Does the vocational baccalaureate lead to higher wages?

Your personal salary opportunities depend on various criteria such as the sector, the region, your employer, your previous training, your professional experience and your age. You can use the "Salarium" salary calculator to calculate your potential salary after the BM2 (vocational baccalaureate after apprenticeship) and a degree course at a university of applied sciences.

We have calculated an example for you:

A 24-year-old trained miller from Burgdorf earned around CHF 4,600 per month working for a large animal feed manufacturer. He liked his work, but didn't feel challenged enough. He therefore completed a vocational baccalaureate and went to study at a university of applied sciences. After completing his bachelor's degree in food engineering, he moved to the research and development department and was promoted to a higher pay grade. His new monthly salary is around CHF 6,700.

Calculate your personal salary opportunities: Click on "Salarium - statistical salary calculator" below and then on the "Calculate salary" button

  • REGION: Select your region / place of work (in the example Northwestern Switzerland)
  • INDUSTRY: Select the industry in which you will work after your studies (in the example 10 Production of food and animal feed)
  • PROFESSIONAL GROUP: If you enter your job title after your studies, Salarium will suggest the corresponding professional group: in the example: Food engineer FH 21 Natural scientists, mathematicians and engineers
  • POSITION IN THE COMPANY: without management function
  • HOURS PER WEEK: 42
  • EDUCATION: University of Applied Sciences FH
  • AGE: Your estimated age after completing the vocational baccalaureate and further training (in the example: 24 + 1 year BM2 + 3 years FH = 28)
  • YEARS OF SERVICE: Your number of years of service (0 in the example)
  • COMPANY SIZE: (in the example 50 and more employees)
  • 12/13 MONTHLY WAGE: 12 monthly wages
  • SPECIAL PAYMENTS: No
  • MONTHLY / HOURLY WAGE: Monthly wage

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.

Click on the banner below to access the salarium calculator.

Salarium - Statistischer Lohnrechner

Find an educational institute that offers preparatory courses for the vocational baccalaureate now.

Provider of preparatory courses for the vocational baccalaureate