Wage increase after completion of the "SME Management Specialist" course

The "SME Management Specialist" qualification enables many graduates to take on a management position within a medium-sized SME or the management of a smaller SME. Anyone who already manages an SME - e.g. their own family business - will probably not complete this continuing education, further training in order to increase their salary, but to strengthen their professional base.

For everyone else, however, this qualification "Specialist in SME Management with Federal Diploma of Higher Education" can have a significant impact on their monthly salary. In detail, the expected salary increase depends on many factors such as region, industry, age and professional experience. However, you can use the federal government's salary calculator to get an idea of your potential salary prospects as an SME management specialist.

Calculate your individual opportunities with the help of a salary calculator. We have calculated an example to help you:

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 industry (e.g. 28 Mechanical engineering)
  • Step 3: Enter the following for occupational group: 33 Non-academic business management and commercial 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. 30 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 example salary for an SME management specialist in our calculation is CHF 7,613. Now go back to the "Education" section and select "Higher vocational training / College of Higher Education", resulting in a new average salary of CHF 8,116.

Please note: The calculation is intended as an example for "SME management specialist". As mentioned above, the salary depends on various factors and can vary considerably.

Another example: SME management specialist with Federal Diploma of Higher Education: CHF 1.40 million more salary until retirement

Charlotte is 23 years old and works as a Federal VET Diploma travel agent in a large travel agency in Weggis. She really enjoys her job as a travel consultant. Charlotte suggests destinations, routes, means of transportation and accommodation to customers based on their wishes and needs. Customers trust her knowledge of other countries, political conditions and cultures, which is very extensive for her young age. This knowledge is no coincidence. Charlotte's family runs their own small travel agency in Lucerne. She therefore came into contact with the travel industry at an early age and was interested in working in a travel agency. However, Charlotte wanted to do her training away from the family travel agency and gain her first professional experience there. At the travel agency in Weggis, her strong sense of responsibility and her organizational and communication skills were particularly well received. But now it is time for Charlotte to become co-owner of the family travel agency. In order to get off to a good start in her role as co-owner, she is completing continuing education, further training as an SME management specialist. With this Federal Professional Examination, she acquired knowledge in general business management, communication, personnel management, organization and other business management subjects. With this federal certificate, Charlotte is ideally trained for her new leadership and management role in the travel agency. During her training, she analyzes the course of business and supervises the travel agency employees. With this recognized qualification, Charlotte is able to move into her own travel agency and into her management role. She is now able to continuously expand and develop her tasks over the years. However, she now also shares the entrepreneurial risk.

Financial benefits of continuing education, further training in business management for SMEs

As an SME management specialist and co-owner of the family travel agency, Charlotte will receive CHF 2,945 more per month than before and will therefore have at least CHF 1.40 million more at her disposal by the time she retires than if she had not done any continuing education, further training.

As this theoretical calculation for "SME management specialist" 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 SME management FPE:

  • 12 months, part-time
  • School fees, documents: CHF 11,400 minus CHF 5,700 federal contribution = CHF 5,700
  • Exam fee: CHF 2'290
  • Total training costs: CHF 7'990

Wage difference and return on investment calculation "Specialist in SME management":

  • Difference in salary between the position of Federal VET Diploma travel agency clerk and the position of SME management specialist and co-owner of the family travel agency: CHF 7,096 - CHF 4,151 = CHF 2,945 per month and CHF 35,340 per year (12 x CHF 2,945 = CHF 35,340)
  • She recoups the total training costs of CHF 9,200 in just over 2 months with her higher salary as a specialist in SME management (CHF 7,990 / CHF 2,945 per month = 2.2 months)
  • Over the remaining 40 years until their retirement (25 to 65), this additional income will add up to CHF 1,413,600 (40 x CHF 35,340 = CHF 1,413,600)
  • Wf the training costs are deducted from this additional income, this leaves an additional sum of around CHF 1,406,000 available to the company(CHF 1'413'600 - CHF 7'990 = CHF 1'405'610)

Sources:

  • The training costs correspond to an average value of the "Specialist in SME Management" courses offered in German-speaking Switzerland.
  • Wages were calculated in the federal wage calculator www.salarium.ch with the following settings:
  • Calculations as a Federal VET Diploma travel agency clerkbefore the Federal Professional Examination:
    • Region: Central Switzerland
    • Sector: 79 Travel agencies, tour operators, reservation services
    • 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: 23 years
    • Years of service: not specified
    • Company size: 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 4'151
  • Calculationsafter the Federal Professional Examination in SME Management (FPE):
    • Region: Central Switzerland
    • Sector: 79 Travel agencies, tour operators, reservation 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, College of Higher Education
    • Age: 24 years
    • Years of service: not specified
    • Company size: Less than 20 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 7'096

(All figures as at November 2022)

Click on the banner below to access the federal salary calculator.

Salarium - Statistischer Lohnrechner

Find an educational institution that offers the course "Fachfrau Unternehmensführung KMU / Fachmann Unternehmensführung KMU (FPE)" now:

Schools that offer "SME management specialist" courses