Salary by experience
View as table
| Experience | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 0-2 yrs | CHF 68'125 |
| 3-5 yrs | CHF 71'500 |
| 6-8 yrs | CHF 73'000 |
| 9-11 yrs | CHF 56'000 |
| 12-21 yrs | CHF 127'400 |
| 21+ yrs | CHF 72'000 |
Top HR
Swiss professionsCulture & Media
Musiker/in (U-Musik)
You shape entertainment music on stage and in the studio.
01 · Overview
What this profession is about
Entertainment musicians perform live, compose songs, and produce recordings for various music genres.
Whether on large festivals, in cozy jazz cellars, or on television: Entertainment musicians captivate their audience with jazz, pop, rock, or folk music. You play instruments, sing, compose, and write lyrics. Your training is often self-directed or takes place at specialized music schools. The profession requires musical talent, stamina, and the ability to organize yourself independently.
FieldCulture & Media
Education pathSpecialisation / Professional Function
IndustryTheatre, Music, Dance & Film
Swissdoc 0.824.26.0
02 · Salary
What you can earn
✓ Strong salary match
Salaries reflect Swiss market data. Range covers entry to senior. Salary reference based on Musician. Based on 73 observations, updated 7 months ago.
Salary trend
+6% over decadeView as table
| Period | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 2014-2016 | CHF 67'200 |
| 2017-2019 | CHF 70'000 |
| 2020-2022 | CHF 83'447 |
| 2023-2025 | CHF 71'500 |
Top earning cantons
View as table
| Canton | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Zurich | CHF 73'000 | 15 |
| Geneva | CHF 61'477 | 12 |
Top paying industries
View as table
| Industry | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Service sector in general | CHF 113'016 | 16 |
| Public administration / Associations | CHF 96'000 | 9 |
| Tourism / Travel / Recreation | CHF 80'000 | 11 |
| Education | CHF 73'000 | 9 |
| Media / Printing / Publishing | CHF 66'000 | 9 |
| Commercial operation / Skilled crafts | CHF 60'515 | 6 |
03 · Pathway
How to enter and grow
Swiss training pathway available in the full profile
- 🎓 Musiker/in (U-Musik)
Official education path
Training is usually self-directed, through private lessons, or at specialized music schools and universities.
Typical training path
Musiker/in (U-Musik)
Prerequisites
- Musical talent, sense of rhythm
- Commitment, stamina, perseverance, self-discipline
- Physical fitness
- Natural stage presence
Requirements
- Musical talent
- Sense of rhythm
- Commitment
- Stamina
- Perseverance
- Self-discipline
Where this can lead
Career changes are possible if you already have solid musical knowledge and stage experience.
04 · Skills & fit
What it takes
Required skills
- Musical talent
- Self-discipline
- Stamina
- Natural stage presence
Personality fit
- Swiss career path
- Career transition
- Professional growth
05 · Daily reality
What the work feels like
Typical day
You tune your instruments and rehearse new arrangements. You prepare for the next performance. In the studio or on stage, you turn your musical ideas into sound.
- You perform as a soloist or with a band at festivals and parties.
- You play instrumental parts or sing live for an enthusiastic audience.
- You compose new songs and write lyrics for your works.
- You record music professionally in studios for albums and singles.
- You rehearse regularly to sharpen your technical skills and band cohesion.
- You adapt flexibly to different music styles like jazz, pop, or folk music.
Working conditions
You work on stages, in recording studios, rehearsal rooms, or at live events. You are often on the road for concerts, recordings, or private gigs.
Strengths
- Musical talent
- Self-discipline
- Stamina
- Natural stage presence
Trade-offs
- Irregular hours
- Self-organization
- Physical strain
- Competitive pressure
06 · Similar
