Wage increase after completion of the "Specialist in Finance and Accounting" course

Every company needs good accountants or specialists in finance and accounting and the job situation is correspondingly good. Salaries for finance and accounting specialists are also high compared to other sectors. Experience shows that a salary increase can be expected after completing the training and is usually up to 20% higher.

Calculate your personal salary opportunities in just a few clicks with the help of the federal government's salary calculator. Criteria such as sector, region, employer, education, professional experience and age play a decisive role in the development of your salary. We are happy to give you an example of the calculation for a finance and accounting specialist. A 30-year-old finance and accounting specialist in continuing education, further training earns around CHF 8,017 per month in the wholesale sector in the Zurich area. After passing the Federal Professional Examination in Finance and Accounting, he takes on specialist tasks and is promoted to a higher salary group. This increases his salary to CHF 8,987.

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. 46 Wholesale)
  • Step 3: Enter "33. business management and commercial specialists and administrative specialists" under occupational group
  • 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. 30 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 in our calculation is CHF 8,017.

Now go back to the "Education" item and select "Higher Vocational Training / College of Higher Education", this will give you a new average salary of CHF 8,987.

Please note: The calculation for finance and accounting specialists is intended as an example and is always a rounded figure. As mentioned above, the salary depends on various factors and can vary considerably.

Another example of a finance and accounting specialist with Federal Diploma of Higher Education: CHF 724,000 more salary until retirement

23-year-old Dominik works as an accountant in the accounts department of a large security service in Frauenfeld. He enjoys his work in accounting and feels comfortable with his number-heavy job. Dominik enjoys the trust of his line manager, who appreciates his meticulous way of working, logical thinking and assertiveness. However, Dominik would like to take on even more qualified tasks and can imagine taking on a management role in this area later on. To this end, he wants to train as a finance and accounting specialist. After completing his Federal Professional Examination, he will be able to independently manage bookkeeping, prepare consolidated financial statements or assess contracts with regard to the Swiss Code of Obligations. With the federal certificate, Dominik will gain sound knowledge in all areas of accounting and, thanks to one of the best-known specialist training courses in Switzerland, will lay a good foundation for his professional success. He wants to work as a qualified specialist in finance and accounting and secure better employment opportunities in the long term.

Financial benefits of continuing education, further training as a finance and accounting specialist

As a finance and accounting specialist, Dominik will receive CHF 1,574 more per month than before and will therefore have at least CHF 724,000 more at his disposal by the time he retires than if he had not done any continuing education, further training.

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

Continuing education, further training in finance and accounting FPE:

  • 30 months part-time
  • School fees, documents: CHF 19,000 minus CHF 8,750 federal contribution = CHF 10,250
  • Exam fee: CHF 1'900
  • Total training costs: CHF 12'150

Wage difference and yield calculation:

  • Difference in salary between the position of Federal VET Diploma clerk and the position of finance and accounting specialist: CHF 6,167 - CHF 4,593 = CHF 1,574 per month and CHF 18,888 per year (12 x CHF 1,574 = CHF 18,888)
  • He recoups the total training costs of CHF 12,150 in just under 8 months with his higher salary as a finance and accounting specialist (CHF 12,150 / CHF 1,574 per month = 7.7 months)
  • Over the remaining 39 years until his retirement (26 to 65), this additional income will add up to CHF 736,632 (39 x CHF 18,888 = CHF 736,632)
  • If the training costs are deducted from this additional income, an additional sum of around CHF 724,482 remains at his disposal(CHF 736'632 - CHF 12'150= CHF 724'482)

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 with KV conclusionbefore the Federal Professional Examination:
    • Region: Eastern Switzerland
    • Sector: 80 Security services and detective agencies
    • Occupational group: 41 General office and secretarial staff
    • Position in the company: Level 5 without management function
    • Hours per week: 42 hours
    • Education: Completed vocational training
    • Age: 23 years
    • Years of service: not specified
    • Company size: 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 4'593
  • Calculationsafter passing the Federal Professional Examination in Finance and Accounting:
    • Region: Eastern Switzerland
    • Sector: 80 Security services and detective agencies
    • Occupational group: 33 Non-academic business administration and commercial specialists
    • Position in the company: Level 3 + 4 Lower management
    • Hours per week: 42 hours
    • Education: Higher vocational training, College of Higher Education
    • Age: 26 years
    • Years of service: not specified
    • Company size: 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 6'167

(All figures as at October 2022)

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Salarium - Statistischer Lohnrechner

Here you can find an educational institute that offers the course to become a specialist in finance and accounting:

Overview of schools for finance and accounting specialists