Wage increase after completion of the "Gardener with Federal Diploma of Higher Education" course

After completing the course and obtaining the Federal Diploma of Higher Education as a gardener, you can take on management tasks and move up to a higher pay grade.

You can use the "Salarium" salary calculator to work out how high your salary increase could actually be. Your personal salary opportunities depend on various criteria such as the sector, the region, your employer, your previous training, your professional experience and your age.

We have calculated a case for you as an example: A 24-year-old trained gardener works for a horticultural company in the Zurich Oberland and earns around CHF 4,560 per month. After completing two years of continuing, further education, he will take over the management of a team and the supervision of apprentices and thus be promoted to a higher salary group.

Now it's your turn. This is how it works: Open the "Salarium - Wage calculator" window below and then click on "Calculate wages"

Inputs:

  • REGION: Select your region / place of work (in the example Zurich)
  • INDUSTRY: Select your industry (in the example 81 Building maintenance; gardening and landscaping)
  • PROFESSIONAL GROUP: enter "Gardener, federally certified" and Salarium will suggest the corresponding professional group: 61 Specialists in agriculture
  • POSITION IN THE COMPANY: Level 3+4 lower management (previously without management function)
  • HOURS PER WEEK: 42
  • TRAINING: Higher vocational training (previously completed vocational training)
  • AGE: Your estimated age after completing the continuing education, further training (in the example 26, previously 24)
  • YEARS OF SERVICE: Your number of years of service (0 in the example)
  • COMPANY SIZE: In the example less than 20 employees
  • 12/13 MONTHLY WAGE: 12 monthly wages
  • SPECIAL PAYMENTS: No
  • MONTHLY / HOURLY WAGE: Monthly wage

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.

His gardener's salary will increase to CHF 5,619, i.e. by just under 23% or around CHF 1,059.

Please note: The gardener (FPE) calculation is intended as an example. As mentioned above, the salary depends on various factors and can vary considerably.

Another example of a gardener with a Federal Diploma of Higher Education: CHF 620,000 more salary until retirement

Peter is 24 years old and works as a Federal VET Diploma gardener in a large horticultural company in Liestal. He designs and plants green spaces, gardens, parks and gardens in gardening and landscaping. Based on plans, Peter builds, plants and maintains green spaces, paths, squares, walls and steps. This also includes the care and maintenance of existing gardens or facilities. He often works in a team or with the help of machines, equipment or tools. Peter is a professional in dealing with plants and knows what conditions they need for good growth and durability. Working outdoors fulfills him. But Peter also brings strength, practical understanding and a love of design. In order to progress professionally and take on more demanding specialist tasks or even team leadership, Peter attends continuing education, further training to become a gardener with a Federal Diploma of Higher Education. During the gardener course specializing in gardening and landscaping, he learns how to ensure the efficiency, adherence to deadlines and cost-effectiveness of orders through good work planning. With the Federal Professional Examination, Peter can determine the number of employees, machines and materials required for each job and draw up the corresponding work plans. Thanks to his federal certificate as a gardener, he can use the resources professionally and cost-effectively, take care of their maintenance and care and manage the employees on the construction site. After completing his continuing education, further training as a gardener, Peter can take over a team with an apprentice and take care of the instruction and supervision of the work to be carried out. He always keeps an eye on occupational safety, health protection, environmental protection and sustainability. Once the work has been completed, he checks and reports on all the work. Peter has been able to increase his market value and salary with his recognized qualification as a gardener. After gaining experience as a team leader, he can well imagine moving into customer service and using the knowledge he has acquired in the area of customer care.

Financial benefits of continuing education, further training for gardeners

As a gardener, Peter will receive CHF 1,343 more per month than before and will therefore have at least CHF 620,000 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 gardener FPE:

  • 21 months, part-time
  • School fees, documents: CHF 15,800 minus CHF 7,900 federal contribution = CHF 7,900
  • Exam fee: CHF 900
  • Total training costs: CHF 8'800

Wage difference and yield calculation:

  • Difference in salary between the Federal VET Diploma gardener position and the gardener position: CHF 6,208 - CHF 4,865 = CHF 1,343 per month and CHF 16,116 per year (12 x CHF 1,343 = CHF 16,116)
  • He recoups the entire training costs of CHF 8,800 in almost 7 months with his higher salary as a gardener (CHF 8,800 / CHF 1,343 per month = 6.6 months)
  • Over the remaining 39 years until his retirement (26 to 65), this additional income will add up to CHF 628,524 (39 x CHF 16,116 = CHF 628,524)
  • If the training costs are deducted from this additional income, an additional sum of around CHF 620,000 remains at his disposal(CHF 628'524 - CHF 8'800 = CHF 619'724)

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 gardener Federal VET Diplomabefore the Federal Professional Examination:
    • Region: Northwestern Switzerland
    • Industry sector: 81 Building services; Gardening and landscaping
    • Occupational group: 61 Specialists in agriculture
    • 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: 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 4'865
  • Calculationsafter the Federal Professional Examination:
    • Region: Northwestern Switzerland
    • Industry sector: 81 Building services; Gardening and landscaping
    • Occupational group: 61 Specialists in agriculture
    • 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 6'208

(All figures as at November 2022)

Click on the salary calculator banner to access the salary calculator.

Salarium - Statistischer Lohnrechner

Click here for the schools that offer the gardener (FPE) course.

Provider of courses leading to the Federal Diploma of Higher Education "Gardener"