Wage increase after completion of the "Sales Specialist" course

The "Sales Specialist" course provides the basic knowledge required for a managerial role, for example in a sales department. A corresponding promotion or the assumption of a new position is almost always associated with a significant salary increase. The salary increase usually takes place in the first two years after completing the sales specialist course and can be up to 30%.

Calculate your individual salary opportunities with just a few clicks using the federal government's salary calculator. Criteria such as sector, region, employer, training, professional experience and age play an important role in the development of your salary. We would be happy to provide you with an example of how to calculate the salary for a sales specialist.

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. 73 Advertising and market research)
  • Step 3: Enter the occupational group (52 sales staff)
  • 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 example salary for a sales specialist in our calculation is CHF 4,551. Now go back to the "Training" section and select "Higher vocational training / College of Higher Education", resulting in a new average salary of CHF 5,010. If you then enter "Lower management" under "Position in company", the average sales specialist salary increases to CHF 5,482.

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 sales specialist with Federal Diploma of Higher Education: CHF 349,000 more salary until retirement

Phillipp is 24 years old and works as a sales clerk for a telecommunications company in Altdorf. He enjoys direct customer contact on the phone and providing advice. Phillipp works in a performance and customer-oriented manner. He does not shy away from administrative tasks. Even in difficult situations, he keeps a cool head and remains objective. Phillipp has already acquired extensive product and market knowledge as well as acquisition skills. As he feels comfortable in sales, he would like to develop into a sales specialist and take on even more qualified tasks. Phillipp can specialize further by taking the Federal Professional Examination in Sales. He expects to have better earning potential and job market opportunities after continuing education, further training.

Financial benefits of continuing education, further training as a sales specialist

As a sales specialist, Phillipp will receive CHF 746 more per month than before and will therefore have at least CHF 349,000 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 sales specialist:

  • 12 months part-time
  • School fees, documents: CHF 12,370 minus CHF 5,760 federal contribution = CHF 6,610
  • Examination fee: CHF 2,500
  • Total training costs: CHF 9'110

Wage difference and yield calculation:

  • Difference in salary between the sales clerk position and the sales specialist position: CHF 6,139 - CHF 5,393 = CHF 746 per month and CHF 8,952 per year (12 x CHF 746 = CHF 8,952)
  • He recoups the entire training costs of CHF 9,110 in just over a year with his higher salary as a sales specialist (CHF 9,110 / CHF 746 per month = 12.2 months)
  • Over the remaining 40 years until his retirement (25 to 65), this additional income will add up to CHF 358,080 (40 x CHF 8,952 = CHF 358,080)
  • If the training costs are deducted from this additional income, an additional sum of around CHF 349,000 remains at his disposal(CHF 358'080 - CHF 9'110 = CHF 348'970)

Sources:

  • The training costs for "Sales Specialist" 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 KV conclusionbefore the Federal Professional Examination for Sales Professionals:
    • Region: Central Switzerland
    • Sector: 61 Telecommunications
    • Occupational group: 52 Sales 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: 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 5'393
  • Calculationsafter the Federal Professional Examination "Sales Specialist":
    • Region: Central Switzerland
    • Sector: 61 Telecommunications
    • Occupational group: 52 Sales staff
    • Position in the company: Level 5 without management function
    • 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 6'139

(All figures as at November 2022)

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Salarium - Statistischer Lohnrechner

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Overview of schools "Sales Specialist"