How High Is a Chef’s Salary in Switzerland?

One thing is certain: Switzerland is one of the top countries in the world when it comes to salaries – and this naturally also applies to the catering sector. If you prepare dishes in the fine dining restaurant at the Dolder Grand in Zurich, for example, you are playing in the top league.

Nevertheless, the salary range is wide, because salaries depend on various factors. These include, for example, your professional experience or the prestige of your employer.

But one thing is clear: in Switzerland, you will earn at least the minimum salary stipulated by the National Collective Labor Agreement for the Hospitality Industry (L-GAV).

Depending on your level of training, you will receive at least the following monthly salary or hourly wage in the catering sector in Switzerland:

Monthly Salary

Hourly Wage

*Exchange rate March 2024
** Eidgenössisches Fähigkeitszeugnis (Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training)
 

So let us take a closer look at the minimum salary of a person with a Federal Certificate of Proficiency. They earn at least CHF 4,470 per month, which equates to CHF 53,640 per year based on 12 monthly salaries. However, as the L-GAV stipulates that in Switzerland 13 monthly salaries must be paid, the annual salary figure even increases to CHF 58,110.

Converted into euros, this results in a gross annual salary of around € 59,824*. In comparison: the average salary for chefs in Germany is around € 32,900*. This means that even with the minimum salary in Switzerland, you will earn almost double the average salary in Germany.

Average Salaries by Job Function

As already mentioned, these are only the minimum salaries. As your responsibility and experience increase, so does your salary. A sous chef working at a hotel in a Swiss city earns an average annual salary of between CHF 78,000 and CHF 84,500. Converted into euros, this amounts to between € 79,881* and € 86,538*.

If you have made it to the top and are a head chef, you are one of the best-paid employees in Swiss kitchens, with an average annual salary of CHF 91,000 to CHF 117,000. This corresponds to an annual salary of between € 93,195* and € 119,822*. Of course, a chef de cuisine often has over a decade of experience – but it is further evidence that Switzerland is the ideal place to work for aspiring young chefs.

The average salaries quoted apply to a full-time position. In Switzerland, this is 42 hours per week. In general, it makes no difference whether you work during the week or at the weekend. There are no legally prescribed bonuses for night work, but they are common in many companies. In addition, working on Sundays and public holidays is always compensated by time off in lieu. 

At Swiss businesses, you will be paid a 13-month salary in accordance with the L-GAV. Please bear in mind that this “additional month” is already included in the average annual salary quoted. For a full-time position, you will also receive 35 paid days of leave. Furthermore, unlike in Germany, employment contracts in Switzerland are generally open-ended.

Further information on the legal framework can be found in the “Merkblatt Arbeitsgesetz” published by Hotellerie Suisse.

Taxes and Deductions

Tax at source and social security contributions are deducted directly from your salary. This makes up around 10–20% of your earnings. This may seem high at first glance, but compared to Germany, where the tax burden can be up to 45%, it is moderate.

However, the exact amount of all the deductions depends on where you live, as well as on your family situation. To get a realistic estimate of how much of your salary will ultimately be paid into your account, you can use the gross net calculator from Lohncomputer. With just a few details about your individual situation, you will receive an exact calculation that shows you how much you will have left to live on.

Cost of Living

Rent is the most significant expense item of all the living costs. Rental costs are particularly high in Zurich’s city center. The costs of public transportation, childcare, hairdresser visits, sports subscriptions, and other leisure activities also tend to be higher here than in Germany.

Those who want to live cost-efficiently will find affordable rents in rural areas. Thanks to excellent transportation links, you can still get to work quickly. What is more, not everything is expensive in Switzerland. Gasoline and electricity, for example, are significantly cheaper than in Germany.

You can get a detailed overview of the potential fixed costs on Lohncomputer. Besides information on the most important expenditure items, the website also offers a useful budget calculator.

In Switzerland, Basel-Stadt, Zug, and Zurich stand out as the cantons with the highest salaries in the catering sector. For example, a chef in Zurich earns between CHF 55,300 and CHF 65,650 on average. This corresponds to a monthly income of CHF 4,250 to CHF 5,050 and is therefore even slightly above the average for Switzerland as a whole.

Zurich also boasts a wealth of jobs in the catering sector and attracts tourists from all over the world all year round – not least because of its picturesque location on Lake Zurich and its diverse cultural offerings. So you definitely will not have to worry about seasonal job opportunities.

Have we awakened your interest and you would like to work as a chef in Switzerland? Then you are probably wondering what life is like in Zurich and what kind of working atmosphere awaits you. Well we have just the thing for you: an experienced chef who took the plunge and moved from Germany to Switzerland shares his personal experiences. He talks about his career advancement in Zurich and gives an insight into his new life.

To Simon’s Testimonial
More About Living in Zurich

Even if hospitality is your thing, it does not necessarily have to be the kitchen. Start your career in reception or in service.

To the Vacancies in Service
To the Vacancies in Reception

Note: The data on this page is taken from the publication, “Gehaltsübersicht. Eine aktuelle Übersicht über die branchenüblichen Gehälter in der Hotellerie und Gastronomie. Schweiz Edition” from Konen & Lorenzen (2023). All information is based on the average of salaries specified in employment contracts from the last 12 months. All information is without guarantee as to its accuracy and/or completeness.