Wage increase after completion of the "Business Economist CHE" course

Many CHE business administration graduates can significantly increase their salary after completing their studies through a promotion and a change of job. They often move from the salary level of a qualified employee in a clerical position to a management position in lower or middle management. A salary increase of up to 30 % is common following continuing education, further training - in some cases even more.

You can calculate your individual salary opportunities with just a few clicks. The federal government has put a salary calculator online for this purpose. Criteria such as sector, 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 an example.

A 25-year-old business economist CHE in continuing education, further training earns around CHF 6,599 per month in the area of other business services for companies and private individuals in the Zurich area. After successfully completing continuing education, further training as a business economist CHE, he takes on specialist tasks and is promoted to a higher salary group. This increases his salary to CHF 7,265 - and even to CHF 8,015 if he has a management function.

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. Zurich)
  • Step 2: Enter your sector (e.g. 82 Provision of commercial services for companies and private individuals)
  • 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: 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 is based on data from Salarium (end of 2024). Information can be foundhere. A list of other payroll calculator tools is availablehere.

The basic salary in our calculation is CHF 6,599. To calculate the salary with the completed training as a business economist CHE, go back to "Training" and select "Higher vocational training / College of Higher Education". This gives you a new average salary of CHF 7,265. As many graduates move to a lower or middle management position after completing the course, you can switch to "Lower management" or "Upper and middle management" under "Position in company". This results in an average CHE business economist salary of CHF 7,949 or CHF 9,435.

Please note: The calculation is intended as an example and is always a rounded figure. As mentioned above, the salary depends on various factors and sometimes varies greatly.

Another example of a business economist with a federal diploma: CHF 551,000 more salary until retirement

Alexander is 24 years old and has been working as a buyer in a large steel trading company in Zug since completing his commercial apprenticeship. In his role in procurement management, he has built up a complex network of relationships with suppliers and component supply departments within his own company thanks to his professional and convincing manner. Alexander sees it as a personal challenge to purchase steel worldwide at the best possible price and quality. He also enjoys identifying the components (special cuts of plates, tubes or beams) that need to be produced in-house because they are not available on the global markets in the desired design or at the required price. Alexander would even like to take over the management of an internal department that produces components, as the challenges in component production there appeal to him. In order to be able to take over technical and personnel management, he would like to complete continuing education, further training in business administration with a federally recognized diploma. Through this practice-oriented and generalist management training at a College of Higher Education, he would like to make the leap to head of the component production department. Thanks to the specialist and management skills he has acquired and his successful completion of a College of Higher Education, he would be well equipped for such an operational management role. As a business economist CHE, Alexander also has job opportunities in various industries, access to Master's degree courses at (technical) Universities and a wide range of career opportunities.

Financial benefits of continuing education, further training in business administration

As a business economist, Alexander will receive CHF 1,235 more per month than before and will therefore have at least CHF 551,000 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.

If he is also given the opportunity to take on a first management role as head of department from the age of 31, a further CHF 1,043,562 will be added until retirement (CHF 9,395 - CHF 7,044 = CHF 2,351 per month / per year 12 x CHF 2,351 = CHF 28,212 / 65 - 31 = 34 years until retirement / 34 x CHF 28,212 = CHF 959,208).

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 in business administration CHE:

  • 36 months part-time
  • Tuition, documents, enrollment fee, English exam: CH 11'620
  • External English exam: CHF 400
  • Total training costs: CHF 12'020

Wage difference and yield calculation:

  • Difference in salary between the position as a buyer and the position as a business economist: CHF 7,044 - CHF 5,809 = CHF 1,235 per month and CHF 14,820 per year (12 x CHF 1,235 = CHF 14,820)
  • He recoups the total training costs of CHF 12,020 in almost 10 months with his higher salary as a business economist (CHF 12,020 / CHF 1,235 per month = 9.7 months)
  • In the remaining 38 years until his retirement (27 to 65), this additional income will add up to CHF 563,160 (38 x CHF 14,820 = CHF 563,160)
  • If the training costs are deducted from this additional income, an additional sum of around CHF 551,140 remains at her disposal(CHF 563'160 - CHF 12'020 = CHF 551'140)

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 businessman Federal VET Diplomabefore the College of Higher Education:
    • Region: Central Switzerland
    • Industry: 46 Wholesale
    • 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 50 and more employees
    • 12/13 monthly salary: 13 monthly salary
    • Special payments: no
    • Monthly / hourly wage: Monthly wage
    • Result:Central value (median) ofCHF 5'809
  • Calculations Business economist CHE salarywith the CHE degree:
    • Region: Central Switzerland
    • Industry: 46 Wholesale
    • Occupational group: 24 Business economists and comparable academic professions
    • Position in the company: Level 5 without management function
    • Hours per week: 42 hours
    • Education: College of Higher Education
    • 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 7'044
  • Calculationswith subsequent management function:
    • Region: Central Switzerland
    • Industry: 46 Wholesale
    • Occupational group: 24 Business economists and comparable academic professions
    • Position in the company: Level 1+2 Upper and middle management
    • Hours per week: 42 hours
    • Education: College of Higher Education
    • Age: 31 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 9'395

(All figures as at October 2022)

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Salarium - Statistischer Lohnrechner

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Overview of CHE Business Administration schools