A new study from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) has revealed that around a third of workers in Switzerland receive a bonus alongside their regular salary. The FSO found that in some job sectors, bonuses can range from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands of Swiss francs a year.

A third of Swiss workers receive annual bonuses

In the report, the government noted that 33,6 percent of people employed in Switzerland received a bonus payment in 2022, a slight decrease from levels seen in 2020 (36,3 percent). At the same time, the study found that the average bonus in Switzerland has increased, from 10.142 francs a year in 2020 to 11.670 francs in 2022. 

However, the FSO also noted that bonus sizes “vary greatly” by industry and level of responsibility, with those working non-managerial jobs receiving an annual bonus of 4.870 francs on average. Interestingly, businesses with fewer than 10 employees offered the highest average bonuses at 15.300 francs. They were followed by companies with 10 to 50 employees (12.600 francs a year) and companies with over 50 workers (11.200 francs).

The report noted that women in Switzerland tend to receive a smaller bonus than men. Across all companies analysed, women were given bonuses that were around half the value of those given to men, and in businesses with fewer than 10 workers, women’s bonuses were 66 percent less valuable than men’s. 

Tobacco industry and IT offer the biggest bonuses in Switzerland

In terms of the biggest bonuses, much like the best-paid jobs, the tobacco industry was found to provide the biggest payouts in Switzerland. The average worker can expect to earn 38.585 francs in bonuses per year, varying from 4.079 francs for regular employees right up to 293.000-franc bonuses for executives.

For regular employees, the highest bonuses offered in Switzerland can be found in the information technology sector, boasting an average of 11.871 francs a year. They were followed by banking (7.649 francs), tobacco (4.079), manufacturing (4.036), retail (2.203) and public administration (1.189). For more information, check out the official press release (in French).