Hi all,

I am Thomas. Recently I got a postdoc offer from University of Bern. However, the salary will be only 60% of a full postdoc postion. Are there anybody who have similar salary level like this? Or do you think it is acceptable to keep a life at Bern?


Thanks

Hi Thomas and welcome to the forum! 60 % means that you work only 3 days a week (and consequently also 60 % of a full salary). Correct me if I'm wrong... Is it enough to have a decent life? Depends on how much those 60 % are. Anything below 3'000 Sfr./month can be regarded as living in poverty.

Hi zürihegel, thank you very much for your welcoming~~.

As indicated, a full postion for a postdoc in swiss (Chemistry) are paid arround 80000chf/y, *60%=48000/y only!~


I do not expect 60% salary means 60% working hours. Normally for a postdoc, >100% working hours are nessisary no matter how poor the salary is..

That's why somebody call postdoc as "postdog"..~~~just for fun

You'd be amazed how many people think that - me included when I started there...
60% is about 'normal' for people in the organic wing. Apparently, it's slightly higher for those in the north block, which can cause a bit of grumbling. I know someone who was on 30% and was constantly being bollocked for not doing over 100% hours... I was on 75% and considered myself lucky, but it was bloody hard to support a family of four on when pying other things off. You also don't get (usually) any relocation allowance.
In a couple of years, however, it's not likely that they'll be allowed to do this. I know most of the EU money that comes in has legal safeguards to stop professors splitting up money meant for one person and there might be a time when Swiss money follows that, too.
Personally, if you've got another offer that's better elsewhere...

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Thanks, Thomas for your words that shed some light onto this. It sounds unbelievable that a "postdog" job only pays 48'000 alpine dollar! That's really not a lot if you consider living here and not only surviving. Well, it's up to you to decide...