Employee cost calculator for SwitzerlandWhat a salary really costs
The gross salary is only half the story. Add every employer contribution (AVS, unemployment, pension, family fund, cantonal funds) and see the real annual cost of a hire.
- Free
- No sign-up
- Nothing is stored
An estimate, not a payroll run. The calculation includes the contributions set by federal law, the legal minimum of the LPP and, once you choose a canton, the cantonal family fund and the cantonal contributions from the OFAS tables. Accident and sickness insurance, AVS administration costs and a professional family fund depend on your contracts: enter their rates, otherwise they are listed as not included.
Employer cost per month
Payments per year
Family allowances
Choose the workplace canton: the amounts are set by each canton.
Figures from your payslip or your employer
Only your employer knows these rates: they are on your payslip. Enter them for the exact figure; until then they are listed as missing.
Pension plan (LPP)
Set by your compensation fund, at most 5 % of the AVS/AI/APG contributions (RS 831.143.41).
Hiring costs more than the gross salary
When you set a salary, the line in the contract is only the start. The employer also pays its share of AVS, unemployment insurance and the occupational pension, then an occupational accident insurance premium and a contribution to the family allowance fund. Forgetting them when budgeting a hire means discovering the gap at the first payroll. This calculator adds up what the law sets and lets you enter what only your insurer knows.
How the employer cost is calculated
1
The annual gross salary
The calculation starts from the salary per payment, multiplied by twelve or thirteen. It is the base on which all contributions are calculated.
2
Employer contributions set by law
The employer pays 5.3% AVS with no ceiling and 1.1% unemployment insurance up to 148'200 francs per year. On top comes the occupational pension share, at least half of the savings contribution.
3
What you enter
Choose the canton: the cantonal family fund and the cantonal contributions are added from the OFAS tables. Then enter, in the section on your payslip figures, the accident and sickness premiums and the AVS administration costs of your fund.
A concrete example
For a salary of 6'500 francs per month over 12 months, with a 40-year-old employee: 344.50 francs of AVS, 71.50 francs of unemployment insurance and 214.75 francs of minimum pension fund contribution (LPP) are added. The monthly cost reaches 7'130.75 francs, or about 85'569 francs per year, before occupational accident insurance and family allowances.
The most common budgeting mistakes
- Budgeting the gross salary alone: employer contributions add nearly a tenth, even before the insurances specific to your company.
- Forgetting costs that are not social contributions: equipment, training, recruitment costs and holidays. They are not in this calculation.
What changes in 2026
The AVS and unemployment insurance rates are unchanged for 2026, with an unemployment ceiling of 148'200 francs. The occupational pension thresholds are read from the same table as Numezis payroll.
Frequently asked questions about employer cost
How much does an employee cost on top of their salary?
AVS, unemployment insurance and the employer share of the LPP are set by federal law; the cantonal family fund and the cantonal funds (vocational training, childcare…) by the canton. The tool adds them all for the canton you choose, then the accident and sickness premiums you enter.
Why do I have to enter the accident insurance rate?
The premium depends on your insurer and the risk class of your business: no public table gives it. The family fund rate, on the other hand, is filled in from the OFAS table for the cantonal fund; enter your fund's rate if you belong to a professional one.
Is the pension fund contribution (LPP) always split equally?
The law requires the employer to pay at least as much as the employee. Your pension regulations may provide for more. Enter the actual amount to reflect it.
Does the cost include the 13th month salary?
Yes, if you choose 13 payments. The annual salary and all contributions are then calculated on thirteen payments.
Can I share this calculation with my business partner?
Yes. The share button copies a link that carries your figures. Nothing is saved on our servers.
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E-mail alerts
Get told when these figures change
VAT rates, contributions, tariffs: one e-mail the day a figure in this calculator moves, not one more. Nothing is sent before you confirm.
For fiduciaries
Give this calculator to your clients
Paste this code on your website. The calculator shows up as is, free, with no sign-up for your visitors.
Know the real cost of your team
Payroll, social contributions and accounting on the same data: employer cost is readable without a spreadsheet.
The Starter plan is free and carries no commitment. A fiduciary firm from the directory can also take over the file with you.