The gross annual income of a federal councillor is CHF 454’581 (as of 1 January 2021) according to [https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/federal-council/tasks/from-election-to-departure.html](https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/federal-council/tasks/from-election-to-departure.html) While the highest salary of Bern cantonal staff is about CHF 240’000, from the table of salary classes [https://www.pa.fin.be.ch/fr/start/themen/anstellungsbedingungen/gehaltssystem-und-zulagen/gehaltsklassentabellen.html](https://www.pa.fin.be.ch/fr/start/themen/anstellungsbedingungen/gehaltssystem-und-zulagen/gehaltsklassentabellen.html)

What do you think about the level of federal councillor’s income?

Such high income seems pretty rare compared to salaries in \[gross monthly wage by economic sections [https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/en/home/statistics/work-income/wages-income-employment-labour-costs/wage-levels-switzerland.html](https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/en/home/statistics/work-income/wages-income-employment-labour-costs/wage-levels-switzerland.html) \]

I have no concept of the amount of money rich people can make in Switzerland. How many people can earn more than CHF 300’000 per year in real life and what are their occupations?

5 comments

  2. What one needs to keep in mind is that federal councilors (and other politicians) typically hire a small personal team of staff to assist and support them, so several salaries have to fit in those CHF 454’581.

  3. For medium-sized businesses 300’000 is a realistic salary for executives. Bank jobs can get close, but usually not quite that high. Around half that figure a whole world opens up.

    I’m OK with the councillor’s salary. I honestly don’t envy their job.

  4. meh, yeah its high and i am not sure they earn that. Given that we only have 7 of them in office at a time i dont mind though.

    more of a problem to me are the LIFELONG salaries they get after they are done. i think its 50% of the number above, in my opinion thats way too much and should be reduced year by year after being out of office, especially considering that they usually do something else, or already millionaires anyway after they leave office.

  5. This is not your regular 9 to 5 job. They don’t get much off time, and typically age rather quickly during their time in office.

    Compared to top CEOs, I think their pay is pretty well deserved.

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