Salary by experience
View as table
| Experience | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 0-2 yrs | CHF 80'500 |
| 3-5 yrs | CHF 84'775 |
| 6-8 yrs | CHF 88'049 |
| 9-11 yrs | CHF 92'814 |
| 12-21 yrs | CHF 86'088 |
| 21+ yrs | CHF 126'000 |
Top HR
Swiss professionsChemistry & Physics
Chemieingenieur/in
You develop and optimise industrial processes for the chemical and food industries.
01 · Overview
What this profession is about
Chemieingenieur/in plan and control large material conversion processes in industry. You combine chemistry with engineering to ensure safe facilities.
You face major technical challenges and develop solutions for industry. As Chemieingenieur/in, you combine scientific knowledge with practical engineering. Your focus is on optimising production processes, ensuring the safety of large-scale plants, and handling resources responsibly. You help shape the future of the chemical and processing industries.
FieldChemistry & Physics
Education pathHigher Education Profession
IndustryChemistry, Pharma & Biotech
Swissdoc 0.540.9.0
02 · Salary
What you can earn
✓ Exact salary match
Salaries reflect Swiss market data. Range covers entry to senior. Salary reference based on Chemical Engineer. Based on 300 observations, updated 7 months ago.
Salary trend
-9% over decadeView as table
| Period | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 2014-2016 | CHF 98'798 |
| 2017-2019 | CHF 84'775 |
| 2020-2022 | CHF 86'000 |
| 2023-2025 | CHF 90'000 |
Top earning cantons
View as table
| Canton | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Valais | CHF 103'000 | 24 |
| Neuchâtel | CHF 94'024 | 12 |
| Zurich | CHF 88'098 | 31 |
| Fribourg | CHF 85'995 | 13 |
| Basel-Stadt | CHF 85'500 | 26 |
| Vaud | CHF 81'900 | 31 |
Top paying industries
View as table
| Industry | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Industry various | CHF 90'524 | 28 |
| Utilities | CHF 90'000 | 9 |
| Medical Technology | CHF 87'536 | 6 |
| Chemicals / Pharmaceuticals | CHF 85'050 | 203 |
| Commercial operation / Skilled crafts | CHF 77'940 | 5 |
03 · Pathway
How to enter and grow
Swiss training pathway available in the full profile
- 🎓 Chemieingenieur/ingenieurin
Official education path
The main path leads to a master's degree at a technical university or a related university degree in process engineering or biotechnology.
Typical training path
Chemieingenieur/ingenieurin
Prerequisites
- Interest in material transformation processes
- Interest in natural sciences and technology
Requirements
- Skills in natural sciences
- Technical flair
- Communication skills to work with diverse teams on large plants
04 · Skills & fit
What it takes
Required skills
- Scientific understanding
- Technical intuition
- Team communication
- Process optimisation
Personality fit
- Swiss career path
- Career transition
- Professional growth
05 · Daily reality
What the work feels like
Typical day
You stand at the control centre of a large plant. You monitor temperature and pressure values in real time. At the same time, you analyse samples to ensure product quality and optimise energy use.
- You develop chemical processes from the lab to industrial production.
- You plan the construction of large plants, taking chemistry and engineering into account.
- You control production processes using modern measurement and control techniques.
- You analyse raw materials and finished products to ensure quality.
- You optimise workflows to save energy and protect the environment.
- You monitor the safety and cost-effectiveness of the entire production chain.
- You train specialist staff or carry out inspections in the public sector.
Working conditions
You work in chemical plants, refineries, food or plastic factories, and environmental technology firms. You occasionally carry out inspections in the public sector or teach at educational institutions.
Strengths
- Scientific understanding
- Technical intuition
- Team communication
- Process optimisation
Trade-offs
- High responsibility
- Complex systems
- Regulatory requirements
- Changing projects
06 · Similar
