hi guys,

I have searched here about the salaries of postdocs in switzerland. However all the data given here primarily linked to zurich and so on. Unfortunatly I didnt find any data about the postdoc salary at the bern university. Could someone pls tell me how much a postdoc earns at bern university after paying all the taxes?????

I have already 2 yrs of postdoctoral experience in germany related to chemistry field. So I would like to know how much I will earn if I accept a postdoc position at the dept of chemistry, bern university.

waiting for some response

warm regards
junta

taxes can be calculated here:

http://www.accurity.ch/qst/

which is only half the story unless you then apply the cost of living.

as for salary well universities work on a band / grade system i.e. you have a grade within a band. as you get 'promoted' you move diagonally between the grade and up the band. the min and max of the bands are set for the entire university, possibly at a Federal level (this is certainly true for EPFL, ETHZ) so the only real negotiating position is to get a higher grade within the 'postdoc' band. professors have a band, secretaries, stoodents, etc but be careful if you argue for a high grade now you could be sitting at the top of your band for a while waiting for a position to become available. These lists of bands /grades /mins /maxes should be published in their website and if not the HR department will give them to you.

in academia experience, paper count, professional refs are much more important compared with language ability. with what you say perhaps a gross top line of about 80--90KCHF would be realistic.

unless of course you're doing some really cool sh1t which is funded by industry. then obviously more but the number above would be indicative of where to start.

In my experience, postdocs aren't in a great bargaining position. The limitations imposed by origin of funding (grants specify particular salary budgets) can also mean that the salary is relatively fixed regardless of your background or experience.
There is also a significant difference in salary depending on your field of chemistry. This can range, looking at some Zurich examples from organic chemistry postdocs which can begin at 50-55k up to some physical chemistry or materials science roles at >80k.
You say you are considering accepting? This implies you have been offered. If you are seriously in the running for it, I think that enquiry about salary with the advisor in question would be necessary for the clarifications you need.

PhDs in one of the medical faculties at University of Bern are paid a gross salary of ca. CHF 4,500 (or less) and post docs with more than 2 yrs. of experience got ca. CHF 6,500 to 6,800 (gross salary). As I understand it, the rates are influenced by sponsorships you get for your project/s from private firms.

I was wondering what new information I could give apart from what is already known, as the thread starter has already searched the Zurich region post doc salaries, and has been a post doc for 2 years.

In short, post doc gross salaries vary vastly. After considering family status-tax rate, care allowance etc, the difference can be spectacular. E.g. the take home of a post doc in ETH at 60% position who is single, can be less than half the take home of someone at 100% position and with kids, in the same department. I am not even talking of industry sponsored positions, but the regular positions.

Annual increment of some 4% exists if you stay in the same institution.

On balance it is more common for people to move at increasing pay. I do know of people who were at 100% at EPFL for 2 years (which means he had one increment), and then moved to ETH at 60% position (at entry level grade within the post doc band).

Given such a wide disparity in salaries, I don't see the point in speculating what will be offered at Bern. My suggestion: Just ask them. And if possible, negotaite a fair deal; I am sure with 2 years of exp, you know they have a fair amount of discretion. The previous posts give a good idea of the range.

All the best!

This what we pay currently if the position (100%) is from Swiss National Science Foundation. This is general grade for Bern (Medicine, Chemistry ...).

6280 x 13
6490 x 13
6710 x 13

We have to pay an extra 11.5% for retirement and social taxes and about 5-10K / year to Bern pension fund if the person gets a raise (to update their retirement level). One can get this back if they leave Switzerland.

How much tax you pay will depend on where you will live, single, married etc etc..

However, the lab offering you job may have put in budgets couple of years ago and may not have enough to give you a 100% position at 2009 levels. In many case offer of a lower salary can simply be because there is only that much left over for paying salaries.

Thanks for the info. I think this is essentially same as the other national institutes.
6280 x 13 = 82000 pa, slightly higher tax becos of the 13 month system.
ETHZ: 83000 pa, and I think it is normally 12 month system.

Minimum level of emplyment is 60%. So it again boils down to 1:2 ratio of net income.
At the lowest end is a bachelor at 60% position who pays higher taxes, and at the other end is 100% and married/kids who pays lower taxes and gets additional allowances which may not appear on the contract. I find the difference amazing!!

Can someone please tell me where can I find average post-doc salaries for this year? I have been looking at SNSF for a while but I cannot see any numbers.
Thanks!