When you work as a dental hygienist in Switzerland, you have two main options: working as an employee in an existing practice or organization, or practicing under your own professional responsibility.
On paper, the difference may seem simple. In reality, it changes many things: your autonomy, your organization, your level of responsibility, and also how much administrative work takes up your day-to-day routine.
Two very different ways to practice
Employment: A more structured framework
When you work as an employee, you join an organization that is already in place.
The practice provides you with a framework, a team, infrastructure, and often an already established patient base. This allows you to focus more on your core work, with a more limited organizational workload. It is also a model that often feels more reassuring when you are starting out.
Independence: More freedom, but also more responsibility
Practicing under your own professional responsibility gives you greater autonomy.
You decide how you organize your work, your pace, your positioning, and how you develop your activity. This additional freedom also comes with more responsibilities. In addition, you also take on what the practice usually handles for an employee: setting up the practice, management, administration, equipment, liability insurance, etc. The administrative workload is therefore higher.
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Do you need a license to practice?
In Switzerland, the FOPH states that this authorization falls under the responsibility of the cantons, within the framework set out by the legislation on healthcare professions.
For independent practice
If you practice under your own professional responsibility, authorization issued by the canton is generally required.
For employees
For employed practice, the situation is less uniform, although in general a license to practice is also required.
However, in the cantons of Appenzell Innerrhoden, Graubünden, Lucerne, and Solothurn, for example, a license to practice is not required if a person from the same profession assumes responsibility and supervision. Since regulations may change, we recommend contacting the relevant cantonal health authority directly.
What are the requirements to practice under your own responsibility?
The first requirement is to have a recognized diploma.
If you obtained your diploma in Switzerland, you can start the cantonal procedures. If you trained abroad, official recognition is required before you submit your application.
You then need to put together an administrative file, with documents that vary depending on the canton but generally include:
- Diploma or recognition of the diploma
- Identity document
- Criminal record extract
- Proof of liability insurance
- Proof of language proficiency
Financially, what are the differences between being an independent or employed dental hygienist?
As an employee, you benefit from a more stable compensation framework. In Switzerland, the 2024 salary recommendations place the gross monthly salary between CHF 5,100 and CHF 5,685 at the start of a career, with progression that can reach CHF 6,500 to CHF 7,295 depending on experience. Jobs.ch, for its part, estimates the average gross salary at CHF 91,000 per year, including the 13th salary.
By contrast, as an independent practitioner, you do not receive a fixed salary: you bill for your services. The rate recommendation from Swiss Dental Hygienists is based on a basic hourly rate of CHF 180 for standard services. But keep in mind: this amount corresponds to gross revenue, not net income. You still need to deduct practice-related expenses.
Which model is right for you?
If you are looking for a clear framework, an organization that is already in place, and a lighter administrative workload, employment is often the most natural path. If you want more autonomy, to build your own practice, and to manage your activity more freely, practicing under your own responsibility may be a better fit.
The right choice therefore depends less on the status itself than on what you expect from your day-to-day professional life. To help you, you will find a summary table in the next section.
Independent vs. employed dental hygienist: The key differences
| Point | Employed dental hygienist | Independent dental hygienist |
|---|---|---|
| Work setting | You join an already established structure. | You organize your activity yourself. |
| Responsibility | You work within a framework defined by the practice or organization. | You practice under your own professional responsibility. |
| Autonomy | More limited, but with a more reassuring framework. | Greater freedom in organizing and developing your activity. |
| Administrative workload | Lower in day-to-day work. | Higher: management, organization, compliance, administrative follow-up. |
| License to practice | Depends on the canton. | Generally required, depending on the canton. |
| Recognition of diploma | Required depending on the situation, especially for foreign diplomas. | Essential for foreign diplomas before starting cantonal procedures. |
| Infrastructure | Practice, equipment, and organization already in place. | You must manage or finance your own infrastructure. |
| Financial security | Generally more stable and predictable income. | More freedom, but also more costs and risks. |
| Business development | Depends more on the structure that employs you. | You develop your patient base and your activity in your own way. |
| Best-suited profile | Ideal if you are looking for a clear framework and a reduced management workload. | Suitable if you want more autonomy and are ready to manage your own activity. |
Two models, two ways to practice
The difference between being an independent or employed dental hygienist mainly lies in the way you practice, the freedom you have to organize your work, and the responsibilities you are ready to take on. There is no right choice, only a choice that is better suited to your path, your goals, and the way you see your profession.
Whatever you choose, we wish you every success in your professional journey!
Useful resources:
- Swiss Dental Hygienists represents the professional, economic, and social interests of its members and is committed to future-oriented basic and continuing education. As a professional association, SDH works to ensure high-quality professional practice.
- Denteo offers a comprehensive solution for oral healthcare professionals in Switzerland.
- ergodent offers billing, an online schedule, and medical records for your patient base.
- ZaWin is one of the most comprehensive and widely used software solutions in Swiss dental practices.
Sources
- Swiss Dental Hygienists. (s. d.). Rechtsberatung.
- Medi AG. (s. d.). Dentalhygiene.
- Medi-Karriere Schweiz. (2026). Dentalhygienikerin: Lohn und Verdienst 2026.
- Kanton Zürich – Gesundheitsdirektion. (s. d.). Merkblatt: Dentalhygienikerin in eigenverantwortlicher Tätigkeit.
- SDBB. (s. d.). Dentalhygieniker/in HF.
- JobCloud AG. (s. d.). Verdienst du genug? Schweizer Löhne nach Beruf und Kanton. jobs.ch.
