EN

CS

DE

MBA

Pay and working conditions in European countries

Switzerland

Country: Switzerland

Free movement for EU/EFTA citizens, unemployment of 4.9% (EU: 6.0%) and a legal maximum of 45–50 working hours a week. There is no national minimum wage, but five cantons have one – in Geneva CHF 24.59 an hour in 2026. Find out where to look for a job, how to apply and which permit and registration steps you need.

No national minimum wage. Five cantons have their own: Basel-Stadt, Geneva, Jura, Neuchâtel and Ticino. In Geneva it is CHF 24.59 an hour in 2026 (CHF 18.07 in agriculture and floriculture). Elsewhere, minimum pay may be set in a collective labour agreement (CLA/GAV) negotiated by unions and employers.
Pay level: the gross median wage was CHF 7,024 in 2024 – but the cost of living is also among the highest in the world.
Working time: the legal maximum is 45 hours a week in industry, offices, technical jobs and large retail stores, and 50 hours in other jobs.
Breaks and rest: at least 15 minutes if you work more than 5½ hours, 30 minutes for more than 7 hours and 1 hour for more than 9 hours. Between two working days you get at least 11 hours of rest.
Overtime is paid with a supplement of at least 25% or compensated with time off. A written contract can exclude pay for hours above your contract – but never for hours above the legal weekly maximum.
Holidays: at least 4 weeks of paid holiday a year, 5 weeks if you are under 20. At least two weeks must be taken in a row.
Contract: a written contract is recommended – ask for one.

published: 2014-09-04
last modification: 2026-10-03

Share

« back

Common questions about job applications and interviews

Key figures: Eurostat (population on 1 January 2026; unemployment and employment rates 2025; minimum wages July 2026); for the United Kingdom – Office for National Statistics; for Liechtenstein – national statistics. Country information: EURES – Living and working conditions, public employment services and the official government websites listed under each country. Rules, thresholds and amounts can change – check the official sources before you move. Updated: October 2026.

StudentNews Group Websites for students and future students — in Poland since 2007, across Europe since 2014. Over 50 websites and millions of users a year (Google Analytics). Studies in Europe Universities in Europe Bachelor’s Master’s Doctorate MBA Study guide Work abroad Travel For partners Advertising and cooperation Reach (online report) Contact advertising@studentnews.eu © 2003–2026 Grupa StudentNews.pl sp. z o.o., Modlnica, Poland