Swiss vs. French salaries in 2025: comparison and purchasing power

Salary comparison: Switzerland vs. France

In 2024, according to the OECD, the average gross annual salary in Switzerland will be €67,409 (approx. €5,617/month), compared with €38,184 in France (approx. €3,182/month). This represents a difference of 76.5% in favor of Switzerland. On a net basis, after deduction of social security contributions, a Swiss employee earns around €4,382/month, compared with €2,400/month in France for an equivalent position.

However, these figures mask significant disparities according to sector, region and level of qualification. Here’s a detailed analysis.

The highest-paying sectors in 2025

What are the salaries by sector in Switzerland?

Switzerland is renowned for its high salaries in high value-added sectors. Here are the highest-paying sectors in 2025, based on data from the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (SFSO) and other reliable sources:

• Banking and finance: Senior executives can earn up to CHF 16,821/month (around €15,800). Asset managers and treasury officers are particularly well paid.
• Pharmaceuticals and chemicals: Salaries range from CHF 8,000 to 12,000/month (€7,500-11,300), with strong demand for researchers and engineers.
• Technology and IT: Full-stack developers and cybersecurity specialists earn around CHF 10,000/month (€9,400).
• Healthcare: Medical specialists earn up to CHF 12,000/month (€11,300), while intensive care nurses earn around CHF 7,000/month (€6,600).
• Renewable energies: Solar and wind power engineers earn between CHF 8,000 and 10,000/month (€7,500-9,400).

Less skilled sectors, such as the hotel and catering industry, offer salaries closer to the legal minimum, around CHF 4,825/month (€4,500) in cantons like Geneva.

What are the salaries by sector in France?

In France, salaries are more homogeneous, but some sectors stand out:

• Aeronautics and industry: Qualified engineers earn between €5,000 and €8,000/month.
• IT and telecommunications: Developers and cybersecurity experts earn around €4,500/month.
• Finance and insurance: Senior managers can earn up to €6,000/month.
• Healthcare: General practitioners earn around €5,000/month, but salaries are lower for nurses (around €2,500/month).

Less-skilled occupations, such as catering or sales, are often paid at the minimum wage (€1,766 gross/month in 2024).

Comparative salaries for equivalent positions in the two countries

For the same job, the pay gap can be impressive. For example:

• A full-stack developer earns around €4,500/month in France versus €9,400/month in Switzerland.
• A specialist nurse earns €2,500/month in France, compared with €6,600/month in Switzerland.
• A banking executive can earn €6,000/month in France, compared with €15,800/month in Switzerland.

The wage gap between different regions in Switzerland and France

Focus on the best-paid Swiss cantons

Salaries vary by canton:

• Zurich: average salary of CHF 7,096/month (€6,670), thanks to the presence of multinationals.
• Geneva: CHF 6,074/month (€5,700), with a legal minimum wage of CHF 4,182/month (€3,930) for a 42-hour working week.
• Basel: CHF 6,200/month (€5,830), driven by the pharmaceutical industry.
• Ticino: CHF 5,363/month (€5,040), the lowest-paying canton.

French cities with the highest salaries

In France, the major cities offer the best salaries:

• Paris: Up to €4,500/month in sectors such as finance or IT.
• Lyon: Around €3,500/month.
• Toulouse: Up to €4,000/month, thanks to the aeronautics industry.

Border regions, such as Ain or Haute-Savoie, have lower salaries, often around €2,500-3,000/month for intermediate positions.

Cost of living: a determining factor

Swiss salaries are high, but so is the cost of living. Here’s a comparative analysis of the main expenses.

Rent comparison between Switzerland and France

In Switzerland, rents are prohibitive, especially in the big cities:

• Geneva or Zurich: A one-bedroom apartment in the city center costs CHF 1,500-2,500/month (€1,400-2,350).
• Basel: Approx. CHF 1,200-1,800/month (€1,130-1,690).

The choice of canton and place of residence, particularly in Geneva and its neighborhoods, can influence both take-home pay and cost of living.

In France, rents are much more affordable:

• Lyon or Strasbourg: €700-1,200/month for equivalent accommodation.
• Haute-Savoie or Ain: €500-900/month on the outskirts.

For a cross-border commuter, living in France means a considerable reduction in housing costs, thus increasing purchasing power. Located just 20 minutes from Geneva, the Ecla Archamps residence offers an ideal alternative for cross-border commuters. Rents are much more affordable than in Switzerland, and premium services have been designed with cross-border commuters in mind.

The cost of health insurance on both sides of the border

In Switzerland, private health insurance (LAMal) is compulsory and costs between CHF 300 and 600/month (€280-560) per adult, depending on age and benefits. In France, the Assurance Maladie, supplemented by a mutuelle, is much less expensive. It will cost around €127.96/month in 2025, ranging from €30 to €180/month depending on the profile and level of cover chosen. Cross-border commuters can choose between LAMal and French CMU, the latter often being more advantageous.

