Salary by experience
View as table
| Experience | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 0-2 yrs | CHF 78'000 |
| 3-5 yrs | CHF 80'000 |
| 6-8 yrs | CHF 91'500 |
| 9-11 yrs | CHF 106'000 |
| 12-21 yrs | CHF 110'000 |
| 21+ yrs | CHF 78'000 |
Top HR
Swiss professionsNature & Environment
Geologe/-login UNI
You explore the Earth and plan sustainable construction and environmental protection projects.
01 · Overview
What this profession is about
Geologists examine soils, study climate changes, and advise on construction or environmental projects.
You dive into the complex world beneath our feet. You work at public offices, in construction, or in the energy sector. You analyze building sites, check mineral deposits, and monitor ground movements. You develop protection measures, plan site remediation, and shape settlement development. You are also needed for nature and environmental protection. You track climate changes, manage water reserves, and restore cultural heritage. Your analytical eye secures the future.
FieldNature & Environment
Education pathHigher Education Profession
IndustryNature & Environment
Swissdoc 0.160.43.0
02 · Salary
What you can earn
✓ Exact salary match
Salaries reflect Swiss market data. Range covers entry to senior. Salary reference based on Geologist. Based on 159 observations, updated 7 months ago.
Salary trend
-16% over decadeView as table
| Period | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 2014-2016 | CHF 99'000 |
| 2017-2019 | CHF 78'000 |
| 2020-2022 | CHF 86'200 |
| 2023-2025 | CHF 83'200 |
Top earning cantons
View as table
| Canton | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Vaud | CHF 86'000 | 14 |
| Geneva | CHF 78'120 | 21 |
| Zurich | CHF 78'000 | 25 |
| Berne | CHF 76'500 | 16 |
Top paying industries
View as table
| Industry | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Public administration / Associations | CHF 104'500 | 10 |
| Service sector in general | CHF 87'000 | 17 |
| Utilities | CHF 87'000 | 27 |
| Industry various | CHF 84'000 | 7 |
| Consulting various | CHF 79'500 | 38 |
| Building trade / Real estate | CHF 78'710 | 40 |
03 · Pathway
How to enter and grow
Swiss training pathway available in the full profile
- 🎓 Bachelor/Master of Arts in Geografie, Geowissenschaften oder Erdwissenschaften
- ⏱ Bachelorstudium: 3 Jahre
Official education path
A degree in geography or earth sciences provides the necessary scientific basics for professional practice.
Typical training path
Bachelor/Master of Arts in Geografie, Geowissenschaften oder Erdwissenschaften
Prerequisites
- eidg. or eidg. anerkannte Maturität
- Hochschulabschluss (FH, Uni, ETH)
- Berufsmaturität and Ergänzungsprüfung der Schweiz
Requirements
- Joy of research work
- Analytical and conceptual skills
- Strong environmental awareness
- Flair for numbers
- Networked thinking and action
Where this can lead
Career changes are possible through related earth science degrees or part-time further training.
04 · Skills & fit
What it takes
Required skills
- Analytical thinking
- Environmental awareness
- Networked action
- Joy of research
Personality fit
- Swiss career path
- Career transition
- Professional growth
05 · Daily reality
What the work feels like
Typical day
You work at the preparation station and analyze rock samples. Then you enter the results into digital maps. After that, you discuss the findings with engineering teams or environmental agencies.
- You examine building sites for civil engineering and check the load-bearing capacity of the soil.
- You analyze mineral deposits and plan their careful extraction.
- You monitor ground movements and develop targeted protection measures for vulnerable regions.
- You assess contaminated site remediation and plan the location of new landfills.
- You shape settlement development and support urban planning.
- You research climate changes and develop strategies for water reserves.
- You restore historical cultural heritage and preserve it for the future.
Working conditions
You work at water protection, environmental, and construction offices as well as in engineering firms. You also work abroad on large projects or in museums.
Where to learn
- Universität BaselPetersplatz 1, 4001 Basel
- Universität ZürichRämistrasse 71, 8006 Zürich
- Universität BernHochschulstrasse 6, 3012 Bern
- Universität Freiburg Avenue del'Europe 20, 1700 Freiburg
Strengths
- Analytical thinking
- Environmental awareness
- Networked action
- Joy of research
Trade-offs
- Willingness to travel
- Weather dependency
- High responsibility
- Theoretical workload
06 · Similar
