in Switzerland

Male
164,100 CHF
Female -4%
157,600 CHF

Scientific Programmer Average Pay Raise in Switzerland

In many countries, an annual pay raise is often given to employees to reward their service with a salary increase.

From our research, we can see that the average pay raise for a Scientific Programmer in Switzerland is around 12% every 15 months.

The national average pay raise across all professions and industries in Switzerland is around 9% every 15 months.

In this case, we can see that the number of months between the average pay raise is higher than the typical 12 months.

To make the data more meaningful, we can calculate what the approximate annual pay raise would be using a simple formula:

Annual Increase = ( Increase Rate ÷ Months ) × 12

So for this example, it would be:

Annual Increase = ( 12 ÷ 15 ) × 12  = 10%

What this means is that a Scientific Programmer in Switzerland can expect to receive an average pay raise of around 10% every 12 months.

Annual Pay Raise by Industry in Switzerland for 2024

In the chart below, you can see the average annual pay raise percentages for each of the major industries in Switzerland.

You will see that companies in bigger and more lucrative industries tend to have the higher annual pay raises.

Banking
3%
Energy
6%
Information Technology
9%
Healthcare
3%
Travel
6%
Construction
9%
Education
3%

Scientific Programmer Bonus and Incentive Rates in Switzerland

Another part of your overall compensation in a job is how much bonus you receive. Some job roles will be more likely to pay a bonus than others and also more likely to have higher bonus rates.

Generally speaking, jobs that are more involved with direct revenue generation will receive higher bonuses based on the performance towards revenue goals.

A Scientific Programmer is a moderate bonus based job, with 62% of employees reporting at least one bonus in the last 12 months.

38% reported that they had not received any bonuses in the previous 12 months.

For the employees that did receive a bonus in the previous 12 months, the reported bonuses ranged from 2% to 7%.

Received Bonus
62%
No Bonus
38%

What are the Types of Bonus?

There are a number of difference types of bonus you can receive in a job. Including:

  • Individual performance bonus - This is a bonus that is awarded to an individual employee for general performance in the job. It's the most common type of bonus.
  • Company performance bonus - This is a bonus that is awarded to a company employees to share profit with the staff.
  • Goal based bonus - This is a bonus that is awarded to an individual employee (or a team) for achieving specific goals, objectives, or milestones.
  • Holiday bonus - This type of bonus is usually paid around the holidays, often the end of the year, and is a token of appreciation for the hard work throughout the year.

Government vs Private Sector Salaries

Another commonly asked question is whether you get paid a higher salary working in the public (government) sector or the private sector.

Public sector employees in Switzerland earn approximately 5% more than private sector employees in the same role.

Public Sector
127,700 CHF
Private Sector -5%
121,800 CHF

Salaries for Jobs Similar to a Scientific Programmer

In the table below, we have salary information for jobs that are similar to a Scientific Programmer in Switzerland.

