Switzerland vs United States: Average hourly earnings of employees
Switzerland
35.86 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2024
United States
43.49 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2025
Switzerland rank
2nd
United States rank
1st
Average hourly earnings of employees over time
- Switzerland
- United States
How they compare
United States currently reports 43.49 international-$ in 2021 prices against 35.86 international-$ in 2021 prices in Switzerland, a difference of 7.63 international-$ in 2021 prices.
That makes United States's figure about 1.2 times Switzerland's.
The two have swapped places 7 times across 26 shared years of data; in 1999 it was Switzerland ahead.
Switzerland ranks 2nd and United States ranks 1st of 64 countries.
Across the 4 decades both report, Switzerland averaged higher in 2 and United States in 2.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Switzerland | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 24.63 international-$ in 2021 prices | 16.83 international-$ in 2021 prices | 7.79 international-$ in 2021 prices | Switzerland |
| 2000s | 23.9 international-$ in 2021 prices | 20.73 international-$ in 2021 prices | 3.16 international-$ in 2021 prices | Switzerland |
| 2010s | 22.72 international-$ in 2021 prices | 25.59 international-$ in 2021 prices | 2.87 international-$ in 2021 prices | United States |
| 2020s | 33.18 international-$ in 2021 prices | 35.67 international-$ in 2021 prices | 2.49 international-$ in 2021 prices | United States |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher average hourly earnings of employees, Switzerland or United States?
- United States, at 43.49 international-$ in 2021 prices against 35.86 international-$ in 2021 prices in Switzerland as of 2025.
- What is the difference in average hourly earnings of employees between Switzerland and United States?
- 7.63 international-$ in 2021 prices, with United States ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Switzerland and United States?
- 26 years are reported by both, from 1999 to 2024.
- How do Switzerland and United States rank globally for average hourly earnings of employees?
- Switzerland ranks 2nd and United States ranks 1st of 64 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- International Labour Organization (2026) β with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Average hourly earnings of employees. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
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About this data
Gross remuneration for time worked or work done, vacation, and other types of paid leave.