Increase in salary rates for doctoral students (standard and rate 2)
From January 2026, the salary rates for employees on fixed-rate salaries will be increased. This adjustment is intended particularly to?benefit?those on lower salary levels.?
The fixed-rate salaries of doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers and scientific assistants I and II are generally not subject to the annual cost-of-living adjustment. These salaries are set at the discretion of the Executive Board of ETH Zurich, which decides each year whether any adjustments will be made.
Once again, larger increases for lower salary levels
At the same time as announcing this year’s cost-of-living adjustment, the Executive Board has decided to increase the total salary sum for doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers and scientific assistants as of January 2026, in line with the cost-of-living adjustment. The two lower salary levels for doctoral students (standard and rate 2), as well as those in the early years, will see a larger increase than those in later years. Julia Dannath, Vice President for Personnel Development and Leadership, explains: “In an environment with limited resources for adjustments, the focus should be on employees with lower salary rates. In addition, this measure reduces the overall spread of salary rates.” This approach once again addresses a concern raised by AVETH this year.
Overview of salary rates with increases for doctoral students standard and rate 2 as of 1 January 2026:
The salary rates that will remain unchanged are already considered high, both within the ETH Domain and compared with other higher education institutions. ETH is therefore targeting this measure at the lower salary levels.
To avoid putting the departments under strain due to the increased salary rates, the resulting additional costs will be financed centrally. This also applies to externally funded projects (e.g. those funded by the SNSF).
Further Information
You can find all salary rates for doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers and scientific assistants I and II on Staffnet, under Fixed salary –Staffnet| ETH Zurich.
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