Wage increase after completion of the "Electrical Technician HF" course (formerly "Technician HF Electrical Engineering")

Those who successfully complete a higher technical college can often take on their first management role, group management or more demanding specialist tasks. And this is usually accompanied by a noticeable pay rise. This means that the qualification "Electrical Engineer HF" (formerly "Technician HF Electrical Engineering") 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 HF" (formerly "technician HF electrical engineering"), students receive a salary increase of up to 30 %.

Would you like to know your own salary prospects as an "electrical engineer HF" or "electrical technician HF" (formerly "technician HF electrical engineering" or "technician HF 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.

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. 35 Energy supply)
  • Step 3: Enter the occupational group (31 Engineering and similar 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 of Salarium 2023, this service is temporarily interrupted. Information can be foundhere. A list of other payroll calculator tools is availablehere.

The example salary for electrical technicians HF (formerly "Techniker HF Elektrotechnik") in our calculation is CHF 6,183.00. Now go back to the point "Education" and select "Higher vocational training / higher technical college" and in our example this results in a new average salary of CHF 7,513. If you then enter "Lower management" under "Position in the company", the average salary increases to CHF 8,175.

Please note: This calculation is intended as an example. As mentioned above, the salary depends on various factors and can vary considerably.

Another example of an electrical engineering technician with a federal diploma: CHF 521,000 more salary until retirement

23-year-old Mirco works as an electrician EFZ 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 further training as an electrical engineer HF (formerly HF electrical engineering technician). He is acquiring comprehensive specialist knowledge in electronics and energy technology for the federally recognized diploma. With his 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. Thanks to the advanced technical examination, Mirco can manage and monitor projects for 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 an HF 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 the "Electrical engineer HF" training course (formerly HF electrical engineering technician)

Mirco will receive CHF 1,156 more per month as an electrical engineer HF (formerly Techniker HF Elektrotechnik) 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 further training at the university of applied sciences.

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 "Electrical engineer HF"

Further training as HF electrical engineer (formerly HF electrical engineering technician):

  • 36 months, part-time
  • Tuition fees, documents, enrollment fees: CHF 19'150
  • Diploma examination "Technician HF Electrical Engineering": CHF 1,200
  • Total training costs: CHF 20'350

Wage difference and yield calculation for electrical engineers HF (formerly "Techniker HF Elektrotechnik"):

  • Difference in salary between the position of EFZ 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)

Sources:

  • The training costs correspond to an average value for the "Electrical Technician HF" (formerly "Technikerin HF Elektrotechnik / Techniker HF Elektrotechnik") courses offered in German-speaking Switzerland.
  • Wages were calculated in the federal wage calculator www.salarium.ch with the following settings:
  • Calculations as an electrician EFZbefore the higher technical college:
    • 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 higher technical college to become an "electrical engineer HF" (formerly "technician HF electrical engineering / technician HF electrical engineering"):
    • Region: Ticino
    • Sector: 26 Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products; watches and clocks
    • Occupational group: 31 Engineering and comparable specialists
    • Position in the company: Level 3+4 Lower management
    • Hours per week: 42 hours
    • Education: Higher technical college
    • 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)

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

Salarium - Statistischer Lohnrechner

Find a training institute that offers the "Electrical engineer HF" (formerly "Technikerin HF Elektrotechnik / Techniker HF Elektrotechnik") course now:

To the school overview "Electrical engineering HF" Study to become a technician HF electrical engineering