Finance Department Human Resources Office
Münstergasse 45
CH-3011 Bern +41 31 633 43 36
info.pa@be.ch www.be.ch/personal
Change to the salary system as of July 1, 2026
The salary system will be adjusted with the revision of the Personnel Regulations (PR) 2026. The starting salary at the start of a career is being increased and the promotion of young employees accelerated. In addition, the progression of the salary increase is more clearly regulated. The following changes are being made:
As of January 1, 2026, entry levels are being discontinued
As of July 1, 2026, the step values will be adjusted and the number of salary steps reduced
The range is being increased and will form a target range for future salary development
Entry levels to be discontinued
The six entry levels will cease to apply as of January 1, 2026. All employees who meet the requirements of the position will now start on the basic salary, i.e. at a level of 100%. Employees who are currently still at an entry level will be raised to the basic salary. This adjustment has no impact on other staff.
Steeper salary increase for younger employees (Art. 33 PR)
Each salary grade consists of a basic salary of 100% and 75 (previously 80) salary steps. Within the salary grade, salary development in relation to the basic salary is now graded as follows:
12 salary steps of 1.5% each
8 salary steps of 1.0% each
26 salary steps of 0.75% each
29 salary steps of 0.5% each
By increasing the first 12 salary steps to 1.5% (previously 1.0%), salaries in the lower third of the salary scale increase faster. In addition, the number of salary steps will be reduced from 80 to 75, allowing younger employees to reach a higher salary level more quickly than was previously the case. This reduces the salary gap between younger and older employees with equal responsibilities. The basic salary and the maximum salary in the 30 salary grades and thus also the maximum increase of 60% remain unchanged.
The range is being increased and will form a target range for future salary development (Art. 45 PR and Attachment 2 PR)
Attachment 2 of the Personnel Regulations specifies a lower and an upper limit for each age to be taken into account when determining the starting salary of new employees. This is what is known as the range. From the salary increase in 2027, the range will also apply to the salary increase. Salary development now generally takes place within the range. This makes salary development easier for employees to plan. In justified cases, assessments above or below the range are still possible. By significantly increasing the range, around 90% of employees are classified within the range at the time of entry into force. → Attachment 2
Transfer to the new salary system with the same salary (Art. T10-2 PR)
The change to the new salary system as of July 1, 2026 will take place with what is known as the “franc transfer”. This means that the salary will remain at the very least the same. More than a quarter of employees will receive a salary increase, for example due to rounding up.
The higher step values in the lower range (now 12 steps of 1.5% each) and the reduction from 80 to 75 salary steps lead to a new salary step. This will be up to eight steps lower than before the transfer with the same salary and position → Conversion table
For example:
In the future, the increase will become flatter at an earlier point in time than before (at 145.5% instead of the previous 150% of the basic salary). Structural corrections of up to three additional salary steps are planned in order to compensate employees in this promotion area as well as employees just below this area. Employees who are classified in one of the following salary steps prior to transfer will receive additional salary steps following the transfer:
52nd salary step
53rd salary step
54th salary step
55th and 56th salary step
plus 1 salary step
plus 2 salary steps
plus 3 salary steps
plus 2 salary steps
57th and 58th salary step plus 1 salary step
Maximum annual salary increase (Article 44 PR)
The previous maximum values for rewarding performance in salary increases will be reduced slightly and thus brought into line with the number of steps granted in practice. Instead of a maximum of ten salary steps for outstanding performance (A++), a maximum value of six steps now applies. The maximum score for very good performance (A+) is adjusted from seven to five. The other assessment levels remain the same.
Improvements for cleaning staff (Art. 49 PR)
The increase in salary for cleaning staff is being accelerated and further expanded. The new maximum level 40 corresponds to an annual salary of CHF 68,344 (as at 2025). Compared to the previous maximum assessment at salary level 45, the maximum annual salary will be increased by around CHF 1,100.
Schedule and information (Art. T 10-3 PR)
The changes will be implemented in two stages:
On January 1, 2026, employees at entry levels will be raised to the basic salary. In addition, the salary increase for all employees is based on the results of the employee appraisal. As of July 1, 2026, all employees will be transferred to the new salary steps.
Bern, November 2025
Human Resources Office of the Canton of Bern Head of Office: Thomas Gosteli
Link:
• FAQ
• Range (Attachment 2 Personnel Regulations)
• Conversion table