Wage increase after completion of the "Bachelor of Business Administration (UAS)" course

A Bachelor's degree in Business Administration enables you to make the leap into a first position with higher specialist responsibility. The "Bachelor of Business Administration" career leap is also reflected in salary development. A large proportion of graduates receive a higher salary of between 10% and over 30% in the first one or two years after completing their Bachelor of Business Administration degree.

We have calculated a specific case for you as an example "Business Administration Bachelor": A 22-year-old Federal VET Diploma commercial clerk earns around CHF 5,669 per month in the Zurich area. After completing his Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, he takes on a more demanding specialist role and management function. His salary increases to CHF 13,639.

Your personal "Business Administration Bachelor" salary opportunities depend on other criteria such as the industry, the region, your employer, your previous training, your professional experience and your age. However, you can use the "Salarium" salary calculator to calculate your potential salary increase after completing your Bachelor's degree in Business Administration.

This is how you proceed: Click on "Salarium - statistical salary calculator" below and then on the "Calculate salary" button

  • Step 1: Enter your region / place of work (e.g. Zurich)
  • Step 2: Enter your industry (e.g. 64 Provision of financial services )
  • Step 3: Enter "Kaufmann Federal VET Diploma" under occupational group and the group 41 General office and secretarial staff will appear
  • Step 4: Position in the company - Select "Without management function"
  • Step 5: Weekly hours 42
  • Step 6: Training: Completed vocational training
  • Step 7: Enter your age (e.g. 22 years)
  • Step 8: Enter further optional information (if available and desired)

Source:"Federal Statistical Office, FSO"

Note: This sample calculation is based on data from Salarium (end of 2024). Information can be foundhere. A list of other payroll calculator tools is availablehere.

The example salary "Business Administration Bachelor" in our calculation is around CHF 5,669. Now go back to the "Occupational group" and select "Business economist" and the group 24 Business economists and comparable specialists, select "Level 1+2 Upper and middle management" for the position in the company, change the education to "University of Applied Sciences (UAS)" and increase the age to 25. This results in a new average salary of around CHF 13,639 with a Bachelor of Business Administration.

Please note:The calculation is intended as an example "Business Administration Bachelor" and is always a rounded figure. As mentioned above, the salary in individual cases depends on various factors and can vary considerably.

Another example Bachelor of Business Administration with a UAS degree: CHF 1.43 million more salary until retirement

Tobias is 23 years old and works as a Federal Vocational Baccalaureate (VET Diploma) car salesman in a large car garage in Stäfa. In his job, he has contact with customers, manufacturers, insurance companies, authorities, garage and workshop employees. Tobias supports the garage, including the workshop, with administrative matters such as filing documents, sales activities, coordinating meetings, creating templates, taking minutes, monitoring the ordering process and invoicing. His reliability, fluency and independence are greatly appreciated in the garage. Tobias would like to progress professionally and is studying for a Bachelor of Business Administration. With this University of Applied Sciences degree, he wants to gain in-depth business management expertise and knowledge of economics, business law and business informatics. During the four-year Bachelor of Business Administration course at the University of Applied Sciences, he will continue to work in the garage on a 50% part-time basis. After completing his Bachelor's degree, Tobias would like to take on full responsibility for the garage's finance and accounting department. This includes preparing the annual financial statements, balance sheet and income statement. He will also be responsible for preparing the cost and performance accounting and optimizing the profitability of the products and services offered in the garage or workshop. They will also be responsible for controlling, investments, investment risks, credit risks and credit management. With a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, Tobias can take on various staff and management roles in different sectors as a business economist. His degree has increased his job market opportunities immensely and greatly boosted his salary as a result.

Financial benefits of the Bachelor of Business Administration degree program

After completing his degree in Business Administration / Bachelor of Business Administration, Tobias will receive CHF 3,545 more per month than before and will therefore have at least CHF 1.43 million more at his disposal by the time he retires than if he had not studied.

As this theoretical calculation does not take into account any further salary increases, promotions or interest on savings, the salary can still increase significantly.

Calculation in detail

UAS degree program in Business Administration / Bachelor of Business Administration:

  • 4 years, part-time study, 50% practical work
  • Study costs (enrollment, tuition fees, semester fees, etc.): CHF 44'340
  • Loss of earnings during the four years of part-time study: CHF 139,608 (5,817 / 2 = 3,454 x 12 x 4)
  • Total training costs: CHF 183,948 (training costs plus loss of salary CHF 44,340 + CHF 139,608 = CHF 183,948)

Wage difference and yield calculation:

  • Difference in salary between the position as a Federal VET Diploma automotive industry clerk and the position as a business economist: CHF 9,362 - CHF 5,817 = CHF 3,545 per month and CHF 42,540 per year (12 x CHF 3,545 = CHF 42,540)
  • He recoups the total training costs of CHF 183,948 in just over 4 years with the higher salary as a business economist with a Bachelor of Business Administration (CHF 183,948 / CHF 42,540 per year = 4.3 years)
  • Over the remaining 38 years until retirement (27 to 65), this additional income will add up to CHF 1,616,520 (38 x CHF 42,540 = CHF 1,616,520)
  • If the training costs are deducted from this additional income, an additional sum of around CHF 1,432,572 remains at her disposal(CHF 1'616'520 - CHF 183'948 = CHF 1'432'572)

Sources:

