Hi all. I had an interview last week with a Zürich-based company. For a bit of background: I've got a BSc in Computer Science and just finished my MBA in International Management. I've been an engineer at a telecom vendor for 7+ years and programme manager for one. He asked what salary I would like to make. I admitted that I hadn't done a lot of research up to then (by have done a lot more now), and thought something in the neighborhood of 100kCHF was good. Upon further research I think I may have low-balled myself. So a number of questions:

1) This is my 1st negotiation with a Swiss firm (1st ever, actually). Will they scoff if I try to increase it ~20%?
2) Did I low-ball myself?
3) Is 100kCHF/year a realistic salary for Zürich? I don't particularly need or want to live in Zürich proper. Probably something outside like Adliswil, Regensdorf, etc. I have a wife and a 15-month-old, and will probably have a 2nd baby soon after arriving in CH. Could we live comfortably on that salary?

Granted, I know there's a lot more to compensation than just the liquid aspect of it. But that is an important piece.

Thanks everyone.

Ben..

Hi there,

I seriously think you have low-balled yourself (depending on the company and role there of course). With the experience and quals you have, presuming the job is a pretty neat fit for your skillset, then i would think you should be 50-100% more than that.

I'm no expert on these things i will admit, but you do seem to have sold yourself short.
In the interview i just asked for 'Swiss Market Rates', and i think that is the stock phrase you should maybe go for?

Hope this helps,
Brett

P.S. I forgot to add that this position is for a project manager at another telecom company, so it's not like I'm changing career fields or anything.

dunno about 100% more......120chf would be about right IMO

The correct answer is:
137642.34CHF

a) Its business. Anything is negotiable.
b) Yes
c) Yes but hair-shirt required.

dave

100kUSD intead of 100kCHF

That's what i would have thought too!

I've just been offered a job for 200k CHF in Geneva, so about 16.6K/month Gross.

Can anyone give me a rough idea on what that will turn into after tax??

Thanks

Harry

I've done some calculations, and given your salary, after tax it works out at...your round mate.

you into a dreadful bore ?
dave

Considering that these salaries are usually to be found in banks where people grandly tell you about their forecast of the evolution of the Botswanan economy rounded down to two digits, I think it's pretty bone chilling that same people can't figure out their own tax rate to begin with.

Without considering any deductables i would say 33-36% will be your tax bracket.

Yeah, that's what I thought too.

Crappola

Bozo - my philiosophy is "if you don't ask you don't get".
If you're going to ask for more, and from what you've written you probably are worth, then do it sooner rather than later.
If you feel uncomfortable increasing your ask, then you could also ask for some additional benefits on top of the basic salary - e.g car, flight allowance, family health insurance, bonus etc all of which are fairly comman packages for someone with your CV. Good luck and don't be afraid to ask for a little more than you really want, as negotiations usually are a compromise.

lots and lots of beer tokens?
let's just say you won't struggle too much on that

Hey Shorrick, thanks for the help man. Very enlightening. I look forward to more pearls of your wisdom in the future...

From the outside, the Swiss tax system seems quite complex and entirely different to the UK so I'm a little uncertain of what the tax position is. All I wanted was a little advice to help me plan when my young family move to Geneva.

BTW I'm not a banker, but clearly you are!!

the Swiss tax system is much easier than the UK one. And fairer.

On the bright side, you'll be taxed at source with the permit you'll get.

Sure, no problem. My rationale is that someone commanding a so high salary must certainly justify it by a corresponding set of skills.

I wouldn't have thought figuring out a tax rate is that complicated, (especially if it's only income tax), but who knows, maybe indeed it is.

Good for you. I only said that because in my experience no industry other than financial services pays out that amount of money for someone having a "young family" as you mentioned.

Obviously, I am willing to stand corrected if my perceptions of the local payscales were to be proved wrong.

Fella, I can tell we're gonna be mates as my rationale is the exactly the same. And part of the skillset I utilise to justify my salary is the ability to take a range of datasets and sense check calculations in order to minimise errors. i.e I have already calculated what I think it should be, but some advice would add a layer of comfort to my thinking before I commit a chunk of cash on renting a home for my family.

Anyway, if Swiss tax is that simple (simpler than the UK?!) then I guess I haven't missed anything.

So, consenus is that I'll have a few beer tokens to spare...my rouund it is then.

Did they mentioned which field of Telecoms you have to work...is it at the vendor or operator. I am in telecoms field and can put some light on the actual job description and working environment.