Salary by experience
View as table
| Experience | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 0-2 yrs | CHF 52'612 |
| 3-5 yrs | CHF 53'328 |
| 6-8 yrs | CHF 53'050 |
| 9-11 yrs | CHF 54'000 |
| 12-21 yrs | CHF 57'200 |
| 21+ yrs | CHF 60'374 |
Top HR
Swiss professionsFood
Leiter/in Forschung und Entwicklung
You lead the research department and drive product innovations
01 · Overview
What this profession is about
You are responsible for the research department. You initiate product developments and guide your team to innovative solutions
As a Leiter/in Forschung und Entwicklung, you steer the innovation power of your company. You pick up new market trends. You lead development projects and constantly improve products and production processes. You coordinate your specialist team. You work closely with production, marketing, and quality assurance. Your analytical thinking and leadership skills form the foundation for sustainable product improvements and future-ready solutions.
FieldFood
Education pathSpecialisation / Professional Function
IndustryIndustrial Food Production
Swissdoc 0.210.51.0
02 · Salary
What you can earn
✓ Strong salary match
Salaries reflect Swiss market data. Range covers entry to senior. Salary reference based on Food Salesman. Based on 171 observations, updated 7 months ago.
Salary trend
+2% over decadeView as table
| Period | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 2014-2016 | CHF 54'650 |
| 2017-2019 | CHF 53'298 |
| 2020-2022 | CHF 51'295 |
| 2023-2025 | CHF 55'750 |
Top earning cantons
View as table
| Canton | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Berne | CHF 55'900 | 13 |
| Zurich | CHF 54'520 | 32 |
| Vaud | CHF 50'591 | 13 |
Top paying industries
View as table
| Industry | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade / Wholesaling | CHF 53'314 | 128 |
| Consumer / Luxury goods industry | CHF 52'300 | 7 |
| Catering / Hotel | CHF 51'600 | 11 |
| Service sector in general | CHF 51'100 | 5 |
03 · Pathway
How to enter and grow
Swiss training pathway available in the full profile
- 🎓 Hochschulstudium
Official education path
You typically start with a completed university degree in a natural science or engineering field.
Typical training path
Hochschulstudium
Prerequisites
- Leadership and social skills
- Enjoyment of working with food and machinery
- Analytical and conceptual skills
- Organisational and planning skills
04 · Skills & fit
What it takes
Required skills
- Leadership skills
- Analytical thinking
- Process optimisation
- Communication skills
Personality fit
- Swiss career path
- Career transition
- Professional growth
05 · Daily reality
What the work feels like
Typical day
In the morning meeting, you review material test results with your team. You discuss the next steps for a new packaging variant. Then you analyse production line data. You identify bottlenecks and optimise the efficiency of the next batch.
- You lead the research department and coordinate daily work processes.
- You pick up market impulses and initiate targeted development projects.
- You constantly improve products, packaging, and manufacturing processes.
- You lead your specialist team and support their professional development.
- You exchange ideas daily with production and marketing.
- You check technical feasibility and evaluate new materials.
Working conditions
You work in laboratories, development offices, or production facilities of industrial and food companies. Your workplace changes depending on the project. You move between conference rooms, factory halls, and research departments.
Where to learn
- Föderation der Schweiz. Nahrungsmittel-Industrien FIAL Thunstrasse 82Postfach 1009, 3000 Bern
Strengths
- Leadership skills
- Analytical thinking
- Process optimisation
- Communication skills
Trade-offs
- High responsibility
- Project stress
- Continuous change
- Team leadership
06 · Similar