Social security contributions and taxation: what are the differences?

• Switzerland: Social security contributions represent around 15% of gross salary, compared with 23-25% in France. Withholding tax, applied in cantons such as Geneva, varies from 10 to 20% depending on income. In other cantons (Vaud, Valais), cross-border commuters declare their income in France.
• France: tax and social security contributions are higher, reducing net salary. However, cross-border commuters taxed in France benefit from a more protective social system (unemployment, retirement).

Everyday expenses: where do we really gain in purchasing power?

Everyday costs are 30-60% higher in Switzerland:

• Groceries: A basic shopping basket costs around CHF 100 (€94) in Switzerland, compared with €60-70 in France.
• Transport: A monthly public transport pass costs CHF 80-100 (€75-94) in Switzerland, compared with €50-70 in France.
• Services: Telephony and Internet are also more expensive in Switzerland.

Cross-border commuters optimize their budget by doing their shopping and subscribing to services in France. If you’re going to be driving back and forth on the Swiss freeway, don’t forget to add the cost of the vignette, which is around €42-45/year.

Advantages and disadvantages of working in Switzerland

Why working in Switzerland can boost your net income

• High salaries: Even for low-skilled jobs, Swiss salaries are significantly higher.
• Favorable tax system: Lower social security contributions and simplified withholding tax in certain cantons.
• Dynamic market: Sectors such as finance, technology, healthcare, and renewable energy offer many opportunities.
• Optimized purchasing power: Living in France while working in Switzerland allows you to benefit from lower housing costs and daily expenses.

Limitations to consider before crossing the border

• Cost of living: Expenses in Switzerland (housing, insurance, groceries) reduce the salary advantage for Swiss residents.
• Limited social protection: The absence of a system like the French social security system means that employees must finance their own health insurance.
• Competition and protectionism: Cross-border workers may be the first to be affected in the event of an economic crisis, and some French degrees require
• equivalencies.
• Complex tax management: Cross-border workers have to juggle the Swiss and French tax systems, which can complicate tax returns.

Sectors that will be recruiting in Switzerland in 2025

Switzerland remains a dynamic job market, with a low unemployment rate (2.3% according to the SFSO in 2024). Here are the most promising sectors for cross-border commuters:

• Technology and cybersecurity: Companies are looking for full-stack developers, AI and cybersecurity experts.
• Finance: Wealth and treasury managers are in high demand.
• Healthcare: Specialist nurses and general practitioners are in demand, especially in rural areas.
• Renewable energies: Solar and wind power engineers and technicians benefit from the ecological transition.
• Construction: Project managers and skilled workers benefit from infrastructure growth.

French cross-border commuters, valued for their training, are finding opportunities in these sectors, particularly in Geneva and Basel.

Advice for cross-border commuters

Reduce your taxes by choosing the right canton

• Choose the right canton: Geneva applies withholding tax, simplifying the process. In other cantons, you’ll have to declare your income in France.
• Compare LAMal and CMU: French CMU is often cheaper for cross-border commuters.
• Use a salary calculator: Tools such as those provided by the SFSO or Jobup.ch allow you to estimate your net salary according to your situation.

How to save on your CHF/EUR conversions?

Cross-border commuters receive their salaries in Swiss francs, but often spend in euros. Exchange fees charged by traditional banks can reduce your purchasing power. Use services like Wise or Revolut to benefit from transparent exchange rates with no hidden charges.

Negotiating your salary in Switzerland

In Switzerland, salaries are often negotiated at the recruitment stage. Prepare yourself by consulting the salary grids by sector (available from OFS or UNIA) and taking into account your experience, qualifications and canton.

Cross-border teleworking: what the 2025 agreements say

Thanks to bilateral agreements, extended by the rider of December 17, 2024 until December 31, 2025, cross-border commuters can telework from France up to 40% of their time without any tax consequences between Switzerland and France (and up to 25% for Swiss-Italian cross-border commuters). However, be sure to formalize a clear teleworking agreement with your employer to secure your tax situation.

Conclusion

Working in Switzerland as a cross-border commuter offers undeniable financial opportunities, with salaries up to 76% higher than in France. However, the cost of living, social security contributions and taxation must be taken into account to assess the real advantage. By living in France, cross-border commuters optimize their purchasing power, particularly when it comes to housing and day-to-day expenses. Sectors such as finance, technology and healthcare remain particularly attractive in 2025.

To maximize your income, choose your canton wisely, compare insurance options, use advantageous currency exchange services and negotiate your salary. With the right planning, working in Switzerland while living in France can turn your salary into a real lever for improving your quality of life.

Useful resources :

• FSO: Wage calculators and sector data.
• UNIA: Information on collective agreements and minimum wages.
• FDF: Details of Franco-Swiss tax agreements.
• Cross-border teleworking guide: Advice for cross-border commuters.