Which country pays the highest salary after a master in finance in Europe?

Question

Which country pays the highest salary after a master in  finance in Europe?

S Raghav · Accepted Answer

It&rsquo;s surprising how often students overlook Switzerland because of the language factor ,  but it&rsquo;s where finance jobs pay the most in Europe.

Average salaries for fresh Master&rsquo;s in Finance grads range from CHF 85,000&ndash;90,000, and in firms like Pictet or Lombard Odier, bonuses can easily add another 15&ndash;25%.
The job market is small but high-value. Most roles are in wealth management or cross-border finance, not as much investment banking like in London.
For those fluent in German or French, access to client-facing roles increases dramatically. But even without that, roles in global teams or back-end finance are available in firms like Credit Suisse.
Living expenses are high, but Switzerland&rsquo;s low income tax makes up for it ,  especially compared to the UK or France.
One overlooked benefit: Swiss work visas are granted more easily if the job is high-paying, especially for finance roles with skill shortages.

It&rsquo;s not easy to get in, but for raw salary, it&rsquo;s unmatched.

Mansih K · Answer

Switzerland pays the highest salary in Europe after a Master&rsquo;s in Finance, especially for roles in private banking, asset management, and wealth advisory. Starting salaries range between CHF 80,000 to 100,000, which converts to roughly &euro;85,000&ndash;&euro;105,000 , and that&rsquo;s before bonuses.
Cities like Zurich and Geneva are home to firms like UBS, Credit Suisse, and Julius Baer, and the finance sector there leans heavily toward wealth management and global asset servicing. The work culture is structured, and roles often require German or French, but multinational firms hire English-speaking grads too.
Taxation is also much lower in Switzerland compared to France or Germany, so the take-home salary is significantly better. That said, cost of living is high, and roles can be competitive due to the smaller market size.
It&rsquo;s the best bet financially, but not necessarily the most accessible unless the resume stands out or language isn&rsquo;t a barrier.