Pay
CERN offers competitive salaries for staff members, attractive stipends for graduates, and subsistence allowances for students and trainees, set to cover the cost of living in the local area. Because CERN is an international organisation, all these payments are net of tax.
Professionals/Staff Members:
Staff jobs are classified into a grade that reflects the level of the functions, in particular the responsibility and complexity of the position.
Upon recruitment, your entry salary is determined based on your job-relevant experience and qualifications, assessed against the level of functions.
Salary advancement at CERN is performance-based, and potential changes in grade reflect increased responsibilities and growing expertise.
Below are the basic minimum entry-level salaries (net of tax) for each grade:
| Grade 2 | CHF 4,916 per month |
| Grade 3 | CHF 5,850 per month |
| Grade 4 | CHF 6,962 per month |
| Grade 5 | CHF 8,285 per month |
| Grade 6 | CHF 9,113 per month |
| Grade 7 | CHF 10,845 per month |
Graduates:
Your stipend level is determined based on the job requirements, your degree and experience since graduation. The stipend remains fixed for the duration of your contract.
- Entry-Level:
| General secondary education diploma or a shorter non-university degree + up to 2 years of professional experience since graduation. | CHF 4,624 per month |
| Bachelor’s degree + up to 2 years of professional experience since graduation. | CHF 5,196 per month |
| Master’s degree + up to 2 years of professional experience since graduation. | CHF 5,716 per month |
- Project Graduates:
| Master’s degree + 2 to 4 years of professional experience since graduation. | CHF 6,287 per month |
| Master’s degree + 4 to 6 years of professional experience since graduation, or PhD + up to 3 years of professional experience since graduation. | CHF 6,911 per month |
- Research Fellows:
| PhD + up to 3 years of professional experience since graduation. | CHF 6,911 per month |
| PhD + 3 to 6 years of professional experience since graduation. | CHF 7,326 per month |
Students:
You receive a subsistence allowance to help cover the cost of living in the local area. The exact amount depends on your programme (Administrative, Technical, Doctoral).
| Doctoral Studentship | CHF 3,891 per month |
| Technical and Administrative Studentship | CHF 3,472 per month |
| Summer Studentship | CHF 93 per day |
Traineeships and Apprenticeships:
You receive a subsistence allowance to help cover the cost of living in the local area. The exact amount depends on your programme (Administrative, Technical, Doctoral).
| Short-Term Internship | CHF 1,587 per month |
| Apprenticeship | As per local regulations |
Family Benefits
We understand the importance of supporting your family life alongside your professional one. As an international organisation, CERN operates its own social protection scheme, offering family benefits such as allowances and support with education fees. The benefits depend on your contract type, status, and family situation.
Family Allowances:
Depending on your family situation, you may be entitled to the following monthly benefits:
- Staff members & Graduates
| Family Allowance | CHF 403, if you have a spouse or registered partner, and/or at least one dependent child. |
| Child Allowance | CHF 482 for each dependent child. |
| Infant Allowance | CHF 218 for each dependent child under the age of three, paid in addition to the child allowance. |
Family supplement to subsistence allowance:
If your family resides with you in the local area for at least six months, you may be eligible for a monthly supplement to your subsistence allowance:
- Students
| 529 CHF, if you are accompanied by your spouse or registered partner, or |
| 1058 CHF if you are accompanied by one or more dependent children. |
Education Fees:
- Staff members & Graduates
You may be eligible for financial support to help you cover education fees and language training costs for your dependent children aged between 3 and 25.
Childcare Facilities:
Le Jardin des Particules, the CERN Staff Association’s crèche and school located on site, welcomes children from 4 months to 8 years old. These facilities are available to all CERN personnel, regardless of your contract type.
Relocation Support
We understand that moving to a new country with your family can be both exciting and challenging. That’s why we offer relocation support to help you, and your family, settle into life in the Geneva area. The benefits and exact amounts vary based on your contract type, family situation, and the distance between Geneva and your place of residence at the time of recruitment.
Travel Expenses
- Staff members, Graduates & Students
You may receive a lump-sum payment to help cover your travel to Geneva when joining CERN.
Installation Indemnity
- Staff members & Graduates
You may be eligible for an installation indemnity, a lump-sum payment to support your move.
