Salaries in Switzerland went up in 2025, but disparities exist among sectors, a new government study reveals.
The average increase of 1.6 percent was recorded in ‘real’ wages – that is, amounts that were adjusted for inflation to reflect the real purchasing power.
This is what emerges from the new data released by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) on April 21st.
The good news for Swiss earners is that prices grew by only 0.2 percent in 2025, compared to a 1.1-percent hike in 2024, and 2.1 percent the year before.
This means that, adjusted for Switzerland’s (low) inflation rate, these wages drove a 1.6-percent increase in consumers’ purchasing power.
But there is ‘less-good’ news as well: the FSO study found “significant disparities” across different sectors of Switzerland’s economy, with variations ranging from +0.2 to +3.1 percent.
The highest salary growth: the services sector
Wages in this sector rose by an average of 1.9 percent.
Across various sub-sectors, they varied from 0.4 to 3.3 percent.
The strongest growth (3.3 percent) was recorded 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.
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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.
READ MORE: In which sectors can you earn top salaries in Switzerland right now?
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What can we expect, in terms of wages, for 2026?
We won’t know for sure until the year is over, bot economists predict salaries to increase by 1.3 percent.
With the expected inflation rate of 0.5 percent, this would result in real wage growth of 0.8 percent.
However, the actual pay hikes will vary from one sector to another.
Wages are likely will go up most significantly in the construction industry – by around 1.7 percent. This is due to the shortage of skilled employees in this sector, as well as a strong union representing these workers.
READ MORE: Which jobs in Switzerland will see wages rise in 2026?