Job Title Category Salary
3D Lab Technologist Science and Technical Services 127,700 CHF
Algorithm Developer Science and Technical Services 156,200 CHF
Analytical Chemist Science and Technical Services 238,200 CHF
Anthropologist Science and Technical Services 187,500 CHF
Archeologist Science and Technical Services 152,700 CHF
Assistant Breeder Science and Technical Services 82,200 CHF
Astronomer Science and Technical Services 286,400 CHF
Atmospheric and Space Scientist Science and Technical Services 241,200 CHF
Behavior Analyst Science and Technical Services 160,700 CHF
Behavior Intervention Specialist Science and Technical Services 177,100 CHF
Behavior Specialist Science and Technical Services 166,600 CHF
Biochemist Science and Technical Services 268,200 CHF
Biofuels Processing Technician Science and Technical Services 103,600 CHF
Biofuels Production Manager Science and Technical Services 184,700 CHF
Biologist Science and Technical Services 272,900 CHF
Biomedical Laboratory Officer Science and Technical Services 99,700 CHF
Biomedical Scientist Science and Technical Services 281,100 CHF
Biophysicist Science and Technical Services 258,700 CHF
Chemical Engineer Science and Technical Services 130,500 CHF
Chemical Technologist Science and Technical Services 121,800 CHF
Chemist Science and Technical Services 259,700 CHF
Chief Technologist Science and Technical Services 225,500 CHF
Climate Change Analyst Science and Technical Services 180,500 CHF
Clinical Laboratory Scientist Science and Technical Services 271,300 CHF
Computer Scientist Science and Technical Services 213,800 CHF
Conservation Scientist Science and Technical Services 218,500 CHF
Data Science Specialist Science and Technical Services 165,900 CHF
Data Scientist Science and Technical Services 199,700 CHF
DNA Analyst Science and Technical Services 267,900 CHF
Ecologist Science and Technical Services 206,300 CHF
Economic Development Specialist Science and Technical Services 212,500 CHF
Flavourist Science and Technical Services 92,300 CHF
Food Scientist Science and Technical Services 167,100 CHF
Forensic Scientist Science and Technical Services 211,200 CHF
Formulation Technologist Science and Technical Services 102,700 CHF
Fraud Investigator Science and Technical Services 132,000 CHF
Genomics Scientist Science and Technical Services 262,300 CHF
Geographer Science and Technical Services 141,000 CHF
Geographic Information Systems Technician Science and Technical Services 89,400 CHF
Geological Data Technician Science and Technical Services 92,400 CHF
Geological Technician Science and Technical Services 108,200 CHF
Geologist Science and Technical Services 231,400 CHF
Geomatics Scientist Science and Technical Services 222,300 CHF
Geophysical Data Technician Science and Technical Services 87,600 CHF
Geospatial Information Scientist and Technologist Science and Technical Services 210,600 CHF
Global Technical Lead Science and Technical Services 271,300 CHF
Hydrologist Science and Technical Services 177,100 CHF
Industrial Ecologist Science and Technical Services 184,700 CHF
Intelligence Analyst Science and Technical Services 164,100 CHF
Knowledge Management Specialist Science and Technical Services 138,700 CHF
Lab Analyst Science and Technical Services 112,700 CHF
Lab Manager Science and Technical Services 191,100 CHF
Lab Technician Science and Technical Services 79,000 CHF
Laboratory Manager Science and Technical Services 190,400 CHF
Laboratory Researcher Science and Technical Services 118,900 CHF
Laboratory Technician Science and Technical Services 82,300 CHF
Life Sciences Analyst Science and Technical Services 172,100 CHF
Life Scientist Science and Technical Services 199,700 CHF
Marine Architect Science and Technical Services 172,200 CHF
Marine Biologist Science and Technical Services 192,600 CHF
Marine Superintendent Science and Technical Services 114,600 CHF
Materials Analyst Science and Technical Services 111,700 CHF
Materials Scientist Science and Technical Services 193,400 CHF
Mathematician Science and Technical Services 206,700 CHF
Medical Scientist Science and Technical Services 278,500 CHF
Metallurgist Science and Technical Services 192,600 CHF
Meteorologist Science and Technical Services 193,400 CHF
Microbiologist Science and Technical Services 286,400 CHF
Natural Language Processing Researcher Science and Technical Services 161,300 CHF
Natural Resource Specialist Science and Technical Services 150,100 CHF
Natural Resources Analyst Science and Technical Services 164,100 CHF
Natural Sciences Manager Science and Technical Services 254,400 CHF
Nuclear Engineer Science and Technical Services 296,400 CHF
Physical Scientist Science and Technical Services 206,300 CHF
Physicist Science and Technical Services 274,700 CHF
Political Scientist Science and Technical Services 205,400 CHF
Polygraph Examiner Science and Technical Services 74,100 CHF
Polysomnographic Technologist Science and Technical Services 127,700 CHF
Product Development Scientist Science and Technical Services 219,500 CHF
Quantitative Research Analyst Science and Technical Services 184,700 CHF
Quantitative Researcher Science and Technical Services 184,700 CHF
Radiation Protection Specialist Science and Technical Services 151,800 CHF
Refrigeration Technician Science and Technical Services 60,600 CHF
Research Scientist Science and Technical Services 183,600 CHF
Risk Safety Engineer Science and Technical Services 118,900 CHF
Scientific Photographer Science and Technical Services 124,500 CHF
Scientist Science and Technical Services 200,600 CHF
Service Engineer Science and Technical Services 119,700 CHF
Service Technician Science and Technical Services 77,300 CHF
Social Science Research Assistant Science and Technical Services 108,200 CHF
Social Scientist Science and Technical Services 205,400 CHF
Sociologist Science and Technical Services 200,600 CHF
Soil Scientist Science and Technical Services 169,700 CHF
Statistical Analyst Science and Technical Services 115,600 CHF
Statistical Assistant Science and Technical Services 87,000 CHF
Statistician Science and Technical Services 175,100 CHF
Survey Analyst Science and Technical Services 111,700 CHF
Survey Researcher Science and Technical Services 105,200 CHF
Surveying and Mapping Technician Science and Technical Services 72,800 CHF
Team Leader Science and Technical Services 168,700 CHF
Technical Manager Science and Technical Services 175,100 CHF
Technical Officer Science and Technical Services 79,800 CHF
Technical Service Director Science and Technical Services 238,300 CHF
Technical Services Regulatory Affairs Specialist Science and Technical Services 121,800 CHF
Technical Services Research and Development Manager Science and Technical Services 283,500 CHF
Technical Services Research Associate Science and Technical Services 134,700 CHF
Technical Services Research Coordinator Science and Technical Services 142,300 CHF
Technician Science and Technical Services 78,700 CHF
Water Ecologist Science and Technical Services 227,600 CHF
Wildlife Biologist Science and Technical Services 195,200 CHF

Salary Comparison by City

If you want to compare salaries with different cities in Switzerland, you can use the links below to explore the data for each specific city we have researched.

City Average Salary
Basel 184,700 CHF
Bern 169,700 CHF
Biel 148,300 CHF
Geneve 175,200 CHF
Lausanne 165,900 CHF
Lugano 157,600 CHF
Luzern 169,700 CHF
St. Gallen 157,600 CHF
Winterthur 169,700 CHF
Zurich 185,900 CHF

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