Paul is 23 years old and works as a Federal VET Diploma building cleaner in a large building maintenance company in the Fribourg region. He enjoys his work in building maintenance and can contribute to the cleanliness and hygiene of buildings. By regularly cleaning and maintaining buildings, he can make a significant contribution to preserving their value. In addition to cleaning, Paul can also take on more and more building maintenance tasks, such as replacing incandescent materials or carrying out minor repairs and meter checks. He is characterized by a high level of reliability, careful working methods and technical flair. Paul would like to progress professionally and be able to work more independently. To this end, he is completing continuing education, further training as a janitor. This will enable him to expand his knowledge of building maintenance and technology as well as the care of green spaces. By taking the Federal Professional Examination as a janitor with a federal certificate, Paul improves his career development opportunities and secures higher wages in the long term. He can even manage a small team of employees. Later on, he can also imagine working as a self-employed janitor.

Financial benefits of continuing education, further training for janitors

As a janitor, Paul will receive CHF 471 more per month than before and will therefore have at least CHF 216,000 more at his disposal by the time he retires than if he had not done any continuing education, further training.

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 FPE janitor:

• 24 months, part-time
• School fees, documents: CHF 15,285 minus CHF 7,435 federal contribution = CHF 7,850
• Examination fee: CHF 2'200
• Total training costs: CHF 10'050

Wage difference and yield calculation:

• Difference in salary between the position of Federal VET Diploma building cleaner and the position of janitor: CHF 5,126 - CHF 4,655 = CHF 471 per month and CHF 5,652 per year (12 x CHF 471 = CHF 5,652)
• He recoups the total training costs of CHF 10,050 in a good 21 months with his higher salary as a janitor (CHF 10,050 / CHF 471 per month = 21.3 months)
• Over the remaining 40 years until his retirement (25 to 65), this additional income will add up to CHF 226,080 (40 x CHF 5,652 = CHF 226,080)
• If the training costs are deducted from this additional income, an additional sum of around CHF 216,000 remains at his disposal(CHF 226'080 - CHF 10'050 = CHF 216'030)

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 with building cleaners Federal VET Diplomabefore the Federal Professional Examination:
  • Region: Espace Mittelland
  • Industry sector: 81 Building services; Gardening and landscaping
  • Occupational group: 71 Construction and finishing specialists and related occupations, excl. Electricians
  • 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 4'655
• Calculationsafter the Federal Professional Examination for janitors:
  • Region: Espace Mittelland
  • Industry sector: 81 Building services; Gardening and landscaping
  • Occupational group: 51 Occupations in the field of personal services
  • Position in the company: Level 3+4 Lower management
  • Hours per week: 42 hours
  • Education: Higher vocational training, College of Higher Education
  • Age: 25 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 5'126

(All figures as at November 2022)

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