I am working as a software developer in Greece and have 3 years of experience, being paid around 40% more than. I recently got an offer for a job in Zurich surroundings for 90000 CHF, german speaking. In Greece I am paid 1800 (x12)Euros/month Net, which is quite above average.
I am wondering if this job offer is good enough. I don't have so high standards for lifestyle but I would like to live in the wider city area, near a train connection and would not like to be underpaid.
Could anyone help me and tell me
1. if this salary is considered good for my market value?
2. what would this mean in terms of net income?
I have searched around and found these figures but cannot verify if they are correct:
90'000 brutto is about right for a software developer and it's quite a bit above Swiss average. My brother worked as a software developer until a couple of months ago and made only half as much - so consider yourself lucky. Taxes would be around 12'000 to 16'000, depending on what you can deduct (work in one Canton and live in another, for example) and what Canton you live in. A salary of 6900 Fr. / month (x 13) translates into about 5900 after AHV/IV, ALV, pension plan, accident insurance. Health insurance will be between 200 and 400, depending on your age.
Costs for an apartment depend on where you live and how much space you need - calculate between 1000 and 1600 Fr. / month.
Then there's car insurance (again, depends on the car you drive - between 60 and 150 Fr. / month), home insurance and public transportation.
So, broken down, it's going to look like that:
5900 - 1000 for taxes, - 1500 for the apartment, 300 for health insurance, 100 for car insurance, 40 Fr. for home insurance, 80 for public transportation, 500 for food, 100 for phone + internet, 50 for mobile phone = 2230 / month for fun. That's a pretty good salary, considering the fact that most Swiss only make about 4500 brutto in average.
you should be able to calculate net salary, but it does not count the health insurance which in Swizerland varies depending on the health insurance company you choose. For example for health insurance I spend 360 CHF/month for me and my wife (180 each).
Salary levels depend a lot on your skill set and the area you are going to be working in. In some cases 90,000 would be about right and in others it should be nearer to 110,000...
If you indicate your skill set and the industry you will be working in, you can expect better feedback.
Hello all and thanks for the feedback! Very friendly forum.
1. Regarding my question about tax and insurance deductions, I can pretty much see though that the figures are similar to the ones I mentioned. Also the figures that dawiz mentions are similar.
However I am not sure I can verify every figure and I cannot understand all things at http://www.estv.admin.ch and the difference between canton and communal taxes and the tax burden and which is the actual amount I will be paying, but it's ok :)
2. Regarding my market value question, it is true I haven't supplied much info. My main skills are java/j2ee, web development, 3yrs experience. The company is a 40 people company that produces software for financial institutions. A job agency told me that I should negotiate between 100-110K.
Hello, with regard to net tax calculations, that Foreigners with an L or B permit pay their tax bill at source. It is deducted from the monthly salary at an average rate. Therefore below the threshold at which you would file a tax return (which is CHF 120,000) the lower rates of tax which apply in certain Gemeinde can not be taken advantage of. If you live in the City of Zurich, the witholding tax which you end up paying should be fair. There will also be a church tax, unless you state yourself as "Konfessionlos". My friend did that, but when she wanted to get married in the church here it was then not possible for her I believe. Kind regards
Hello, on the theme of Net income. I was wondering if anyone has any definitive knowledge when the Tax rules will be changed to make it more benficial (taxwise) to be married with children and a working partner, rather then "separated". I have hear rumours over the last 18 months that this was legally agreed, but not yet implemented. I think anyone who is in this situation is also waiting for this unfair situation to be rectified. This will be a welcome plus for my net income (hopefully)
To me rent is just wasted money, plain wasted money. That said, suppose I wanted to stay in Switzerland 2 or 3 years, so I buy a flat (no need to tell me they’re expensive, I know that already), will it be difficult to sell afterwards? Housing market lively enough or is it true that 70% of Swiss rent instead of buying? Ta
No it's not true, we make it up to tease the foreigners...
You could of course buy an appartment for two-three years, waste money on notary fees, transaction fees and repayment of interest income, and at the end of the period all in all you might even spend more than renting.
Staying for 2-3 yrs..rent. Selling a flat is difficult and you won't make any money unless you are lucky, you may well even lose money and be unable to sell at the end of 3 years.
Search the forum for advice on buying a house.
1500 will get you a small, 1 bedroom flat, at least in Zurich...3500+ will get you a house. Everything else is around 2000 and depends on how grand a place you want to live in as too how much you spend. Check out the thread on renting a flat.
If you're determined to buy, why don't you consider keeping the flat after the 2-3 years of living in it and renting it out? Could be a good investment and ensures cash flow. Then after 5-10 years, you can consider selling it and making a nodest profit on the sale, after having a few years of rental income.