Employment and salary
ETH Zurich offers its employees stimulating work and an excellent infrastructure. In return, it expects them to deliver outstanding performances.
The conditions of employment are based on the Swiss Federal Personnel Act and the ETH Personnel Ordinance. Salaries are calculated according to function level, experience and performance.
Employment: The terms of employment is determined by an individual contract of employment that is signed by the employee and the employer (ETH Zurich).
Period of the contract:
- Non-permanent contract
- The maximum period of employment is six years
- Initial contract lasts at least eighteen months (from 1.1.2022)
- Subsequent contracts last at least twelve months (from 1.1.2022)
- In the final year, a contract duration of at least three months is possible (from 1.1.2022)
Probation period: 3 months, if contractually specified.
Duties: As defined in the job description.
Period of notice: A non-permanent contract ends when the fixed term specified in the contract expires.
Salary: Scientific assistants in the first two career levels receive a fixed starting salary, which is paid out in 12 monthly instalments. At each of these two levels, the salary is increased annually in predefined incremental stages over three years.
Payment: Payment is in twelve monthly instalments.
Further information can be found in the external pageOrdinance governing scientific employeescall_made and in the section Contract of employment.
protected pageInformation sheet rates and social security contributionslock
Employment: The terms of employment is determined by an individual contract of employment that is signed by the employee and the employer (ETH Zurich).
Period of the contract: Non-permanent contract. The maximum period of employment is six years.
Probation period: 3 months, if contractually specified.
Duties: As defined in the job description.
Period of notice: A non-permanent contract ends when the fixed term specified in the contract expires.
Salary: Scientific assistants in the first two career levels receive a fixed starting salary, which is paid out in 12 monthly instalments. At each of these two levels, the salary is increased annually in predefined incremental stages over three years.
Payment: Payment is in twelve monthly instalments.
Further information can be found in the external pageOrdinance governing scientific employeescall_made and in the section Contract of employment.
protected pageInformation sheet rates and social security contributionslock
Employment: The terms of employment is determined by an individual contract of employment that is signed by the employee and the employer (ETH Zurich).
Period of the contract: Non-permanent contract. The maximum period of employment is six years.
Probation period: 3 months, if contractually specified.
Duties: As defined in the job description.
Period of notice: A non-permanent contract ends when the fixed term specified in the contract expires.
Salary: Senior Assistants are assigned to a function level. Their salary moves within that salary band. An appraisal interview is held each year, in which the employee and the employee’s supervisor define new and effective targets for the following year based on an assessment of the employee’s current performance. At the same time, measures are taken to enhance employees’ specialist knowledge and keep them motivated.
Payment: Payment is in 13 monthly instalments. The 13th month is an integral part of the salary and is paid at the end of the year (11/12 in November and 1/12 in December).
Further information can be found in the external pageOrdinance governing scientific employeescall_made and in the section Contract of employment.
Employment: The terms of employment is determined by an individual contract of employment that is signed by the employee and the employer (ETH Zurich).
Period of the contract: Permanent contract
Probation period: 3 months, extendable to a maximum of 6 months.
Duties: As defined in the job description.
Period of notice: For permanent contracts, the period of notice is 3 months.
Salary: Scientific collaborators and senior scientists are assigned to a function level. Their salary moves within that salary band. An appraisal interview is held each year, in which the employee and the employee’s supervisor define new and effective targets for the following year based on an assessment of the employee’s current performance. At the same time, measures are taken to enhance employees’ specialist knowledge and keep them motivated.
Payment: Payment is in 13 monthly instalments. The 13th month is an integral part of the salary and is paid at the end of the year (11/12 in November and 1/12 in December).
Further information can be found in the external pageOrdinance governing scientific employeescall_made and in the section Contract of employment.
Employment: The terms of employment is determined by an individual contract of employment that is signed by the employee and the employer (ETH Zurich).
Period of the contract: Generally no fixed term.
Probation period: 3 months, for employees with special roles extendable to 6 months.
Duties: As defined in the job description.
Period of notice: For permanent contracts, the period of notice is 3 months.
Salary: Employees in support functions are assigned to a function level. Their salary moves within that salary band. An appraisal interview is held each year, in which the employee and the employee’s supervisor define new and effective targets for the following year based on an assessment of the employee’s current performance. At the same time, measures are taken to enhance employees’ specialist knowledge and keep them motivated.
Payment: Payment is in 13 monthly instalments. The 13th month is an integral part of the salary and is paid at the end of the year (11/12 in November and 1/12 in December).
Further information can be found in the section Contract of employment.
Employment: The employment relationship is regulated by an individual contract of employment that is signed by the employee and the employer (ETH Zurich).
Period of the contract: Non-permanent contract. The maximum period of employment for scientific employees is nine years and for employees in support roles five years.
Probation period: 3 months, if contractually specified.
Duties: As defined in the job description.
Period of notice: A non-permanent contract ends when the fixed term specified in the contract expires.
Salary: The salary of employees working on projects depends on the tasks they carry out, the duration of the project and the source of funding. Depending on the situation, one of two ways of determining the salary for project staff is applied:
a) A salary band: The employee is assigned to a function level. Their salary moves within that salary band. An appraisal interview is held each year, in which the employee and the employee’s supervisor define new and effective targets for the following year based on an assessment of the employee’s current performance. At the same time, measures are taken to enhance employees’ specialist knowledge and keep them motivated.
b) All-in salary: For certain kinds of project work, what is called an all-in salary is set. Someone on an all-in salary does not receive automatic pay rises or increases for inflation.
Payment: Employees in a salary band receive their salary in 13 monthly instalments. Payment is in 13 monthly instalments. The 13th month is an integral part of the salary and is paid at the end of the year (11/12 in November and 1/12 in December). An all-in salary is paid in twelve monthly instalments.
Further information can be found in the section Contract of employment.
Employment: The employment relationship is regulated by an individual contract of employment that is signed by the employee and the employer (ETH Zurich).
Period of the contract: Non-permanent contract. Students may work as an assistant during the period of their studies.
Probation period: In general, no probationary period is agreed for hourly paid employment.
Area of responsibility: Teaching-related tasks in accordance with point 3 of the guidelines for teaching assistants (Richtlinie Hilfsassistierende), primarily assisting students and supporting lecturers.
Period of notice: A non-permanent contract ends when the fixed term specified in the contract expires.
Salary: Hourly wage, incl. proportion for holidays. The Executive Board sets the base rate for assistants on an annual basis. The minimum rate is currently CHF 28.00 incl. a proportion for holidays.
Payment: The number of hours worked is usually reported at the beginning of the following month. This means that the hours worked from the previous month are paid in the current payroll.
Further information can be found in the section Contract of employment.
DownloadInformation sheet: Employment on an hourly wage basis (PDF, 53 KB)vertical_align_bottom
Find out more
- chevron_right Contract of employment
- chevron_right Working remotely in Switzerland
- chevron_right Salary determination and salary increments
- chevron_right Performance bonus
- chevron_right Family allowance
- chevron_right Wage deductions
- chevron_right Outside employment and other activities
- chevron_right Withholding tax
- chevron_right Employment on an hourly wage basis