Wage increase after completion of the "Electrical Technician CHE" course (formerly "Technician CHE Electrical Engineering")
Those who successfully complete a College of Higher Education in technology can often go on to take atake on your first management function, group management or demanding specialist tasks.And this is usually associated with a noticeable pay rise. This means that the qualification "Electrical Engineer CHE" (formerly "Electrical Engineering Technician CHE") also pays off financially in the first two years after graduation.
In the individual case of "electrical engineer", there are of course differences, e.g. according to industry, region and exact area of responsibility. Individual factors such as previous education, age and professional experience also play an important role in determining the salary. As an "electrical engineer CHE" (formerly "electrical engineering technician CHE"), students receive aWage increase of up to 30 %.
Would you like to know your own salary prospects as an "electrical technician CHE" (formerly "technician CHE electrical engineering" or "technician CHE electrical engineering")? You can calculate your personal situation with just a few clicks using the federal government's salary calculator. We have calculated an example to help you.
Click below on "Salarium - statistical wage calculator" (at 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. 35 Energy supply)
- Step 3: Enter the occupational group (31 Engineering and comparable specialists)
- 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. 25 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 example salary for an electrical engineer CHE (formerly "Techniker CHE Elektrotechnik") is CCHE 6,910 in our calculation. Now go back to the "Training" section and select "Higher vocational training / College of Higher Education" and in our example this results in a new average salary of CCHE 7,547. Then enter "Lower management" under "Position in company" and the average salary increases to CCHE 8,195.
Note: This calculation is intended as an example. As mentioned above, the salary depends on various factors and can vary considerably.
Example of an electrical engineering technician with a federal diploma: CHF 521,000 more salary until retirement
23-year-old Mirco works as a Federal VET Diploma electrician in a medium-sized electrical engineering company in Airolo. He installs, maintains and repairs electrical installations in households, agriculture, trade and industry. To do this, Mirco lays cables, installs switch boxes and connects electrical appliances and systems. The final step is commissioning. In addition to manual dexterity and fine motor skills, Mirco has a strong technical understanding and abstract logical thinking. As an electrician, he reads and completes the planning documents. Mirco also calculates material quantities. He would like to deepen his knowledge of electrical engineering even further and take on a project management role. To this end, Mirco is completing continuing education, further training to become an electrical engineer CHE (formerly an electrical engineering technician CHE). He is acquiring comprehensive specialist knowledge in electronics and energy technology for the federally recognized diploma. With his continuing education, further training in electrical engineering, he is able to develop and test programs and electronic circuits as well as perform a project manager or management function. Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE) enables Mirco to manage and monitor projects involving complex systems. Thanks to the specialist and management skills he has acquired, he is able to receive and analyze customer requirements and look for optimal implementations. In doing so, Mirco takes ecological, economic and safety aspects into account. As a CHE electrical engineering technician, he has numerous opportunities for further development, for example in development, production, quality assurance, training or customer service. This gives Mirco better career opportunities, earning potential and access to Bachelor's degree courses at Universities of Applied Sciences.
Financial benefits of continuing education, further training "Electrical Engineer CHE" (formerly Technician CHE Electrical Engineering)
Mirco will receive CHF 1,156 more per month as an electrical engineer CHE (formerly an electrical engineering technician CHE) than before and will therefore have at least CHF 521,000 more at his disposal by the time he retires than if he had not completed this continuing education, further training at the College of Higher Education.
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 CHE electrical engineer (formerly CHE electrical engineering technician): CHF 20'350
- 36 months, part-time
- Tuition fees, documents, enrollment fees: CHF 19'150
- Diploma examination "Technician CHE Electrical Engineering": CHF 1,200
- Total training costs: CHF 20'350
Salary difference and return on investment calculation for electrical engineers CHE (formerly "Techniker CHE Elektrotechnik"): CHF 521,000
- Difference in salary between the position of Federal VET Diploma electrician and the position of electrical engineering technician: CHF 5,153 - CHF 3,997 = CHF 1,156 per month and CHF 13,872 per year (12 x CHF 1,156 = CHF 13,872)
- He recoups the total training costs of CHF 20,350 in a good 16 months with his higher salary as an electrical engineering technician (CHF 20,350 / CHF 1,156 per month = 16.5 months)
- In the remaining 39 years until his retirement (26 to 65), this additional income will add up to CHF 541,008 (39 x CHF 13,872 = CHF 541,008)
- If the training costs are deducted from this additional income, an additional sum of around CHF 521,000 remains at his disposal(CHF 541'008 - CHF 20'350 = CHF 520'658)
The training costs correspond to an average of the "Electrical Engineering Technician CHE" (formerly "Technikerin CHE Elektrotechnik / Techniker CHE Elektrotechnik") courses offered in German-speaking Switzerland.
The wages were calculated in the federal wage calculatorwww.salarium.chwith the following settings:
Calculations as an Federal VET Diploma electricianbefore the College of Higher Education: CHF 3,997
- Region: Ticino
- Sector: 26 Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products; watches and clocks
- Occupational group: 74 Electricians and electronics technicians
- 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: 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 3'997
Calculationsafter the College of Higher Education to become an "Electrical Engineer CHE" (formerly "Technician CHE Electrical Engineering"): CHF 5,153
- Region: Ticino
- Sector: 26 Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products; watches and clocks
- Occupational group: 31 Engineering and similar specialists
- Position in the company: Level 3+4 Lower management
- Hours per week: 42 hours
- Education: College of Higher Education
- Age: 26 years
- Years of service: not specified
- Company size: 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 5'153
(All figures as at November 2022)
Find an educational institution that offers the course "Electrical Engineering Technician CHE" (formerly "Technikerin CHE Elektrotechnik / Techniker CHE Elektrotechnik"):