Removal Expenses
- Staff members
You may also be entitled for reimbursement of your removal costs (household and personal effects).
International Indemnity
- Staff members
You may also be eligible for an international indemnity to help offset the costs associated with settling into the local area and maintaining ties with your home country.
Visa Assistance:
If you require a visa to work and live in the area, CERN’s Visa Service will assist you throughout the application process with the local authorities. Visa processing times will still vary and may take up to three months, depending on the consulate handling your request.
Health Insurance (Staff members, Graduates & Students)
As an international organisation, CERN provides its own health insurance – the CERN Health Insurance Scheme (CHIS) – for staff members, graduates and students , helping to protect you and your family from significant healthcare costs.
| Comprehensive Coverage | CHIS provides reimbursement for a wide range of medical expenses, including consultations, hospitalisation, surgery, accident-related care, and maternity. |
| Additional Safeguards | CHIS also offers protection against the financial consequences of dependence and disability for certain members, ensuring comprehensive support during challenging times. |
| Funding and Contributions | CHIS is a mutual system, where contributions are shared between its members and CERN. Your contributions are automatically deducted from your remuneration. |
Note: CHIS is managed by a Third-Party Administrator, UNIQA. Specific details regarding the extent of coverage, reimbursement rates, and conditions are provided to members upon joining CERN. For more information, please refer to the CHIS website.
Pension Fund (Staff members & Graduates)
As an international organisation, CERN has its own Pension Fund, a key part of its social protection system. The Fund provides financial security for members and their families in the event of retirement, disability, or death.
| CERN Pension Fund | The Fund is a defined-benefit scheme, guaranteeing members a specific benefit upon retirement, based on their remuneration and years of service. This Fund is an integral part of CERN’s commitment to providing comprehensive social protection to its personnel. |
| Purpose of the Fund | The primary purpose of the Fund is to provide financial security for its members and their families in the event of disability, old age, or death, allowing members to plan for their future with confidence. |
| Funding and Contributions | The Fund is financed through contributions from both its members and CERN. Your contributions are automatically deducted from your pay. |
Note: The CERN Pension Fund is managed by a Third-Party Administrator to ensure its long-term stability and reliability, and conditions are provided to members upon joining CERN. For more information, please refer to the CERN Pension Fund website.
Work-Life Balance and Flexible Working Arrangements
We value a healthy work-life balance. Our flexible working arrangements and leave policies help you navigate your professional and personal life with ease.
Time off: Leave and Holidays
- Annual Leave: You enjoy 2.5 working days of paid leave per month, amounting to 6 weeks of paid holiday per year. This generous allowance ensures you have ample time to relax, recharge, and enjoy life outside work.
- Annual Closure: CERN shuts down for two weeks at the end of each year, providing a real opportunity to disconnect and rest. These days are in addition to your annual leave.
- Official Holidays: CERN observes several official holidays, including Good Friday, Easter Monday, 1st May, Ascension Day, Whit Monday, and a local Geneva holiday called “Jeûne Genevois”.
- Home Leave (Staff members): if you are entitled to international indemnity, you benefit from home leave every two years – a paid travel back to your home country to help you stay connected with your roots and family.
- Family-related Leave (Staff members, Graduates & Students): CERN offers leave for key life events, such as maternity, co-parenting/paternity, adoption, marriage or registered partnership.
- Other Leave Options: As a staff member, you may opt to purchase additional leave to suit your personal needs. CERN also offers a variety of unpaid leave options, to accommodate different life situations or commitments.
Teleworking
While CERN’s work culture is rooted in on-site collaboration, flexibility plays an important role in supporting work-life balance. That’s why teleworking / hybrid work is included in our broader approach to flexible working arrangements.
You may telework up to 40% of your working time over any two-week period, provided it aligns with the needs of your work and team and is approved by your supervisor. This approach ensures that we continue to enjoy in-person exchanges, while still allowing space for remote work.
Flexible Working Hours
The standard working week at CERN is 40 hours, from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm, Monday to Friday, including a one-hour lunch break. Depending on the position, you may benefit from flexibility in your schedule, with the possibility to adjust your start and end times (typically between 7.00 am and 7.00 pm), or reduce your working hours, in agreement with your management.