Will the "Electrician (AFPE)" qualification give me a pay rise?
Anyone who passes an Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE) - such as the examination to become an electrician,can almost always look forward to a pay rise afterwards.This is because the Federal Diploma in Electrical Installation also gives you access to a higher salary level. The AFPE qualification as an electrical installation and safety expert therefore bringsnot only better career opportunities but also financial benefits.
Your personal salary opportunities depend on various 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 as an electrician.
We have calculated a case for you as an example: A 30-year-old electrical project manager with a Federal Diploma of Higher Education would like to develop his career by taking the Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE) to become an electrician with a Federal Diploma.
Click on the "Calculate salary" button on the Salarium salary calculator (at Quelle):
- Region: Select your region / place of work (Zurich in the example)
- Industry: Select your industry (in the example 41 Building construction)
- Occupational group: Enter "Electrical project manager, federally certified" and Salarium will suggest the corresponding occupational group: 31 Engineering and similar specialists
- Position in the company: Without management function
- Hours per week: 42
- Education: Higher vocational training
- Age: Your estimated age after completing the continuing education, further training (30 in the example)
- Years of service: Your number of years of service (0 in the example)
- Company size: In the example 20-49 employees
- 12/13 monthly salary: 13 monthly salary (converted pro rata to 12 salaries)
- Special payments: No
- Monthly/hourly wage: Monthly wage
Source:"Federal Statistical Office, FSO"
Note: This sample calculation refers to the data from Salarium (end of 2024). You can find informationhere. A list of other payroll calculator tools is availablehere.
The result shows that he earns around CHF 7,678 per month in the Zurich area. After passing the Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE) as a qualified electrician, he is promoted to a higher management position. To do this, we select "Electrician, dipl. AFPE" for the occupational group and Salarium suggests the group "74 electricians and electronics technicians". For the position in the company, we change to "Upper and middle management". This increases his salary to CHF 8,415.
Note: The above calculation is intended as an example. As mentioned above, the salary depends on various factors and can vary considerably.
ATTENTION: Since 2021, the course and title have been renamed "Electrical installation and safety expert". From 2019 to 2021, there will be a transitional period during which schools can advertise courses under both titles and examinations can be taken under the old or new regulations. You can find updated informationhere.
Example of an electrician with a federal diploma: CHF 398,000 more salary until retirement
Sebastian works as an electrical project manager in a large electrical company in Appenzell. The 26-year-old works on electrical projects from the initial meeting through to planning and handover to the customer. He enjoys working independently on electrical systems and interfaces. Sebastian is familiar with installation technology and uses tools, instruments and methods as required. His competent project management, planning and communication skills are highly valued within the company. Sebastian would like to upgrade his knowledge of electrical installation to expert status by taking the Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE). With continuing education, further training as an electrical installation and safety expert, he can acquire additional knowledge in project management, planning, technical processing, installation and safety expertise. After obtaining his federal diploma, Sebastian can take on a management role. As an electrician, he now manages renovation and new construction projects in terms of planning, costing, organization, installation and final inspection. After gaining further professional experience, Sebastian can imagine setting up and running his own company. Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE) as an electrician gives him numerous opportunities for professional development and better earning potential.
Financial benefits of continuing education, further training as an electrical installation and safety expert
Sebastian will receive CHF 922 more per month as an electrician than before and will therefore have at least CHF 398,000 more at his disposal by the time he retires than if he had not taken this continuing education, further training and Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE).
As this theoretical calculation does not take into account any further salary increases, promotions or interest on savings, the salary can still increase significantly.
Continuing education, further training for electricians AFPE: CHF 11,720
- 18 months, part-time
- Tuition fees, documents, module examinations, diploma thesis: CHF 20,550 minus CHF 10,275 federal contribution = CHF 10,275
- Exam fee: CHF 1'445
- Total training costs: CHF 11,720
Salary difference and yield calculation: CHF 398,000
- Difference in salary between the position of electrical project manager and the position of electrical installer: CHF 7,303 - CHF 6,381 = CHF 922 per month and CHF 11,064 per year (12 x CHF 922 = CHF 11,064)
- He recoups the total training costs of CHF 11,605 in almost 13 months with his higher salary as an electrical installation and safety expert (CHF 11,720 / CHF 922 per month = 12.7 months)
- Over the remaining 37 years until his retirement (28 to 65), this additional income will add up to CHF 409,368 (37 x CHF 11,064 = CHF 409,368)
- If the training costs are deducted from this additional income, an additional sum of around CHF 398,000 remains at her disposal(CHF 409'368 - CHF 11'720 = CHF 397'648)
The training costs correspond to an average of the courses offered for electrical installation and safety experts in German-speaking Switzerland.
The wages of electricians were calculated in the federal wage calculatorwww.salarium.chwith the following settings:
Calculations Electrical Project Manager with Federal Professional Examinationbefore the Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE): CHF 6'381
- Region: Eastern Switzerland
- Industry sector: 43 Preparatory construction site work and other finishing trades
- Occupational group: 31 Engineering and similar specialists
- Position in the company: Level 5 without management function
- Hours per week: 42 hours
- Education: Higher vocational training
- Age: 26 years
- Years of service: not specified
- Company size: 20 - 49 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 6'381
Calculationsafter the Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE): CHF 7,303
- Region: Eastern Switzerland
- Industry sector: 43 Preparatory construction site work and other finishing trades
- Occupational group: 74 Electricians and electronics technicians
- Position in the company: Level 1+2 Upper and middle management
- Hours per week: 42 hours
- Education: Higher vocational training
- Age: 28 years
- Years of service: not specified
- Company size: 20 - 49 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 7'303
(All figures as at November 2022)
Find a training institute that offers the "Electrician (AFPE)" course now:
