Wage increase after completion of the "HR Specialist" course
After completing the "HR Specialist" course, you can take on a position of responsibility in a company's HR department.usually receive up to 20 % more pay.
Many criteria influence the salary
Calculate your individual salary opportunities as an "HR specialist" with just a few clicks using the federal government's salary calculator. This will give you an idea of how much you could earn after completing the course. Criteria such as industry, region, employer, training, professional experience and age play a decisive role in the development of your salary. We are happy to help you with the calculation with a simple example.
A 30-year-old HR specialist in continuing education, further training earns around CHF 8,717 per month in the insurance and pension fund sector in the Zurich area. After passing the Federal Professional Examination as an HR specialist, he takes on specialist tasks and is promoted to a higher salary group. This increases his salary to CHF 9,353.
Click on the link for "Salarium - statistical wage calculator" at the bottom of the source and then on the "Calculate wages" button:
- Step 1: Enter your region / place of work (e.g. Zurich)
- Step 2: Enter your industry (e.g. 65 insurance, reinsurance and pension funds)
- Step 3: Enter the occupational group (11-14 managers)
- 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 refers to the data from Salarium (end of 2024). You can find informationhere. A list of other payroll calculator tools is availablehere.
The basic salary in our calculation is CHF 8,717. To calculate the salary with the completed continuing education, further training as an HR specialist, go back to the "Training" section and select "Higher vocational training / College of Higher Education". This results in a new average salary of CHF 9,353.
Note: The calculation "HR specialist" is intended as an example and is always a rounded figure. As mentioned above, the salary depends on various factors and can vary considerably.
Example HR specialist with Federal Diploma of Higher Education: CHF 463,000 more salary until retirement
Andrea is 24 years old and after successfully completing her apprenticeship in a medium-sized real estate company in eastern Switzerland, she was able to secure a permanent position in their HR department. She enjoys working with people and would like to put her commercial skills and organizational talent to good use in Human Resources. In her first five years in HR, Andrea realized that HR really is her calling. Her strong communication skills and willingness to support employees serve her well in her work in the HR team. In order to acquire the necessary specialist skills in HR assistance, Andrea would like to complete continuing education, further training as a HR assistant. After successfully completing her training as a HR assistant with an HRSE certificate from the HR Association, she hopes to be able to take on more responsibility and more interesting tasks within the HR department. Andrea would then like to take the Federal Professional Examination as an HR specialist in order to improve her salary situation in the long term and increase her job market opportunities.
Financial benefits of continuing education, further training as a HR assistant and HR specialist
As an HR specialist, Andrea will receive CHF 1,036 more per month than before and will therefore have at least CHF 463,000 more at her disposal by the time she retires than if she 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.
Continuing education, further training for HR assistant HRSE: CHF 2,740
- 6 months part-time
- Tuition fees, documents: CH 2'300
- Exam fee: CHF 440
- Total training costs: CHF 2'740
Continuing education, further training HR specialist FPE: CHF 6,575
- 15 months part-time
- School fees, documents: CHF 10,750 minus CHF 5,375 federal contribution = CHF 5,375
- Exam fee: CHF 1'200
- Total training costs: CHF 6'575
Salary difference and return calculation: CHF 463,000
- Difference in salary between the position as a commercial clerk (personnel) and the position as an HR specialist: CHF 5,577 - CHF 4,541 = CHF 1,036 per month and CHF 12,432 per year (12 x CHF 1,036 = CHF 12,432)
- She recoups the total training costs of CHF 9,315 (CHF 2,740 + CHF 6,575) with her higher salary as an HR specialist in just under 9 months (CHF 9,315 / CHF 1,036 per month = 8.9 months)
- In the remaining 38 years until their retirement (27 to 65), this additional income will add up to CHF 472,416 (38 x CHF 12,432 = CHF 472,416)
- If the training costs are deducted from this additional income, an additional sum of around CHF 463,000 remains at her disposal(CHF 472'416 - CHF 9'315= CHF 463'101)
The training costs correspond to an average of the courses offered in German-speaking Switzerland.
The wages were calculated in the federal wage calculatorwww.salarium.chwith the following settings:
Calculations for Federal VET Diploma merchantswith Federal Vocational Baccalaureate before the Federal Professional Examination: CHF 4,541
- Region: Eastern Switzerland
- Sector: 68 Real estate and housing
- 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: 24 years
- Years of service: not specified
- Company size: with 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 4'541
Calculationsafter the Federal Professional Examination "HR Specialist": CHF 5,577
- Region: Eastern Switzerland
- Sector: 68 Real estate and housing
- Occupational group: 44 Other office workers and related occupations
- Position in the company: Level 5 without management function
- Hours per week: 42 hours
- Education: Higher vocational training
- Age: 27 years
- Years of service: not specified
- Company size: with 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 5'577
(All figures as at October 2022)
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