Salary by experience
View as table
| Experience | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 0-2 yrs | CHF 85'500 |
| 3-5 yrs | CHF 95'200 |
| 6-8 yrs | CHF 100'000 |
| 9-11 yrs | CHF 99'187 |
| 12-21 yrs | CHF 114'000 |
| 21+ yrs | CHF 127'023 |
Top HR
Swiss professionsBusiness, Administration & Tourism
Forensiker/in UNI
You analyse traces and reconstruct events for criminal investigations.
01 · Overview
What this profession is about
Forensic scientists secure crime scene traces, carry out lab analyses, and prepare reports for law enforcement and the justice system.
You enter crime scenes, secure evidence, and dive into laboratory analyses. As a Forensic scientist, you combine scientific precision with investigative insight. Your work solves mysteries, identifies offenders, and supports the justice system and police in finding the truth. With technical expertise and analytical sharpness, you make invisible traces visible.
FieldBusiness, Administration & Tourism
Education pathHigher Education Profession
IndustryPolice & Corrections
Swissdoc 0.622.15.0
02 · Salary
What you can earn
✓ Exact salary match
Salaries reflect Swiss market data. Range covers entry to senior. Salary reference based on Kriminalwissenschaftlerin. Based on 119 observations, updated 7 months ago.
Salary trend
+4% over decadeView as table
| Period | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 2014-2016 | CHF 100'000 |
| 2017-2019 | CHF 95'750 |
| 2020-2022 | CHF 104'000 |
| 2023-2025 | CHF 103'950 |
Top earning cantons
View as table
| Canton | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Zurich | CHF 119'750 | 16 |
| Vaud | CHF 98'917 | 18 |
Top paying industries
View as table
| Industry | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | CHF 118'000 | 13 |
| Chemicals / Pharmaceuticals | CHF 100'000 | 5 |
| Public administration / Associations | CHF 99'875 | 58 |
| Service sector in general | CHF 86'450 | 7 |
| Retail trade / Wholesaling | CHF 81'795 | 6 |
03 · Pathway
How to enter and grow
Swiss training pathway available in the full profile
- 🎓 Kriminalwissenschaften
Official education path
You enter the field through a university degree that provides solid scientific foundations and specialist investigative knowledge.
Typical training path
Kriminalwissenschaften
Prerequisites
- gymnasiale Maturität
- Berufsmaturität mit Ergänzungsprüfung
- Fachmaturität mit Ergänzungsprüfung
Requirements
- Nerve strength
- Ability to tolerate the sight of blood
- Scientific accuracy
- Discretion
- Analytical skills
- Willingness to work flexible hours
- Connected thinking and action
04 · Skills & fit
What it takes
Required skills
- Analytical precision
- Nerve strength
- Discretion
- Connected thinking
Personality fit
- Swiss career path
- Career transition
- Professional growth
05 · Daily reality
What the work feels like
Typical day
You stand at the crime scene, document every trace with cameras and sketches, and pack evidence safely. Later, you examine samples under a microscope in the lab and evaluate the results for the investigation report.
- You search the crime scene for physical evidence and document it carefully.
- You secure traces like fingerprints, hair, or biological material for analysis.
- You carry out chemical and physical tests on evidence in the lab.
- You examine documents, banknotes, or handwriting for possible forgeries.
- You reconstruct the course of events and check the plausibility of witness statements.
- You prepare clear reports for judges, lawyers, and police officers.
Working conditions
You work at crime scenes, in specialised laboratories, and in public administration offices. You are often employed by police forces, justice authorities, or corporate security departments.
Strengths
- Analytical precision
- Nerve strength
- Discretion
- Connected thinking
Trade-offs
- Irregular working hours
- Mental strain
- High responsibility
- Technological change
06 · Similar
