Wage increase after completion of the "Foreign Trade Specialist (FPE)" course
TheWage developmentof graduates of a Federal Professional Examination - e.g. Foreign Trade Specialist - is after continuing education, further trainingat the higher vocational training level and therefore a step higher.
However, you can calculate your salary opportunities with the federal government's salary calculator. It only takes a few clicks and you will get an idea of the salary increase you could expect after completing the "Foreign Trade Specialist (FPE)" course.
Criteria such as the industry, region and the specific employer as well as your personal characteristics such as education, professional experience and age play a decisive role in the calculation. We would be happy to show you the calculation using an example.
Click below on "Salarium - statistical wage calculator" (at source) and then on the "Calculate wages" button:
- Step 1: Enter your region / place of work (e.g. Zurich)
- Step 2: Enter your industry (e.g. 46 Wholesale)
- Step 3: Enter the following for occupational group: 33 Business management and commercial specialists and administrative 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. 27 years)
- Step 8: Enter further optional information (if available and desired)
Source:"Federal Statistical Office, FSO"
Note: This sample calculation refers to the data from Salarium (end of 2024). You can find informationhere. A list of other payroll calculator tools is availablehere.
The example salary for a foreign trade specialist in our calculation is CHF 7,829. Now go back to the "Education" section and select "Higher vocational training / College of Higher Education", which results in a new average salary of CHF 8,775.
Note: The calculation is intended as an example of a foreign trade specialist (FPE). As mentioned above, the salary depends on various factors and can vary considerably.
Example of a foreign trade specialist with Federal Diploma of Higher Education: CHF 929,000 more salary until retirement
Tom is 23 years old and works as an import clerk in an international trading company in Rapperswil-Jona. For his work in international import, he is familiar with the applicable framework conditions, legal regulations, transport options and individual process steps. Tom enjoys planning, organizing and processing import orders. His clean and reliable way of working when preparing and processing the necessary documents earns him a lot of recognition within the company. His good communication skills help him in his contacts with suppliers as well as in his internal cooperation with colleagues. Tom would now like to become a specialist in foreign trade. To this end, he is doing continuing education, further training as a foreign trade specialist. The Federal Professional Examination will enable Tom to deepen his knowledge of international freight forwarding, marketing and international law. He will also gain additional knowledge in export financing, customs and VAT. Thanks to his federal certificate as a foreign trade specialist, Tom is able to conduct international business negotiations competently and confidently. He also ensures that the ordered goods and products arrive on time and in a professional manner. Once the order has been processed, Tom analyzes the profitability in accordance with the company's specifications. He also assesses the market potential for foreign imports. Tom's recognized qualification as a foreign trade specialist has improved his role, his market value and his earnings. He also has numerous opportunities for professional development in all kinds of sectors in the future.
Financial benefits of continuing education, further training as a foreign trade specialist
As a foreign trade specialist, Tom will receive CHF 1,904 more per month than before and will therefore have at least CHF 929,000 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.
Continuing education, further training as a foreign trade specialist FPE: CHF 7,680
- 12 months, part-time
- School fees, teaching materials: CHF 12,240 minus CHF 6,120 federal contribution = CHF 6,120
- Exam fee: CHF 1'560
- Total training costs: CHF 7,680
Salary difference and yield calculation: CHF 929,000
- Difference in salary between the import clerk position and the foreign trade specialist position: CHF 7,593 - CHF 5,689 = CHF 1,904 per month and CHF 22,848 per year (12 x CHF 1,904 = CHF 22,848)
- He recoups the total training costs of CHF 7,680 in exactly 4 months with his higher salary as a foreign trade specialist (CHF 7,680 / CHF 1,904 per month = 4.0 months)
- Over the remaining 41 years until his retirement (24 to 65), this additional income will add up to CHF 936,768 (41 x CHF 22,848 = CHF 936,768)
- If the training costs are deducted from this additional income, an additional sum of around CHF 929,000 remains at his disposal(CHF 936'768 - CHF 7'680 = CHF 929'088)
The training costs correspond to an average of the training courses offered for foreign trade specialists (FPE) in German-speaking Switzerland.
Wages were calculated in the federal wage calculator www.salarium.ch with the following settings:
Calculations as import clerkbefore the Federal Professional Examination: CHF 5'689
- Region: Eastern Switzerland
- Industry sector: 45 Trade, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles
- Occupational group: 33 Non-academic business administration and commercial specialists
- 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 5'689
Calculationsafter the Federal Professional Examination: CHF 7,593
- Region: Eastern Switzerland
- Industry sector: 45 Trade, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles
- Occupational group: 33 Non-academic business administration and commercial specialists
- Position in the company: Level 3+4 Lower management
- Hours per week: 42 hours
- Education: Higher vocational training, College of Higher Education
- Age: 24 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 7'593
(All figures as at November 2022)
Find a training institute that offers the Foreign Trade Specialist (FPE) course now:
