Switzerland has a worldwide reputation as one of the highest paying countries in the world when it comes to salaries.

With a robust economy, a strong social support system, and attractive corporation and income tax rates, the country attracts many of the world’s leading global firms.

Its place on the world stage can be seen in the below graph showing average national incomes in 2021:

Source: OECD Employment and Labour Market Statistics

Ranked third on the list internationally, Switzerland also places in the top 4% of countries by highest minimum wage, indicating support for workers at both ends of the pay scale.

This is also good news for interns, with the country setting strict minimum salaries to ensure students on placement are renumerated fairly for their work and can cover their costs of living.

For IMI students, there was an added bonus this January when the Swiss authorities announced that the minimum monthly hospitality internship salary would increase from 2’216 CHF to 2’303 CHF.

This generous salary is more than sufficient to cover living costs and, for the more financially savvy interns, can even be a way of offsetting some of the costs of study.

Of course, a Swiss internship offers much more than just a healthy wage. Working in international environments, students will improve their language skills while perfecting their skills to the highest of Swiss traditional standards.

Students Vaibhavi and Abhimani discuss their Swiss internship at restaurant Blausee near Bern.

At IMI, our dedicated Internships and Careers team work individually with each student to find them placement opportunities both here in Switzerland and internationally.

It is this personal approach which ensures that our internship placements best support students' career goals and leave them ideally placed to apply for exciting industry roles on graduation.