Wage increase after completion of the public relations training to become a PR specialist (BP)

The "PR Specialist (BP)" course provides the basic knowledge required for a qualified job in the field of public relations. Taking on a new position is often associated with a significant pay rise. All graduates of this course receive a salary increase of up to 30% in the first two years after completing the "Public Relations Specialist (BP)" course.

In individual cases, the development of the "PR Specialist (BP)" salary depends on other criteria such as industry, region, company or previous education, professional experience and age of the applicant. Calculate your individual chances with the help of a salary calculator. We have calculated an example for the step-by-step procedure.

Proceed as follows: Click on "Salarium - statistical salary calculator" below and then on the "Calculate salary" button

  • REGION: Select your region / place of work (in the example Eastern Switzerland)
  • INDUSTRY: Select your industry (in the example 35 Energy supply)
  • PROFESSIONAL GROUP: enter "24 business economists and comparable academic professions" (incl. PR specialist)
  • POSITION IN THE COMPANY: without management function
  • HOURS PER WEEK: 42
  • TRAINING: Completed vocational training
  • AGE: Your estimated age after completing the training (29 in the example)
  • YEARS OF SERVICE: Your number of years of service (0 in the example)
  • COMPANY SIZE: Size of your (desired) employer (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.

The result of the calculation shows a salary of CHF 7,291.00 per month. After completing the professional examination to become a PR specialist with a federal certificate, the salary increases to CHF 8,958.00. To calculate this, set "Position in company" to "Level 3+4: Lower management" and "Training" to "Higher professional training" and "Age" to 31 years.

Please note: The calculation is intended as an example "PR specialist (BP)". As mentioned above, the salary depends on various factors and can vary considerably.

Another example of a PR specialist with a federal certificate: CHF 383,000 more salary until retirement

Mirjam works as an EFZ commercial assistant in a large pharmaceutical company in Birsfelden. The 23-year-old really enjoys her job as a marketing assistant. Mirjam deals with requests for quotations from marketing service providers, takes care of incoming correspondence, prepares controlling reports and presentations. She demonstrates a high level of service orientation and good communication skills. Mirjam would like to develop further as a public relations specialist. To this end, she attends the PR specialist course. There, Mirjam learns the conceptual and strategic basics of corporate communication, how to choose the right measures and channels and how to create content. After the professional examination, she can help plan and implement communication projects and edit texts in the communications department of the pharmaceutical company. Over time, Mirjam is even able to carry out her own communication tasks independently. She also writes texts for digital media and social media. Mirjam coordinates the design and production of her contributions. She can also play an important role in the planning, organization and implementation of employee events. With her federal certificate in public relations, Mirjam will be able to work in customer communication, media relations, internal communication or event organization in the future. With the recognized qualification as a PR specialist, she can take on a qualified role in the conception, planning and implementation of various PR media and PR measures or media relations coordination. Mirjam's further training will give her additional opportunities for further development, better job opportunities and higher earnings.

Financial benefits of further training as a PR specialist

As a PR specialist, Mirjam will receive CHF 640 more per month than before and will therefore have at least CHF 301,000 more at her disposal by the time she retires than if she had not done any 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 "PR specialist (BP)"

Further training PR specialist BP:

  • 12 months, part-time
  • School fees, documents: CHF 9,900 minus CHF 4,950 federal contribution = CHF 4,950
  • Exam fee: CHF 1'690
  • Total training costs: CHF 6'640

Wage difference and yield calculation:

  • Difference in salary between the position as a commercial clerk EFZ and the position as a PR specialist: CHF 6,542 - CHF 5,902 = CHF 640 per month and CHF 7,680 per year (12 x CHF 640 = CHF 7,680)
  • She recoups the total training costs of CHF 6,640 in just over 10 months with her higher salary as a PR specialist (CHF 6,640 / CHF 640 per month = 10.4 months)
  • Over the remaining 40 years until their retirement (25 to 65), this additional income will add up to CHF 307,200 (40 x CHF 7,680 = CHF 307,200)
  • If the training costs are deducted from this additional income, an additional sum of around CHF 301,000 remains at her disposal(CHF 307'200 - CHF 6'640 = CHF 300'560)

Sources:

  • The training costs correspond to an average of the "PR Specialist (BP)" courses offered in German-speaking Switzerland.
  • Wages were calculated in the federal wage calculator www.salarium.ch with the following settings:
  • Calculations as a commercial clerk EFZbefore the professional examination:
    • Region: Northwestern Switzerland
    • Sector: 21 Manufacture of pharmaceutical products
    • Occupational group: 41 General office and secretarial staff
    • 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 5'902
  • Calculationsafter the professional examination "PR specialist":
    • Region: Northwestern Switzerland
    • Sector: 21 Manufacture of pharmaceutical products
    • Occupational group: 24 Business economists and comparable academic professions
    • Position in the company: Level 5 without management function
    • Hours per week: 42 hours
    • Education: Higher vocational training, higher technical college
    • 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 6'542

(All figures as at November 2022)

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Salarium - Statistischer Lohnrechner

Find an educational institute that offers the "PR Specialist (BP)" course now.

Overview of schools for public relations training to become a PR specialist