Compensation

The basic salary for staff members employed under public law is defined in the cantonal salary regulations and is paid out in either 12 or 13 monthly installments depending on the type of employment. Compensation for academic staff and instructors is governed by a separate set of regulations.

Overview of salary regulations 2024 (PDF, 171 KB)

Salary regulations 2024 (PDF, 188 KB)

Classification guidelines for academic positions 2024 (PDF, 217 KB)

Classification guidelines for medical and academic positions and further training positions at the VSF 2024 (PDF, 228 KB)

Rates for instructors (PDF, 57 KB)

FCS Scholarship Holders 2024 (PDF, 106 KB)

Traineeship salaries 2024 (PDF, 95 KB)

All employees employed under public law are awarded a cost-of-living allowance if such an allowance has been approved by the canton. Apprentices and trainees are excluded from this, as they are subject to separate cantonal compensation arrangements.

On behalf of the Executive Board of the University (delegating powers), the Human Resources Department – and in this case the HR business partners – determines the salaries of UZH employees. The salaries are only applicable if they were set by Human Resources. 

Excluded from this are:

• Setting of pay category 24 and above for employee roles: decision on pay category for role taken by the Executive Board of the University at the request of Human Resources
• Salary setting in accordance with § 27 of the Employment Ordinance of the Canton of Zurich (PVO): decision about pay category and pay level taken by the Executive Board of the University at the request of Human Resources
• Salary setting for professors: responsibility of the Professorships Department.

The Human Resources Department issues and updates the salary classification guidelines and helps shape the salary policy of UZH.

Allowances and benefits may also be paid in addition to the base salary, such as:

• Child and/or education allowances
  Family benefits
• Function-based allowances

The following may be deducted from the base salary:

• Withholding tax for foreign employees resident in the Canton of Zurich or abroad
  Withholding tax
• Voluntary top-up cover for accidents

The equal pay analysis at the University of Zurich is repeated on a regular basis. Please find the details of the current analysis here:

UZH Equal Pay Analysis 2023