Salary by experience
View as table
| Experience | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 0-2 yrs | CHF 94'000 |
| 3-5 yrs | CHF 94'222 |
| 6-8 yrs | CHF 105'000 |
| 9-11 yrs | CHF 109'250 |
| 12-21 yrs | CHF 128'000 |
| 21+ yrs | CHF 130'000 |
Top HR
Swiss professionsChemistry & Physics
Physiker/in UNI/ETH
You research physical phenomena and develop innovative technologies
01 · Overview
What this profession is about
You plan experiments, analyse materials, and turn research findings into practical applications.
Physics links theoretical knowledge with practical innovation. You study fundamental laws of nature and use them to create new materials or technical systems. This job requires precise work, strong analytical thinking, and the ability to turn complex data into clear reports. You guide projects from the first hypothesis to a market-ready solution.
FieldChemistry & Physics
Education pathHigher Education Profession
IndustryNature & Environment
Swissdoc 0.160.40.0
02 · Salary
What you can earn
✓ Exact salary match
Salaries reflect Swiss market data. Range covers entry to senior. Salary reference based on Physikerin. Based on 169 observations, updated 7 months ago.
Salary trend
-1% over decadeView as table
| Period | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 2014-2016 | CHF 101'500 |
| 2017-2019 | CHF 102'300 |
| 2020-2022 | CHF 98'922 |
| 2023-2025 | CHF 100'000 |
Top earning cantons
View as table
| Canton | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Aargau | CHF 150'000 | 19 |
| Berne | CHF 106'000 | 22 |
| Zurich | CHF 102'500 | 30 |
Top paying industries
View as table
| Industry | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Utilities | CHF 153'537 | 5 |
| Chemicals / Pharmaceuticals | CHF 135'694 | 7 |
| Consulting various | CHF 110'000 | 9 |
| Education | CHF 110'000 | 19 |
| Service sector in general | CHF 108'000 | 11 |
| Information technology / Telecom | CHF 106'000 | 10 |
03 · Pathway
How to enter and grow
Swiss training pathway available in the full profile
- 🎓 Bachelor/Master of Arts in Physik
- ⏱ Bachelorstudium: 3 Jahre
Official education path
You complete a Bachelor and Master degree in Physics at a university or ETH.
Typical training path
Bachelor/Master of Arts in Physik
Prerequisites
- eidg. or eidg. anerkannte Maturität
- Hochschulabschluss (FH, Uni, ETH)
- Berufsmaturität and Ergänzungsprüfung der Schweiz
Requirements
- Flair for numbers
- Analytical skills
- Careful working style
- Interest in physical processes
- Enjoyment of computer work
04 · Skills & fit
What it takes
Required skills
- Analytical thinking
- Experimental precision
- Mathematical aptitude
- Team coordination
Personality fit
- Swiss career path
- Career transition
- Professional growth
05 · Daily reality
What the work feels like
Typical day
You stand at the lab bench and calibrate measuring devices. At the same time, you evaluate computer data and discuss initial results with the team.
- You formulate hypotheses about atomic or quantum processes and design test series from them.
- You plan experiments carefully and find suitable labs and qualified staff.
- You develop new research methods and combine mathematical and computing approaches.
- You verify experimental results and document your findings in technical reports.
- You analyse material properties like superconductivity or electronic circuit behaviour.
- You build prototypes and guide their development until they reach the market.
Working conditions
You work at universities, state research centres, or private institutes. You are often active in spin-off companies for medical technology or photonics.
Where to learn
- Universität BernHochschulstrasse 6, 3012 Bern
- Universität BaselPetersplatz 1, 4001 Basel
- Universität ZürichRämistrasse 71, 8006 Zürich
- ETH ZürichRämistrasse 101, 8092 Zürich
Strengths
- Analytical thinking
- Experimental precision
- Mathematical aptitude
- Team coordination
Trade-offs
- High theoretical load
- Longer study period
- Highly competitive market
- Dependence on funding
06 · Similar
