Occupation & salary Switzerland
Pilots (Captain) in Switzerland earn an average gross annual salary of CHF 150,826. As commander, they are responsible for the safe operation of the cockpit and the execution of scheduled and charter flights.
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Calculated for the canton of Zurich, age 40, single, no children, no church affiliation. Use the full salary calculator for your personal details.
In many cantons households pay 20-40% more for health insurance than necessary. By comparing, Swiss households save CHF 1'200 per year on average.
Salary data
| By canton | Gross per year | Monthly wage |
|---|---|---|
| ag | 186,154 CHF | 15,513 CHF |
| bs | 159,231 CHF | 13,269 CHF |
| zh | 138,462 CHF | 11,539 CHF |
| vd | 122,308 CHF | 10,192 CHF |
| By experience | Gross per year | Monthly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 5 years | 151,154 CHF | 12,596 CHF |
| 16 years | 150,826 CHF | 12,569 CHF |
| 25 years | 220,000 CHF | 18,333 CHF |
| By qualification | Gross per year | Monthly wage |
|---|---|---|
| No education | 92,308 CHF | 7,692 CHF |
| University of Applied Sciences | 170,872 CHF | 14,239 CHF |
| University | 166,667 CHF | 13,889 CHF |
| By gender | Gross per year | Monthly wage | Ø age | Ø work experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 146,115 CHF | 12,176 CHF | 44.3 | 17.6 |
The salary of a Pilot (Captain) in Switzerland is influenced by several factors. Canton plays an important role: in Aargau and Basel-Stadt, home to major airlines and business aviation companies, salaries are significantly above average, while they are lower in Zurich and Vaud. Professional experience is another key factor: captains with many years of flight experience and high flight hours earn markedly more than newcomers to the profession. Qualification also has a strong impact - pilots with a degree from a university of applied sciences or university, for example in aviation technology or aviatics, earn on average significantly more than colleagues without such academic training. In addition, aircraft type, airline and the type of flights (scheduled or charter) influence the salary.
The captain is the commander in charge of an aircraft and bears ultimate responsibility for the safety of crew, passengers and cargo. In Switzerland, captains fly for major airlines such as Swiss International Air Lines and Edelweiss out of the Zurich and Geneva hubs, but also for business aviation companies based throughout Switzerland. Key tasks include flight preparation and planning, monitoring all cockpit and system processes during the flight, communicating with air traffic control, and making decisions in unusual situations. The path to becoming a captain typically leads through thorough pilot training at a flight school, followed by several years of experience as a first officer before being promoted to commander.
Comparison
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