Jobs in Switzerland

Doctor Jobs

Why is Switzerland such a highly regarded option for specialist physicians?

The university hospitals of Zurich, Basel, and Bern rank among the most advanced in Europe, giving their physicians access to cutting-edge protocols, equipment, and teams that make a real difference.

What physicians who have made the move value most is the stability and advancement of their professional career.

Other factors that make Switzerland a highly competitive option for physicians:

  • Among the highest salaries in Europe for specialist physicians.
  • A robustly funded healthcare system, free from the burnout and instability issues affecting other countries.
  • Access to continuing education, leading publications, and participation in clinical research.
  • An outstanding quality of life and exceptional natural surroundings.

Salary of a specialist physician in Switzerland.

Specialist physicians in Switzerland earn around CHF 120,000 gross per year as attending physicians, with variations depending on the specialty, type of institution, and years of experience. For specialists in senior positions, compensation can significantly exceed this figure.

For context: a specialist attending physician in Spain earns on average between €50,000 and €70,000 gross per year, in the best-case scenario. In Switzerland, the same position can mean more than double that, with greater stability and better contractual terms.

Contracts at Swiss hospitals typically include contributions to the second pension pillar (far superior to the public pension systems of other countries), professional liability insurance, and entitlement to employer-funded continuing education.

Most in-demand medical specialties in Switzerland.

The Swiss medical job market primarily seeks specialists with solid training and demonstrable clinical experience.

The specialties with the highest volume of current vacancies include:

  • Radiology
  • Angiology and Vascular Medicine
  • Neurology
  • Paediatrics
  • Internal Medicine
  • Psychiatry

Which cities and cantons have the most opportunities for physicians?

Medical job postings in Switzerland are concentrated mainly in the cantons with the largest hospital infrastructure:

Basel-City (Basel-Stadt): one of the country’s leading medical hubs, home to internationally renowned university hospitals and an active clinical research scene.

Zurich: the highest concentration of high-complexity hospital centres, particularly active in surgical, oncological, and neurological specialties.

Bern: the federal capital, with leading reference hospitals and consistent demand for specialists in internal medicine, paediatrics, and emergency medicine.

Thurgau: a canton with growing hospitals and active demand for specialists, particularly paediatricians and internists.

Münsterlingen: a hospital with a strong focus on excellence in neurology and other specialties, offering attractive positions for attending physicians.

Physician Job Openings in Switzerland.

Below you will find the medical positions currently available in Switzerland. Vacancies are updated regularly with new postings from university hospitals, private clinics, and specialist reference centres across a range of specialties.

  • Basel
  • CHF 150,000–200,000 / year
Consultant / Specialist in Radiology (80–100%)
  • Basel
  • CHF 150,000–200,000 / year
Radiologist – Cardiothoracic Imaging (80–100%)
  • Basel
  • CHF 150,000–200,000 / year
Angiology Specialist / Vascular Medicine Doctor (50–100%)
  • Münsterlingen
  • CHF 140,000–190,000 / year
Neurology Specialist / Neurologist (80–100%)
  • Thurgau
  • CHF 120,000–190,000 / year
Pediatrician / Paediatrics Specialist (80–100%)

We guide you step by step
on your journey to Switzerland.

STEP
01

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Degree recognition: This process is carried out through different institutions, depending on the profession.
  • Language: A B2 level in one of the three national languages (Italian, French, or German) is required to complete the degree recognition process.
  • Residence permit: In Switzerland, you can live for up to 3 months with a European passport. After the third month, it is necessary to obtain a residence permit in order to continue living in the country. To obtain it, you must have an employment contract.
  • The process may vary depending on the profile and personal circumstances. In general, the recognition of qualifications can take between 6 and 12 months.
  • The fixed costs of the process range between 680–1000 CHF. To this, the costs of translating the required documents must be added.

At FirstStepSwiss, we support healthcare professionals from the European Union who wish to work in Switzerland, and we help hospitals and clinics recruit healthcare talent. Our support adapts to your current stage, but typically includes:

  • Initial assessment and roadmap: we review your situation and define the exact steps to move forward without wasting time.
  • Documentation and recognition of qualifications: practical guidance, review of requirements and follow-up of the process according to your profession.
  • CV and application “the Swiss way”: optimisation of CV, cover letter and professional profile to increase your chances in real recruitment processes.
  • Interview preparation: mock interviews, typical questions, negotiation and contract review (workload, shifts, probation period, etc.).
  • Access to job opportunities: once your profile is ready, we present you with processes and offers aligned with your experience and goals.
  • Settling in Switzerland: practical guidance for your first steps (health insurance, housing, banking and basic administrative procedures).

We do not offer a job guarantee, as the final hiring decision depends on the institution and on factors such as your speciality, language level, recognition of qualifications and availability.

What we do guarantee is a serious and fully supported process: we help you prepare your application, meet the requirements and, once your profile is ready, connect you with genuine opportunities.

Sobald du bereit bist, zeigen wir dir passende Stellenangebote in der Schweiz.

Because, in most cases, it’s where three key advantages come together:

  • Higher salaries: many healthcare professions have better salary ranges in the German-speaking region.
  • Lower taxes overall: several cantons in German-speaking Switzerland typically have a lower tax burden than many French-speaking areas, which is noticeable in your net income.
  • More job opportunities: there’s a larger volume of hospitals, clinics, and vacancies, which increases your options and speeds up the process.

We advise and support you through the degree recognition process for all of Switzerland, regardless of which canton you want to go to.

However, in terms of employment, the job offers we can currently present you with are in German-speaking Switzerland.

If you would like us to support you throughout the entire process, please fill out the following form. After an initial assessment, we will determine whether you meet all our requirements to work with us.

It depends on your starting level, your consistency, and the format.

In our community, members can access an intensive German course aimed at B2 in 8 months, designed to take you from zero (A0) to B2 with a structured plan.

The intensive course includes classes from Monday to Friday (1h 30 min per day) and requires regular practice and study.

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