The Swiss Earnings Structure Survey (ESS) is a survey carried out every two years among private and public enterprises and administrations in Switzerland. It allows a regular description to be made of the earnings structure in all economic activities of the secondary and tertiary sectors based on representative data. It not only enquires after the economic activity and the size of the enterprise concerned, but also the individual characteristics of employees and their jobs.
Wage levels vary according to both individual and job-related characteristics. Gender-specific wage differences and a detailed analysis of the gender pay gap can be found here.
Based on data from the Swiss Earnings Structure Survey (ESS), the wage differences between men and women are first presented using the median and then further below using the mean of a separate analysis of the wage differences.
Gross monthly wage by professional position and gender, 2022, Middle value (median), in Swiss francs - private and public sectors combined
Professional position
Total
Women
Men
Gap in %
Total
6 788
6 397
7 066
9,47
1+2
10 683
9 565
11 212
14,69
3
8 915
8 317
9 293
10,50
4
7 427
7 075
7 635
7,33
5
6 165
5 944
6 305
5,73
Professional position : 1+2 = Upper and middle management 3 = Lower management 4 = Lowest management level 5 = No management function
Analysis of the gender wage gap
Data up to 2020
Based on data from the Swiss Earnings Structure Survey (ESS), analysis of the gender pay gap are conduct on a continuous basis.
Due to the measurement method, the arithmetic mean (average) is used to calculate the wage gap instead of the median which is commonly used as the reference value in the FSO’s descriptive analyses. The analysis of the wage gap (explained and unexplained share) based on the Oaxaca model is a breakdown of the difference in average wages.
You can find here the results of this detailed analysis.
Private sector
Gender pay gap and unexplained share in gender pay gap by economic branch - Private sector, Switzerland 2020
Gender pay gap and unexplained share in gender pay gap - Public sector (Confederation, cantons, districts, communities, corporations, churches), Switzerland 2020
A one-time analysis of the wages 2008 based on NOGA 2002 and NOGA 2008 was carried out (NOGA = General Classification of Economic Activities). The results vary. Explanation: The mathematical model to analyse the salaries of women and men takes account, among other factors, of the economic branch. The transition from the NOGA 2002 to the NOGA 2008 classification has a corresponding influence on the results.
Explained and unexplained share in gender pay gap - Results based on NOGA 2008 (new standard) - Private sector
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
Percentage of gap that can be explained: Due to explainable factors
60.4%
62.4%
59.1%
60.9%
57.1%
55.7%
54.7%
Percentage of gap that can be explained: No explainable reasons for gap
39.6%
37.6%
40.9%
39.1%
42.9%
44.3%
45.3%
Source: Swiss Earnings Structure Survey (ESS), Calculation: Department of Quantitative Economics, University of Fribourg, Büro BASS, BSS Volkswirtschaftliche Beratung AG
Explained and unexplained share in gender pay gap - Results based on NOGA 2002 - Private sector
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
Percentage of gap that can be explained: Due to explainable factors
58,9%
55,6%
58,0%
60,5%
61,4%
61,1%
Percentage of gap that cannot be explained: No explainable reasons for gap
41,1%
44,4%
42,0%
39,5%
38,6%
38,9%
Source: Swiss Earnings Structure Survey (ESS), Calculation: Büro BASS and Bern University
Further information
On behalf of the Swiss Federal Statistical Office and the Federal Office for Gender Equality, regular, in-depth analyses of gender wage gaps were made.
Our English pages offer only a limited range of information on our statistical production. For our full range please consult our pages in French and German (top right hand screen).
