Jobs in Switzerland

Nursing Jobs

The Swiss healthcare system stands out not only for its clinical effectiveness, but also for the working conditions it offers its professionals. Swiss hospitals are demanding yet well-organised environments, with nurse-to-patient ratios more balanced than in many other European countries and a deeply ingrained team-working culture.

For nurses from Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries, Switzerland represents a genuine opportunity to practise in conditions that are rarely available in their home countries: better salaries, high-quality continuing education, contractual stability, and a technically advanced working environment.

How much does a nurse earn in Switzerland?

A nurse’s salary in Switzerland ranges between CHF 70,000 and CHF 90,000 gross per year. The exact figure depends on the canton, the type of institution (university hospital, private clinic, outpatient centre), the shift pattern, and the specialty.

By way of comparison, a nurse in Spain earns on average between €22,000 and €30,000 per year. In Switzerland, even a newly arrived nurse on an entry-level contract can exceed CHF 70,000 — a highly significant difference in favour of the Swiss market.

On top of the salary, the majority of contracts at Swiss hospitals include contributions to a pension fund, a complementary sick pay scheme, and the right to paid continuing education.

Most in-demand nursing specialties in Switzerland

Demand for nurses in Switzerland is spread fairly evenly across specialties, although some concentrate a higher volume of vacancies:

  • ICU and intensive care: one of the most sought-after specialties. Specific experience is required and, in some cases, additional accredited training.
  • Emergency medicine: hospitals across all cities are looking for nurses with a problem-solving profile and triage experience.
  • Oncology and haematology: a specialty with growing demand, linked to the expansion of oncological treatments at reference centres.
  • Internal medicine: versatile profiles capable of managing complex conditions. High availability of positions at medium and large hospitals.
  • Neurology and rehabilitation: a growing area, with specialist centres for stroke recovery, neurological conditions, and degenerative diseases.
  • Theatre and anaesthesia: a highly sought-after technical profile. Experience in major ambulatory surgery and high-performance environments is valued.
  • Endoscopy and diagnostics: a specialty with a distinct technical profile. Good working conditions and lower physical strain than ward-based roles.
  • Outpatient care: hospitals and clinics with outpatient units (polyclinics) are looking for patient-centred nurses with strong organisational skills.

Which Swiss cities have the most job opportunities for nurses?

Nursing job postings are distributed across the country, with a higher concentration in the major urban centres of German-speaking Switzerland:

  • Basel: one of the most active healthcare markets in the country, home to several university hospitals with high recruitment volumes.
  • Bern: the federal capital and home to major national reference hospital centres.
  • Zurich: Switzerland’s largest city hosts a highly diverse healthcare ecosystem, with high-complexity hospitals and top-tier private clinics.
  • Thurgau: a canton with several growing hospitals seeking nurses across a range of specialties.
  • Wald and Davos: smaller centres but with excellent working conditions and exceptional natural surroundings.
  • Münsterlingen: a hospital with consistent demand for nurses across various specialties.

Nursing Job Openings in Switzerland

Below you will find the nursing vacancies currently available in Switzerland. Postings are updated regularly with new positions at hospitals, clinics, and outpatient care centres across the country.

  • Basel
  • CHF 70,000–95,000 / year
Registered Nurse – Internal Medicine, Hematology, Oncology and Nephrology (80–100%)
  • Basel
  • CHF 70.000–95.000 / year
Registered Nurse – Outpatient Medical Clinic (60–100%)
  • Basel
  • CHF 70,000–95,000 / year
Registered Nurse – Pulmonology Unit (80%)
  • Wald
  • CHF 70,000–95,000 / year
Registered Nurse – Neurological Rehabilitation with Monitoring (60–100%)
  • Davos
  • CHF 70,000–95,000 / year
Registered Nurse (50–100%)
  • Bern
  • CHF 70,000–95,000 / year
Registered Nurse – Endoscopy (80–100%)
  • Berna
  • CHF 70,000–95,000 / year
Registered Nurse – Emergency Department (80–100%)
  • Bern
  • CHF 70,000–95,000 / year
Registered Nurse – Outpatient Care (80–100%)
  • Thurgau
  • CHF 70,000–95,000 / year
Registered Nurse – Medical Diagnostics (80–100%)
  • Münsterlingen
  • CHF 70,000–95,000 / year
Registered Nurse – Dipl. Nursing Specialist HF/FH (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.

Get in touch with us.

Follow us on social media.
Instagram
Linkedin

I am a professional and want to work in Switzerland.

I want to join the community!

I am a company looking for professionals in Switzerland.

Find professionals!