  • The training costs correspond to an average of the courses offered in German-speaking Switzerland.
  • Wages were calculated in the federal wage calculator www.salarium.ch with the following settings:
  • Calculations as a Federal Vocational Baccalaureate (VET Diploma) automotive industry clerk with Federal Vocational Baccalaureatebefore the Bachelor's degree:
    • Region: Zurich
    • Sector: 30 Other vehicle construction
    • Occupational group: 41 General office and secretarial staff
    • Position in the company: Level 5 without management function
    • Hours per week: 42 hours
    • Education: Matura
    • Age: 23 years
    • Years of service: not specified
    • Company size: with 50 and more employees
    • 12/13 monthly salary: 13 monthly salary (converted pro rata to 12 salaries)
    • Special payments: no
    • Monthly / hourly wage: Monthly wage
    • Result:Central value (median) ofCHF 5'817
  • Calculationsafter graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration:
    • Region: Zurich
    • Sector: 30 Other vehicle construction
    • Occupational group: 24 Business economists and comparable academic professions
    • Position in the company: Level 1+2 Upper and middle management
    • Hours per week: 42 hours
    • Education: University of Applied Sciences (UAS)
    • Age: 27 years
    • Years of service: not specified
    • Company size: with 50 and more employees
    • 12/13 monthly salary: 13 monthly salary (converted pro rata to 12 salaries)
    • Special payments: no
    • Monthly / hourly wage: Monthly wage
    • Result:Central value (median) ofCHF 9'362

(All figures as at November 2022)

Another example of a business economist UAS with a Bachelor's degree: CHF 1.38 million more salary until retirement

Lara is 24 years old and works as an editor in a large publishing house in Köniz. She loves her job in publishing. Lara assesses authors' manuscripts. She checks whether the content and style are suitable for the publisher. If manuscripts are suitable, Lara makes a proposal for inclusion in the publishing program. If the publisher accepts the text, she edits it in consultation with the author. Lara revises the text in terms of content, style, grammar and spelling until it is ready for printing. She also carries out editorial work such as image selection with corresponding captions, tables of contents, image headings and flap texts. Laura has contract negotiations, scheduling and design concepts under control. She is also actively looking for new authors. Lara would like to develop her career as a publisher. However, this requires business, legal and administrative knowledge in order to take on this management role in a publishing house. Lara is therefore studying for a bachelor's degree in business administration. With this full-time course at a University of Applied Sciences, she wants to learn about the laws of the publishing market, production processes, marketing issues, copyright aspects and book distribution. Lara would like to take on responsibility for audiovisual, interactive and printed media content after completing her Bachelor's degree. As a publisher, she is also responsible for corporate communications, marketing, journalism, staff management and production technology. In addition, Lara defines the pricing policy, sales strategy and publishing targets. With her Bachelor's degree, Lara can take on various staff and management functions as a business economist in the private sector, public administration or the service sector. With her Bachelor's degree, she has increased her earning potential and optimized her job market opportunities.

Financial benefits of the Bachelor's degree program in Business Administration

After completing her degree in business administration, Lara will receive CHF 3,327 more per month than before and will therefore have at least CHF 1.38 million more at her disposal by the time she retires than if she had not studied.

As this theoretical calculation does not take into account any further salary increases, promotions or interest on savings, the salary can still increase significantly.

Calculation in detail

UAS degree course in business administration:

  • 3 years, full-time study
  • Study costs (enrollment, tuition fees, semester fees, etc.): CHF 5'265
  • Loss of earnings during the three years of full-time study: CHF 132,984 (3,694 x 12 x 3)
  • Total training costs: CHF 138,249 (training costs plus loss of salary CHF 5,265 + CHF 132,984 = CHF 138,249)

Wage difference and yield calculation:

  • Difference in salary between the job as an editor and the job as a publisher: CHF 7,021 - CHF 3,694 = CHF 3,327 per month and CHF 39,924 per year (12 x CHF 3,327 = CHF 39,924)
  • She recoups the total training costs of CHF 138,249 in 3.5 years with her higher salary as a business economist (CHF 138,249 / CHF 39,924 per year = 3.48 years)
  • In the remaining 38 years until retirement (27 to 65), this additional income will add up to CHF 1,517,112 (38 x CHF 39,924 = CHF 1,517,112)
  • Wf you subtract the training costs from this additional income, you are left with a sum of around CHF 1,378,863 at your disposal(CHF 1'517'112 - CHF 138'249 = CHF 1'378'863)

Sources:

  • The training costs correspond to an average of the courses offered in German-speaking Switzerland.
  • The salaries for Business Administration Bachelor were calculated in the federal salary calculator www.salarium.ch with the following settings:
  • Calculations as an editorwith a Federal Vocational Baccalaureate before a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration:
    • Region: Espace Mittelland
    • Sector: 58 Publishing
    • Occupational group: 44 General office and secretarial staff
    • Position in the company: Level 5 without management function
    • Hours per week: 42 hours
    • Education: Completed vocational training
    • Age: 24 years
    • Years of service: not specified
    • Company size: with 50 and more employees
    • 12/13 monthly salary: 13 monthly salary (converted pro rata to 12 salaries)
    • Special payments: no
    • Monthly / hourly wage: Monthly wage
    • Result:Central value (median) ofCHF 3'694
  • Calculationsafter completing her Bachelor's degree in Business Administration UAS:
    • Region: Espace Mittelland
    • Sector: 58 Publishing
    • Occupational group: 24 Business economists and comparable academic professions
    • Position in the company: Level 1+2 Upper and middle management
    • Hours per week: 42 hours
    • Education: University of Applied Sciences (UAS)
    • Age: 27 years
    • Years of service: not specified
    • Company size: with 50 and more employees
    • 12/13 monthly salary: 13 monthly salary (converted pro rata to 12 salaries)
    • Special payments: no
    • Monthly / hourly wage: Monthly wage
    • Result:Central value (median) ofCHF 7'021

(All figures as at November 2022)

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