Wage increase after completion of the "Production Specialist (FPE)" course

The Federal Professional Examination is the first specialization after vocational education and training (VET). Here you will acquire advanced knowledge, skills and competencies that will enable you to take on more responsibility, more demanding tasks and initial management functions in a company or business. This not only makes you more attractive in the market, but usually also places you in a higher salary bracket.

However, the salary or salary development in individual cases depends on various criteria, such as the industry, region, size of the company, previous education, professional experience and age. There is also the question of whether the degree leads to a new, suitable position in the previous or another company, which is also decisive in terms of salary.

You can calculate your personal salary opportunities with "Salarium", the federal government's salary calculator. We have calculated a possible case to illustrate this. It is intended as an example and corresponds to a statistical average.

Calculation of the possible wage increase with the acquisition of the Federal Diploma of Higher Education as a production specialist

Paolo, 24 years old, had completed his Federal VET Diploma apprenticeship as a polymechanic and had been working for three years in a medium-sized company in Schwyz that manufactures parts for large industrial machines, such as the conveyor belts at Swiss Post. He earned around CHF 5,099 per month.

Paolo is a typical "tinkerer" and has been fascinated by machines since his youth. Even back then, he would take apart and reassemble all kinds of machines, such as his mother's coffee machine. He was able to live out his passion for machines as a polymechanic, but mostly he only received orders that he had to carry out according to specifications. There wasn't much scope for his own ideas and creativity and he lacked challenge and development opportunities. While searching for suitable further training opportunities, he came across the Federal Professional Examination for Production Specialists on the Internet and attended several information events.

Paolo soon got down to business and enrolled on a preparatory course for the Federal Professional Examination for Production Specialists.

Around a year later, he took the Federal Professional Examination and passed with flying colors. He then worked at his previous company for another year until he took on a new role at another medium-sized industrial company in Lucerne. He has now been working there for 2 years. He is responsible for entire projects, works independently with customers, advises them on all matters relating to the production of individual parts and shows them potential for improvement in line with Industry 4.0. He is also responsible for training apprentices. His salary has risen by more than 26% to around CHF 6,409 as a result of continuing education, further training as a Production Specialist with Federal Diploma of Higher Education.

Click on the banner "Salarium - statistical salary calculator" below and then on the "Calculate salary" button and select the appropriate details:

• REGION: select your region / place of work (in the example Central Switzerland)
• INDUSTRY: select your or the desired industry (in the example 28 mechanical engineering)
• PROFESSIONAL GROUP: enter "Production specialist". Salarium shows the corresponding occupational group 31 (engineering and similar skilled workers). (In the example, first 72 "Metal workers, mechanics and related professions", then 31)
• POSITION IN THE COMPANY: choose what you consider realistic, foreseeable or desirable (in the example first "without management function", then "lower management")
• HOURS OF THE WEEK: (42 in the example)
• TRAINING: (in the example first "completed vocational training", then "Higher vocational training, College of Higher Education")
• AGE: Your estimated age after completing the continuing education, further training (in the example 24, then 28)
• YEARS OF SERVICE: Your number of years of service (in the example 3, then 2)
• COMPANY SIZE: (in the example "less than 20-49 employees")
• 12/13 MONTHLY WAGES: (12 monthly wages in the example)
• SPECIAL PAYMENTS: No
• MONTHLY / HOURLY WAGE: Monthly wage

Source:Federal Statistical Office

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.

Click on the banner below to access the salarium calculator.

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