Salary for IT Systems Engineer in Zurich Banks

swisst · #1 30.01.2016, 17:16

Hi guys,

wondering what you think of this.

Im 35 and have over 10y. experience in IT. Have worked with AD, Exchange, Switches, Storage, VMware. Lately more focussed in VMware and Storage. Holding a few certs in all those areas.

One of the bigger banks in Zurich offered me 120k CHF.

I heard that a few years ago salaries were generally a bit higher as today.

Do you think this is a good offer?

Thanks for your input!

Chuff · #2 30.01.2016, 17:17

	Quote:	swisst
	Hi guys, wondering what you think of this. Im 35 and have over 10y. experience in IT. Have worked with AD, Exchange, Switches, Storage, VMware. Lately more focussed in VMware and Storage. Holding a few certs in all those areas. One of the bigger banks in Zurich offered me 120k CHF. I heard that a few years ago salaries were generally a bit higher as today. Do you think this is a good offer? Thanks for your input!

That's a decent salary for an IT generalist of your age. Is there a bonus?

k_and_e · #3 30.01.2016, 17:38

Looks like hr departments check EF for offers.

Troublawesome · #4 30.01.2016, 19:47

Good salary, take it. If any additional benefits exist then it's above average.

swisst · #5 30.01.2016, 23:05

Thanks! No its just fixed, no bonus.

ZuriRollt · #6 30.01.2016, 23:17

	Quote:	swisst
	Thanks! No its just fixed, no bonus.

I agree with other comments. If this an offer you've received, then it's a surprisingly good deal. As you're not on a bonus scheme, assume that it's contract?

Troublawesome · #7 30.01.2016, 23:19

	Quote:	swisst
	Thanks! No its just fixed, no bonus.

Maybe you have health insurance covered, or a fixed amount for commute or a share scheme, good pension contributions from employer etc

Even with nothing else, salary is quite good.

profetas · #8 01.02.2016, 09:48

If you already live here with experience for local companies it is a bit low, if you are coming from outside then it is good.

Chuff · #9 01.02.2016, 09:54

	Quote:	profetas
	If you already live here with experience for local companies it is a bit low, if you are coming from outside then it is good.

On what basis do you say 120k for an IT generalist is low? It's well above average for non-management positions.

profetas · #10 01.02.2016, 10:25

With 10 years of experience I would prob assume he is more like a system admin. My opinion are just based what sys-admin people around me earn.

But if he is just installing OS, Fixing printers then 120 is good.

	Quote:	Chuff
	On what basis do you say 120k for an IT generalist is low? It's well above average for non-management positions.

Chuff · #11 01.02.2016, 10:33

	Quote:	profetas
	With 10 years of experience I would prob assume he is more like a system admin. My opinion are just based what sys-admin people around me earn. But if he is just installing OS, Fixing printers then 120 is good.

A sys admin with the skills the OP listed IS an IT generalist. Installing OS and fixing printers is a basic IT support role which would earn around 85k at his age.

blackbird · #12 01.02.2016, 10:48

To install the OS and fix a printer you don't have to study IT.
I can build computers , install the OS (and other software), fix printers and
other problems, but learned it by myself.

Today even Logistiker here in switzerland do this type of work.

Mikers · #13 01.02.2016, 11:36

	Quote:	blackbird
	To install the OS and fix a printer you don't have to study IT. I can build computers , install the OS (and other software), fix printers and other problems, but learned it by myself. Today even Logistiker here in switzerland do this type of work.

The information missing is the size of companies. If you work in a large company you can have a narrow skillset, such as OS, and still command a premium salary such as 150k because of the complexity of scale. If you're a IT expert who has worked the last 15 years running a school network, then 90k may be great.

mtv · #14 02.02.2016, 20:50

that seems to be a very good offer. This salary survey says for IT sys engineers, the median salary in Switzerland is 89k.

Chuff · #15 03.02.2016, 07:35

	Quote:	Mikers
	The information missing is the size of companies. If you work in a large company you can have a narrow skillset, such as OS, and still command a premium salary such as 150k because of the complexity of scale. If you're a IT expert who has worked the last 15 years running a school network, then 90k may be great.

150k for a sys admin level who isn't in management would be almost unheard of, even in the largest companies.

dodgyken · #16 03.02.2016, 07:53

	Quote:	Chuff
	150k for a sys admin level who isn't in management would be almost unheard of, even in the largest companies.

Perhaps - but I'd wager you'll find some knocking round the big banks maintaining legacy systems built before you were born. That stuff fails the bank stops doing business. 150k is cheap insurance.

Chuff · #17 03.02.2016, 07:57

	Quote:	dodgyken
	Perhaps - but I'd wager you'll find some knocking round the big banks maintaining legacy systems built before you were born. That stuff fails the bank stops doing business. 150k is cheap insurance.

Yes, and that would be considered more specialist stuff, with one guy doing all the work. The Op didn't list those kinds of skills.

dodgyken · #18 03.02.2016, 08:01

	Quote:	Chuff
	Yes, and that would be considered more specialist stuff, with one guy doing all the work. The Op didn't list those kinds of skills.

I was responding to your comment on Mikers comment - and not relating to the OPs skillset.

120k can get you IT Auditor in Zurich - which is a considerably more specialized and challenging job.

Chuff · #19 03.02.2016, 08:20

	Quote:	dodgyken
	I was responding to your comment on Mikers comment - and not relating to the OPs skillset. 120k can get you IT Auditor in Zurich - which is a considerably more specialized and challenging job.

I know you were responding to my comment to Mikers, but you chose an increasingly rare and unlikely example as opposed to in context of the thread and the OP which is what I was aiming at.

And yes you're right, 120k does get you a specialised IT auditor type role, which was my point as to why the average sysadmin isn't going to command so much as it's essentially a generalist.

Dandy · #20 03.02.2016, 09:57

For all expats who think that 120k is a great salary, here a few examples of how much you can make in some public sector jobs:

tram driver: 86'000 + free 1st class GA
primary school teacher: 90'750 - 145'735 (max after ca. 30 years)
protestant priest: 167'400
grammar school teacher: 117'000 - 177900 (max after ca. 30 years)
assistant lecturer at a Swiss university: avg 153'000
non-tenured professor at a Swiss university: avg 174'700
full professor at a Swiss university: avg 204'800

list of sources:
http://www.vsa.zh.ch/internet/bildun..._LP_und_SL.pdf
http://www.nzz.ch/lohnkrzung-fr-pfarrer-1.3257355
http://www2.zhlex.zh.ch/appl/zhlex_r..._7.4.99_72.pdf
http://www.vsa.zh.ch/internet/bildun..._LP_und_SL.pdf
http://www.nzz.ch/schweiz/zahltag-an-der-uni-1.16961100