Part-time pensum in Switzerland: salary, pension, and coordination deduction
Published 2026-10-19 · Updated 2026-10-19 · 2 min read · 3 sources · Verified Swiss federal benchmarks
Direct answer
Part-time salary scales linearly with pensum: 60% work usually means 60% of full-time pay. Pension plans often apply the full coordination deduction (CHF 26,460 annually unless the plan scales it), which can shrink insured salary disproportionately for low pensum.
Key facts
- Pensum 0.6 × CHF 10,000 full-time ≈ CHF 6,000 gross monthly.
- Coordination deduction CHF 26,460 may apply in full unless plan rules reduce it for part-time.
- Mandatory BVG applies above the legal entry threshold; confirm current figures on bsv.admin.ch.
- AHV/IV/EO 5.30% and ALV 1.10% apply on actual earnings up to CHF 148,200.
- Thirteenth salary and vacation usually scale with pensum unless contract says otherwise.
Salary and social insurance at partial pensum
Employers calculate gross pay as full-time equivalent multiplied by your percentage. Benefits like thirteenth salary and vacation weeks follow the same percentage unless contract says otherwise.
Social contributions use actual gross. ALV and AHV caps still apply at the full ceiling even if you work part-time.
A workload converter helps show whether eighty percent pensum matches eighty percent tasks or only fifty percent pay with full workload.
Pension trap worked example
Full-time reference salary CHF 100,000; you work fifty percent, so CHF 50,000 gross. If the pension plan subtracts the full coordination CHF 26,460 before applying contributions, insured salary becomes CHF 23,540 for pension savings.
A plan that scales coordination to pensum improves insured salary: half coordination near CHF 13,230 leaves about CHF 36,770 coordinated. Always read the BVG plan excerpt before accepting a part-time switch.
Employer and employee BVG percentages apply to coordinated salary, not gross, so a small coordination change moves retirement money more than a small gross bump.
| Scenario | Gross annual | Insured salary (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 50% pensum, full coord. | CHF 50,000 | CHF 23,540 (deduction CHF 26,460) |
| 50% pensum, scaled coord. | CHF 50,000 | CHF 36,770 (deduction CHF 13,230) |
Second example: sixty percent of CHF 10,000
Full-time monthly CHF 10,000 at one hundred percent pensum becomes CHF 6,000 at sixty percent. Annual gross CHF 72,000 before thirteenth month.
With full coordination CHF 26,460, coordinated annual salary is about CHF 45,540 for pension. AHV still uses CHF 72,000 subject to ceilings and rates 5.30% and ALV 1.10% up to CHF 148,200.
Questions before you sign part-time
Ask HR for the pension plan coordination rule and employer contribution percentage at your pensum.
Model net pay with net-salary and consider pillar 3a to close retirement gaps if insured salary is low.
Clarify whether future step-up to eighty or one hundred percent restores scaled coordination or uses full deduction on higher gross.
Common mistakes on part-time pensum
Comparing only net monthly pay and ignoring BVG insured salary.
Assuming coordination scales automatically; many plans need explicit part-time rules.
Working de facto full-time hours on a sixty percent contract without overtime claims.
Not pro-rating thirteenth salary expectation when reading an offer letter.
FAQ
- Does part-time affect unemployment later?
- Insured salary reflects part-time earnings; RAV may expect suitable part-time work if you were part-time.
- Can employer refuse pension enrollment part-time?
- If above entry threshold, BVG enrollment is mandatory with exceptions only per law/plan.
- Is 13th salary pro-rated?
- Usually yes, same pensum factor as monthly pay.
- Does coordination affect AHV?
- No. AHV uses total insured earnings; coordination is a BVG concept.
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