23-year-old Robert works as an Federal VET Diploma electronics technician at a large energy technology company in St. Gallen. He plans, develops and produces electronic hardware and software for devices and systems in the energy technology sector. Robert enjoys working in a team and the other team members appreciate his technical understanding, his precise way of working and his ability to concentrate. After accepting an order, the team clarifies the task, works out ideas, develops solutions and finally checks the function of the self-developed circuits. Robert would like to deepen his knowledge of systems engineering, application development and technical IT. He is completing continuing education, further training as an IT technician so that he can then take on a project management role. He is acquiring comprehensive specialist knowledge in computer technology, business administration, mathematics, electrical engineering, software engineering, transmission technology, digital technology and project management for the federally recognized diploma of Higher Education in Computer Science CHE (formerly Techniker HF Informatik). Following his continuing education, further training in IT, he is able to manage IT projects using standardized methods and processes and to plan, control and monitor resources. Thanks to the College of Higher Education, Robert is able to manage and monitor projects for complex systems as a computer scientist CHE. 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 his new role as an IT technician CHE (formerly IT technician CHE), Robert manages employees and works with specialists from other departments. As an IT technician, he has numerous opportunities for further development, for example as a system or network supervisor, product manager and support engineer. This gives Robert better earning potential, corresponding career opportunities and access to Bachelor's degree courses at universities of applied sciences.

Financial benefits of continuing education, further training as an IT technician / computer scientist CHE (formerly IT technician CHE)

As an IT technician, Robert will receive CHF 2,105 more per month than before and will therefore have at least CHF 943,000 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 to become an IT technician CHE.

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 as an IT technician CHE (new: computer scientist CHE):

• 36 months, part-time
• Tuition fees, documents: CHF 20,700
• Exam fee: CHF 1'900
• Loss of earnings due to 90% occupation: CHF 19,465.20 (CHF 5,407 x 12 x 3 = CHF 194,652 / 100 x 10 = CHF 19,465.2)
• Total training costs: CHF 42,065.20

Wage difference and yield calculation:

• Difference in salary between the position of Federal VET Diploma electronics technician and the position of IT technician (computer scientist CHE): CHF 7,512 - CHF 5,407 = CHF 2,105 per month and CHF 25,260 per year (12 x CHF 2,105 = CHF 25,260)
• He recoups the total training costs of CHF 42,065.20 in just under 20 months with his higher salary as a computer scientist CHE (CHF 42,065.20 / CHF 2,105 per month = 19.9 months)
• In the remaining 39 years until his retirement (26 to 65), this additional income will add up to CHF 985,140 (39 x CHF 25,260 = CHF 985,140)
• If the training costs are deducted from this additional income, an additional sum of around CHF 943,000 remains at its disposal(CHF 985'140 - CHF 42'065.20 = CHF 943'074.80)

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 an electronics technician Federal VET Diplomabefore the College of Higher Education:
  • Region: Eastern Switzerland
  • Sector: 35 Energy supply
  • 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: 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 5'407
• Calculationsafter graduating as a CHE computer scientist (formerly CHE IT technician):
  • Region: Eastern Switzerland
  • Sector: 35 Energy supply
  • Occupational group: 35 Information and communication technicians
  • 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: 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 7'512

(All figures as at October 2022)