Salary by experience
View as table
| Experience | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 0-2 yrs | CHF 69'150 |
| 3-5 yrs | CHF 79'788 |
| 6-8 yrs | CHF 70'163 |
| 9-11 yrs | CHF 74'393 |
| 12-21 yrs | CHF 80'000 |
| 21+ yrs | CHF 120'000 |
Top HR
Swiss professionsCulture & Media
Archäologe/-login UNI
Archaeologists explore the past through finds and scientific analysis.
01 · Overview
What this profession is about
You dig up, document and analyse historical remains. You study past cultures and prepare them for museums.
As an archaeologist, you dive into the past. You search systematically for historical traces. You dig carefully and document every find. In the lab or museum, you examine the objects. You reconstruct them and explain their meaning. Your work combines science, craft and history. It brings past societies back into view.
FieldCulture & Media
Education pathHigher Education Profession
IndustryCultural Heritage
Swissdoc 0.827.10.0
02 · Salary
What you can earn
✓ Exact salary match
Salaries reflect Swiss market data. Range covers entry to senior. Salary reference based on Archaeologist. Based on 24 observations, updated 7 months ago.
Salary trend
-4% over decadeView as table
| Period | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 2014-2016 | CHF 75'000 |
| 2017-2019 | CHF 94'000 |
| 2020-2022 | CHF 68'831 |
| 2023-2025 | CHF 72'000 |
Top paying industries
View as table
| Industry | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Public administration / Associations | CHF 75'000 | 11 |
03 · Pathway
How to enter and grow
Swiss training pathway available in the full profile
- 🎓 Masterabschluss in Archäologie oder Prähistorischer Archäologie
Official education path
You start with a university degree. You complete a Bachelor and a Master at a higher education institution.
Typical training path
Masterabschluss in Archäologie oder Prähistorischer Archäologie
Prerequisites
- Admission to the programme: Universitäre Hochschule
- gymnasiale Maturität
- Berufsmaturität with Ergänzungsprüfung
- Fachmaturität with Ergänzungsprüfung
Requirements
- sorgfältige Arbeitsweise
- systematische Arbeitsweise
- exakte Arbeitsweise
- körperliche Belastbarkeit
- vernetztes Denken und Handeln
Where this can lead
Career changers are rare. The role requires a specific university degree. Related fields like museum education or heritage conservation are relevant.
04 · Skills & fit
What it takes
Required skills
- Careful working style
- Physical stamina
- Connected thinking
- Systematic planning
Personality fit
- Swiss career path
- Career transition
- Professional growth
05 · Daily reality
What the work feels like
Typical day
You stand at the dig site. You carefully remove the soil layer by layer. You uncover old pottery layers. Then you document the finds with photos and notes. The objects go to the lab for further analysis.
- You search systematically for areas with suspected archaeological finds.
- You dig carefully for remains like tools or pottery.
- You take samples of organic materials for lab analysis.
- You clean damaged objects and repair them with care.
- You determine the age of the finds using scientific methods.
- You interpret the results together with research experts.
- You exhibit the finds in museums and guide visitors.
Working conditions
You work in offices, labs, exhibition rooms and at dig sites. Depending on the project, you travel abroad. You work in changing weather conditions.
Where to learn
- Archäologie SchweizPetersgraben 51, 4051 Basel
- Konferenz der Schweizerischer Kantonsarchäologen und Kantonsarchäologinnen (KSKA)Petersgraben 51, 4051 Basel
Strengths
- Careful working style
- Physical stamina
- Connected thinking
- Systematic planning
Trade-offs
- Vulnerability to bad weather
- Fixed-term contracts
- Physical strain
- Few job openings
06 · Similar
