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Salaries in Liechtenstein: What You Really Earn
6 min read · Published 28 June 2026 · Updated 18 September 2026
CHF 7’401 gross per month — that was the median wage in Liechtenstein in 2024: half of all employees earned more, half earned less (Office of Statistics Liechtenstein, wage statistics). Compared with 2022, the median wage rose by 5.1 %. This article shows how pay differs by industry, age and gender — and what commuters need to watch in net pay.
What is the median wage — and why not the average?
The median wage is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. It is more meaningful than the arithmetic average because extremely high salaries do not distort it.
median gross monthly wage (2024, incl. one twelfth of the 13th month's salary). Over ten years +13.5 % (from CHF 6’522 in 2014).
Office of Statistics Liechtenstein, wage statisticsThe spread is considerable: a quarter of employees earned CHF 5’658 or less in 2024, a quarter CHF 10’000 or more. The third quartile wage was thus 76.7 % above the first.
Gross pay, however, is not what reaches your account. To see what these figures leave you with, use the salary calculator — including social contributions, withholding tax and the tax in your country of residence.
Which industries pay the most?
The differences between sectors are large:
- Top: financial and insurance services with a median of around CHF 10’209 — almost 38 % above the overall median.
- Mid-field: industry and mechanical engineering, whose median wage rose 12.7 % over ten years.
- Lower end: hospitality (around CHF 4’926) and agriculture/forestry (around CHF 3’595).
median in financial and insurance services — the highest-paying industry, almost 38 % above the overall median.
Office of Statistics Liechtenstein, wage statisticsOpen positions by sector are grouped under industry and machinery, construction and architecture and trust and wealth management.
How does pay depend on age and gender?
Pay rises sharply especially between ages 20 and 39: 20- to 24-year-olds earned a median of CHF 5’089 in 2024, while 35- to 39-year-olds already earned CHF 7’906. The highest median wage went to 50- to 54-year-olds at CHF 8’205.
pay gap between women (median CHF 6’864) and men (CHF 7’824) in 2024 — down 1.8 percentage points from 2022.
Office of Statistics Liechtenstein, wage statisticsWhat's left net — especially for commuters?
Gross salary is only half the truth. Deductions include social-security contributions (AHV state pension, occupational pension/BVG, unemployment and accident insurance) and — for commuters — the 4 % withholding tax. In your country of residence, income tax is added. To see what actually stays in your pocket, use our cross-border net salary calculator. Tax details are in the cross-border commuter guide.
Conclusion
Liechtenstein pays above average — especially in finance, pharma and industry. To assess the salary of a specific offer, consider industry, age and (as a commuter) the net pay after taxes and social contributions together. For the big picture, see the “Working in Liechtenstein” guide; current open positions are on joblie.li.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the average salary in Liechtenstein?
- The official wage statistics do not publish an arithmetic average, only the median wage: CHF 7’401 gross per month (2024). The median is more meaningful because individual top salaries do not pull it upwards. A quarter of employees earned CHF 5’658 or less, a quarter CHF 10’000 or more.
- What is the median wage in Liechtenstein in 2024?
- CHF 7’401 gross per month (Office of Statistics). That is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less.
- Which industry pays the most?
- Financial and insurance services, with a median of around CHF 10’209 per month — almost 38 % above the overall median. The lowest are hospitality and agriculture.
- How large is the pay gap between women and men?
- In 2024 women earned a median of CHF 6’864 and men CHF 7’824 — a difference of 12.3 %, which has decreased slightly since 2022.
Sources
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