Salary by experience
View as table
| Experience | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 0-2 yrs | CHF 50'000 |
| 3-5 yrs | CHF 45'000 |
| 6-8 yrs | CHF 52'000 |
| 9-11 yrs | CHF 37'500 |
| 12-21 yrs | CHF 40'200 |
| 21+ yrs | CHF 32'143 |
Top HR
Swiss professionsCulture & Media
Librettist/in
You write the lyrics and librettos for operas, musicals, and operettas.
01 · Overview
What this profession is about
As a Librettist/in, you design the literary foundation for musical stage works.
You shape the linguistic soul of operas, musicals, and operettas. You work closely with composers to develop plots, write dialogues, and adapt the text rhythmically to the music. Your creative process often starts with an idea and ends on stage. You combine literary skill with a sense for music.
FieldCulture & Media
Education pathSpecialisation / Professional Function
IndustryTheatre, Music, Dance & Film
Swissdoc 0.825.25.0
02 · Salary
What you can earn
✓ Strong salary match
Salaries reflect Swiss market data. Range covers entry to senior. Salary reference based on Theaterschauspielerin. Based on 20 observations, updated 7 months ago.
Salary trend
-11% over decadeView as table
| Period | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 2014-2016 | CHF 52'000 |
| 2017-2019 | CHF 37'950 |
| 2020-2022 | CHF 29'000 |
| 2023-2025 | CHF 46'507 |
Top paying industries
View as table
| Industry | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Tourism / Travel / Recreation | CHF 50'400 | 5 |
03 · Pathway
How to enter and grow
Swiss training pathway available in the full profile
- 🎓 Librettist/in
Official education path
You usually enter the field through your own studies in theater science or literature, as well as practical writing workshops.
Typical training path
Librettist/in
Prerequisites
- On-the-job training
Requirements
- Musicality
- Knowledge of the requirements of singing
- Imagination
Where this can lead
Career changes are possible through related writing professions, literature studies, or theater internships.
04 · Skills & fit
What it takes
Required skills
- Musical sense
- Writing skill
- Cooperation skills
- Creative endurance
Personality fit
- Swiss career path
- Career transition
- Professional growth
05 · Daily reality
What the work feels like
Typical day
You sit at your desk and revise a singing part. At the same time, you coordinate the next scene with your team.
- You plan the plot for a new musical stage work.
- You write the dialogues and sung text for the stage.
- You check if the syllables fit the rhythm of the composed melody.
- You regularly exchange ideas with the composer.
- You revise scenes until the text matches the musical intention.
- You research historical or literary sources for the story.
Working conditions
You work in theaters, opera houses, musical productions, or freelance in creative environments.
Strengths
- Musical sense
- Writing skill
- Cooperation skills
- Creative endurance
Trade-offs
- Creative isolation
- Project uncertainty
- Tight schedules
- High adaptability
06 · Similar
