Hi all,

I'm a senior software engineer looking to move into St. Gallen. I have to go to sustain an interview there, but I don't have a real range for salary. Some web sites like http://www.payscale.com/research/CH/.../Salary/by_Job
claims that 102,000 CHF is the median for a Senior Software Engineer. Others mention 157,000 CHF. My expectations are around 135,000 CHF, but maybe I'm wrong, so maybe you can help me.

Here are my questions:

1. What salary is good enough for a family of four living in St. Gallen?
2. What is normal starting point in salary negociations?
3. What other things can be negociated beside salary like
- relocation
- bonus
- train/car
- insurance

Here are some details about me:
- Senior Software Engineer with more than 10 years experience
- Bachelor in Computer Eng. and Master in Computer Science.
- Job is related to Embedded Systems
- Family of four(two kids)
- Salary in CAD over 90,000 CAD

Thanks.

I am sure a more experienced EF’er will come and reply in their inevitable style to this most asked question…

Beep Beep Beep paging Dave A......

Working at a bank will net you 10-20% more than at a software development company, but if you're a technology evangelist then I don't recommend a bank. If you're a greedy asshat like me, a bank would be the best choice though (your specialization in embedded systems might be an advantage or a disadvantage.

At banks I think you can expect 120-150k depending on how much they need you and how good you are.

Currently I'm working for a company which creates software for financial instruments and derivatives. I also worked for a research company developing a stock market forecasting software and involving technologies related to: time-series forecasting, artificial intelligence, pattern recognition, stock market analysis and online investing. Banks like UBS are using our software.

As strange it might sound, I could not find any financial job, so I had to use my background in hardware and embedded systems to get there. After that maybe I'll switch to financial.

DaveA? Still no reply, everything ok?

Hi Pekka, I have been looking at posts on here mentioning "salary", and noticed that DaveA has answered a good few, but has now been banned (hopefully not for good).

Alehandru, I would say that 102K is about average, given your skills and general experience. Your derivatives experience and background could be especially relevant, and 135K with an employer like your current one in Canada is 'on the money'. If you were to work for a small consultancy in say Zurich, client facing, smart dress, working on various client sites, you might get the 155k mark. as a full freelancer, a bit more.

St. Gallen has high taxes, and lower living costs than Zurich or Zug (where I am), so I guess that balances out for this salary level. I would say that 135K is high for St Gallen, especially if your Real Time skills are not fresh, and they are not interested in your derivatives expertise.

A family of 4 can live on less than 135K, but you need to be imaginative. That salary won't buy designer gear for the family, a large apartment in the centre of town, private schools for the kids, or an X5 on hp!

Hi p42, welcome to the forum! Take everything the beforementioned user has said about salaries with a pinch of salt.

Hi Alehandru...

Coming from Canada with two kids and a wife and your salary in Cad is over 90000 dont move for less than 135K to 150K... Just my advice as a Canadian. You might earn more here but you will also spend more as everything is a lot more expensive.

Hard to say whether your expectations are merited without knowing your experience and the type of company you are talking to but I think maybe your expectations should be lower than 135000