Wage gap man-woman in Switzerland: CHF 640 from unexplained party (cross-border guide)

Context

In a nutshell

• Male-female wage gap at 15.7% in 2024, up from 16.2% in 2022
• In the private sector 17.2% (2024) versus 17.5% (2022); in the public sector 12.8% (2024)
• Unexplained component: 6.5%, equal to 640 gross monthly francs
• Most marked at the top of the hierarchy and with age; 8.1% married

Key facts

• What: UST report on the wage gap between the sexes in Switzerland
• When: Data referring to 2024, published on the day of the UST REPORT
• Where: Switzerland (total private and public sector)
• Who: Federal Statistical Office (FSO)
• Amount: Total gap 15.7% (2024) vs 16.2% (2022); private 17.2%; public 12.8%
• Amount: Unexplained component 6.5% = 640 CHF gross/month
• Amount: 30.6% gap in financial and insurance assets
• Amount: CHF 1,506 of unexplained component in finance and insurance

The wage gap between men and women in Switzerland has narrowed further: in 2024 it stood at 15.7%, down from 16.2% in 2022. This is what emerges from the latest report published by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO). The figure marks a positive evolution, but the report photographs a country where the pay differences remain profound, especially in the private sector and at the top of careers.

In the private sector, the gap reached 17.2% in 2024, compared to 17.5% in 2022 (2020: 19.5%; 2018: 19.6%). In the public sector — Confederation, Cantons and Municipalities overall — the difference was 12.8%

Operational details

What it means for those working in Switzerland

The UST figure is not just a statistical photograph: it has direct repercussions on the wages actually received. The 640 gross francs per month of unexplained component, on an annual basis, is equivalent to over 7,600 francs which, with the same qualification, end up in men's paychecks. A difference that weighs on the budget available for AVS and LPP, given that social security contributions are calculated on the coordinated salary: lower salaries correspond to lower future annuities.

The fact that the public shows a smaller gap (12.8% against 17.2% of the private sector) suggests that collective agreements and salary grades work as a barrier, while the private sector — especially finance, insurance and manufacturing — remains the terrain where the gap is wider. For those looking for work in Switzerland, this means carefully evaluating the sector and the size of the company: small companies, according to the UST, have a higher unexplained component.

Comparison with the previous two years

Between 2022 and 2024 the overall gap fell from 16.2% to 15.7%, half a percentage point in two years. In the private sector, the drop was three tenths (from 17.5% to 17.2%), but the starting point was already high. In the public, the reduction was more marked: from 13.8% to 12.8%, a whole point. The historical series of the report — 2018, 2020, 2022, 2024 — shows a constant trend of reduction in both sectors, although the sector

Useful planning tools

To estimate your pension strategy, use the pension planner and the pillar 3 simulator.

Key points

What to do if you notice a pay gap

Concrete tools exist in Switzerland for anyone who suspects wage discrimination. Analyzing your pay slip is the first step: comparing your gross salary with that of colleagues who have the same training, seniority and role is a right, and employers with at least 100 employees are required to carry out internal equal pay analyses. For those who want to simulate the impact of a potential salary adjustment on the net pay, it is useful to compare the figures with a tool dedicated to salary calculation.

How to read the FSO report and check your numbers

The FSO report is public and available on the federal office's website. For an employee in Switzerland, the practical steps are:

• compare your position with the FSO sectoral data (the report clearly indicates the sector of reference);
• check the coordinated LPP salary shown on your pension certificate, because lower earnings lead to lower pensions;
• consider the effect on the monthly net pay in case of renegotiation, using the salary calculator;
• evaluate moving to a Canton with a more favourable multiplier, because the cantonal and municipal tax component affects the effective net pay — useful information in the tax return.

When to ask for a salary comparison

The Equal Pay Act requires employers with at least 100 employees to analyze their pay structure. If the company is below that threshold, the employee can still ask for clarification. For an overview of the labour market and available offers, it can be useful to consult job listings and assess how your profile is paid elsewhere.

…