Salary increase after completion of the "HR Manager / Head of Human Resources" course

According to data from the Federal Statistical Office, the average salaries of HR managers throughout Switzerland are between 25% and 60% higher than the corresponding salaries of HR specialists with a Federal Diploma of Higher Education, depending on the industry, region and company size.

In individual cases, the development of the "Head of Human Resources" salary depends on other criteria such as the size of the company or previous education, professional experience and age of the applicant. Calculate your individual chances with the help of a salary calculator. We will be happy to help you with a simple example.

A 33-year-old Head of Human Resources in continuing education, further training earns around CHF 8,475 per month in the automotive manufacturing sector in north-western Switzerland. After passing the Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE) as "Head of Human Resources", he takes on management tasks and is promoted to a higher salary group. This increases his salary to CHF 11,379.

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. Northwestern Switzerland)
  • Step 2: Enter your industry (e.g. 29 Manufacture of automobiles and automotive parts)
  • Step 3: Enter the occupational group (24 business economists and comparable academic professions)
  • Step 4: Position in the company - Select "Without management function"
  • Step 5: Weekly hours 42
  • Step 6: Training: Higher vocational training / College of Higher Education
  • Step 7: Enter your age (e.g. 33 years)
  • Step 8: Enter further optional information (if available and desired)

The basic salary in our calculation is CHF 8,475. To calculate the salary with the completed continuing education, further training as Head of Human Resources, go back to the "Occupational group" and "Position in the company" and select "11-14 managers" and "Upper + middle management". This now results in a new average salary of CHF 11,379.

Note: The calculation "Head of Human Resources" is intended as an example and is always a rounded figure. As mentioned above, the salary depends on various factors and can vary considerably.

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.

Another example of a Head of Human Resources with a federal diploma: CHF 2.36 million more salary until retirement

Melita is 27 years old and has been working as an HR specialist at a bank in Aarau for a few years. She loves working closely with lots of people and is very committed to the needs of employees. In addition to her communication skills, her line manager also appreciates the many new ideas Melita brings to him and how she convinces him to come up with new solutions. Melita's boss sees great potential in her and can well imagine her in a management role. She can also imagine working more strategically and conceptually and implementing her ideas herself. Melita would like to gain the ability to take on overall responsibility for Human Resources in a company and thus make a significant contribution to the success of the business by continuing her education, further training as a Head of HR. By training to become a Head of Human Resources with a federal diploma, Melita can consolidate her holistic understanding of leadership and take the next step in her HR career. After successfully completing the Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE), her boss would like to appoint her as an HR Business Partner to lead teams in lower management so that she can learn about the interactions between the company's goals and processes and thus effectively support Human Resources Management. Later on, Melita will also be able to develop into an HR Manager role, which will of course increase her salary prospects and would also be supported by her boss, albeit with a heavy heart. In any case, the diploma as Head of Human Resources opens up completely new opportunities for her on the job market and promising career prospects.

Financial benefits of continuing education, further training Head of Human Resources

As an HR Business Partner, Melita will receive CHF 5,485 more per month than before thanks to her Head of Human Resources diploma and will therefore have at least CHF 2.36 million more at her disposal by the time she retires than if she had not completed this continuing education, 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.

Calculation in detail

Continuing education, further training Head of Human Resources AFPE:

  • 15 months part-time
  • School fees, documents: CHF 11,440 minus CHF 5,720 federal contribution = CHF 5,720
  • Examination fee: CHF 2,000
  • Total training costs: CHF 7'720

Wage difference and yield calculation:

  • Difference in salary between the position of HR Specialist and the position of HR Business Partner (as Head of Human Resources): CHF 11,239 - CHF 5,754 = CHF 5,485 per month and CHF 65,820 per year (12 x CHF 5,485 = CHF 65,820)
  • She recoups the entire training costs of CHF 7,420 in one month with her higher salary as an HR Business Partner (CHF 7,720 / CHF 5,485 per month = 1 month)
  • In the remaining 36 years until their retirement (29 to 65), this additional income will add up to CHF 2,369,520 (36 x CHF 65,820 = CHF 2,369,520)
  • If the training costs are deducted from this additional income, an additional sum of around CHF 2,362,000 remains at its disposal(CHF 2'369'520 - CHF 7'720= CHF 2'361'800)

Sources:

  • The training costs for "Head of Human Resources" correspond to an average of the training courses offered in German-speaking Switzerland.
  • Wages were calculated in the federal wage calculator www.salarium.ch with the following settings:
  • Calculations HR specialistwith Federal Professional Examination before Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE):
    • Region: Northwestern Switzerland
    • Sector: 64 Financial services
    • Occupational group: 24 Business economists and comparable academic professions
    • 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 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 5'754
  • Calculationsafter the Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE) "Head of Human Resources":
    • Region: Northwestern Switzerland
    • Sector: 64 Financial services
    • Professional group: 11-14 managers
    • Position in the company: Level 1+2 Upper and middle management
    • Hours per week: 42 hours
    • Education: Higher vocational training
    • Age: 29 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 11'239

(All figures as at October 2022)

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Salarium - Statistischer Lohnrechner

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Overview of schools "HR Manager / Head of Human Resources"