An extensive survey reveals post EPFL careers

What's next for EPFL graduates after their studies? A major survey conducted in 2022 shows how much EPFL graduates contribute to research, innovation and the economy in Switzerland and abroad. EPFL graduates are highly integrated into the job market, occupy key positions, earn salaries above the Swiss average and follow a wide variety of career paths. 92% are satisfied with their professional situation. The number of female EPFL architects and engineers is rising sharply, but there are still clear inequalities between men and women.

Who are the alumni and alumnae?

EPFL currently has over 43,000 alumni and alumnae. The career survey was conducted among 29,630 members of this population, who graduated between 1980 and 2019 and for whom EPFL Alumni had a contact email. This is a young and growing population, with over 50% having graduated less than 10 years ago and under 41 years of age. Coming from 15 different sections - the most numerous being Architecture, Physics, Microengineering and Computer Science - the majority left EPFL following their Master's degree (63%), while 27% obtained a PhD. 21% of the school's graduates are women, a figure that is also rising steadily: in recent years, women have accounted for 27% each year, compared with just 8% in the 1980s.

A total of 3214 people agreed to take part in the survey, which was carried out jointly by EPFL Alumni and the EPFL Teaching Support Center. The sample is broadly representative of the reference population in all respects.

A population strongly integrated into the job market, active in a variety of sectors and positions

95% of survey respondents said they were professionally active, including 8.3% in self-employment. Only 1% of respondents said they were looking for a job, a figure which demonstrates the strong attractiveness of the School's talent on the job market.

The vast majority of respondents (72%) work in the private sector, while 23% hold a position in the public sector and 5% in a not-for-profit organization. The wide variety of sectors in which our respondents work clearly demonstrates the wealth of career paths available to them after EPFL. The 5 most frequently cited sectors are IT and Telecommunications (13.8%), Higher education (8.2%), Architecture (7.9%), Finance (7.6%) and Construction (7%).

Positions held are equally varied. More than half of respondents work in technology or research positions, around 20% in management and strategy, and around 5% in supply chain. In detail, the most frequent answers are IT (12.1%), Engineering (9.8%), Research and development (9.8%), Project management (7.6%) and Architecture (6.9%). A PhD remains a prerequisite for positions in research or academia, as these are the two positions most often cited by respondents with this type of degree.

Finally, we note that 92% are satisfied with their professional situation, including 51% who are strongly satisfied. Respondents were particularly happy with the content of their jobs (94% satisfied, including 59% strongly) and their responsibilities and autonomy (94%, including 62% strongly).

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EPFL graduates have above-average responsibilities and salaries

Over 53% of survey respondents claim to have managerial responsibility - 24% in a "top management" position (senior executive, board member...) and 29.2% in a "middle management" position.

The median salary among respondents is 120-140 k CHF, while the Swiss average is 80 k CHF and that of higher education is 120 k CHF. These salaries remain higher in the private sector (average 120-140 k CHF) than in the public sector (100-120 k CHF). Management, finance, luxury goods and legal affairs appear to be the best-paid sectors and functions.

EPFL studies are valued and careers in line with them

The careers of EPFL talent are closely related to their studies: 86% of respondents say that their job is directly linked to their studies - 42% of them strongly. These figures are particularly strong for people from Computer Science (98%), Architecture (94%) and Life Sciences (93%). Conversely, the link may be less consistent for people from Physics (69%), Mechanical Engineering (79%) or Mathematics (81%) sections.

21% of respondents said they had set up a business at some point in their career, a particularly high figure among those from the Architecture (46%) and Management, Technology and Entrepreneurship (43%) sections, which is again in direct line with their studies.

Feedback from survey respondents also shows strong recognition of EPFL diplomas on the job market, both in Switzerland and abroad. In fact, 97% of respondents stated that their diploma was recognized in Switzerland, 96% in the rest of Europe, 92% in North America and 90% in the rest of the world.

A highly international community, 70% active in Switzerland

The reference population includes 136 different nationalities, 60 of which are represented among the survey respondents. This international dimension is also reflected in the fact that 80% of respondents speak at least two languages (95% French, 89% English, 50% German).

Despite this wide diversity of origins, EPFL talent largely remains in Switzerland, where over 70% of respondents say they work - Vaud (41.9%), Geneva (14.9%) and Zurich (10.8%) being cited most frequently. Switzerland's attractiveness can be seen in the fact that 53% of non-Swiss European citizens stay on to work after their studies, as do 51% of citizens from the rest of the world (excluding North America).

Other countries where respondents most often work are France (23%), the USA (15%), Germany (12%), England and Canada (6% each).

Major career inequalities between men and women

The disparity between the careers of men and women with an EPFL degree remains high. 68% of women surveyed said they worked full-time, well above the 41.5% average for women living in Switzerland. However, this is still well below the 88% of male EPFL graduates who responded to the survey. Similarly, the arrival of a child has a far greater impact on women's careers than on those of men. After the birth of a first child, only 48% of women surveyed work full-time, while 84% of men continue to do so.

These inequalities have a direct impact on the career progression of EPFL women. Among female respondents, only 11% claim to occupy a "top management" position, compared with 28% of men. Similarly, the median salary for women is only CHF 80-100 k, compared with CHF 120-140 k for men.

Continuing education as a career tool

Technical, analytical and problem-solving skills are the skills acquired at EPFL most often cited by survey respondents. But continuing education after EPFL is just as essential, as 90% of respondents pointed out, recommending project management, communication and team management as additional skills to acquire after an EPFL course. Digital and sustainability are also cited as major areas of interest for future continuing education.

To find out more

Read the executive summary (24 pages).