Income & taxes

Swiss salary deductions explained: where your gross pay goes

The short answer: Swiss payslips deduct roughly 12–17% before taxes – AHV/IV/EO 5.3%, unemployment insurance 1.1%, pension fund 7–12%+ (age-dependent), plus accident and possibly daily-allowance insurance. Understanding each line turns your payslip from a mystery into a plan.

Von Leutrim MiftarajGründer von BudgetHub, MSc Innovation Management (FFHS)

Line by line

AHV/IV/EO (5.3%): state pension and disability. ALV (1.1% up to a ceiling): unemployment. BVG/pension fund: age-tiered savings (7% at 25 → 18% at 55+, employer pays at least half). NBU: non-occupational accident, often ~1–2%. KTG: sick-pay insurance, employer-dependent.

Why net varies between jobs

Same gross, different net: pension fund plans differ enormously (mandatory-only vs. generous), KTG splits vary, and source tax applies for non-C-permit holders. When comparing offers, compare the PENSION PLAN too – it's deferred salary.

Budget from net

Build your budget on the real net figure and treat the 13th salary separately.

Track these costs in your own budget: create your free Swiss budget in BudgetHub – in English, with Swiss categories built in.

Setz es direkt um

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