Net income — also called take-home pay or net salary — is the figure that lands in your bank account each month. Employers withhold income tax and social contributions (pension, health, unemployment) directly from gross pay and pay the net amount to the employee.
Net income depends on country, canton, marital status, number of children and personal allowances. In Switzerland the gap between gross and net is comparatively small (15–25%). In Germany and France it is much wider (35–45%) once social contributions and income tax are stacked up.
For businesses, 'net income' means something different: it is the profit left after all expenses, interest and taxes — the famous 'bottom line' on an income statement.
Net income = Gross income − Income tax − Social contributions − Other deductions
A single employee in Zurich earning CHF 100,000 gross typically nets around CHF 78,000 per year (~CHF 6,500/month) after AHV/IV/EO/ALV and federal, cantonal and municipal taxes.