Wage increase after completion of the "Purchasing Specialist (BP)" course

The majority of all graduates have received a salary increase after completing the "Purchasing Specialist (BP)" course. This is because a federal certificate also gives you access to a higher salary level. The professional examination is therefore worthwhile for all professionals.

The size of your salary increase after completing the Purchasing Specialist (BP) course depends on several factors. In addition to the size of your employer, your industry and the region, personal factors such as your age or your professional experience also play an important role.

Calculate your personal salary opportunities in just a few clicks with the help of the Confederation's salary calculator. We will be happy to provide you with an example of a purchasing specialist (BP) for the calculation.

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. 46 Wholesale)
  • Step 3: Enter the following for occupational group: 33 Non-academic business management and commercial 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 of Salarium 2023, this service is temporarily interrupted. Information can be foundhere. A list of other payroll calculator tools is availablehere.

The example salary in our calculation is around CHF 6,587.00. Now go back to the "Training" section and select "Higher vocational training / higher technical college", resulting in a new average salary of around CHF 7,659.00.

Please note:This calculation is intended as an example of a purchasing specialist (BP) and is always a rounded figure. As mentioned above, the salary depends on various factors and can vary considerably.

Another example of a purchasing specialist with a federal certificate: CHF 526,000 more salary until retirement

Erik is 23 years old and works as a purchasing clerk in a production company in the industrial sector in Neuchâtel. In his purchasing role, he is responsible for ensuring optimal purchasing in the procurement process. His good communication skills and negotiation skills help him in supplier discussions and complaints. He helps with the preparation of supplier evaluations, preparations for supplier visits and negotiations. Erik would like to develop into a purchasing specialist. He can deepen his knowledge of procurement, supplier management, supply chain management and contract law with further training as a purchasing specialist. After the professional examination, Erik can take over the management of procurement and make an important contribution to the competitiveness of the industrial company. Thanks to his federal certificate as a purchasing specialist, he can take responsibility for procurement strategies, requirements planning, negotiations, order placement and order monitoring. He also prepares cost calculations, supplier assessments and cost change assessments. Thanks to his recognized qualification as a purchasing specialist, Erik has gained a management position, changed his job opportunities and gained various further development opportunities in purchasing.

Financial benefits of further training as a purchasing specialist

As a purchasing specialist, Erik will receive CHF 1,087 more per month than before and will therefore have at least CHF 526,000 more at his disposal by the time he retires than if he 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

Further training as a BP purchasing specialist:

  • 12 months, part-time
  • School fees, teaching materials: CHF 12,800 minus CHF 6,000 federal contribution = CHF 6,800
  • Exam fee: CHF 2'400
  • Total training costs: CHF 9'200

Wage difference and yield calculation:

  • Difference in salary between the position of Purchasing Clerk and the position of Purchasing Specialist: CHF 6,551 - CHF 5,464 = CHF 1,087 per month and CHF 13,044 per year (12 x CHF 1,087 = CHF 13,044)
  • He recoups the total training costs of CHF 9,400 in a good 8 months with the higher salary as a purchasing specialist (CHF 9,200 / CHF 1,087 per month = 8.5 months)
  • Over the remaining 41 years until his retirement (24 to 65), this additional income will add up to CHF 534,804 (41 x CHF 13,044 = CHF 534,804)
  • If the training costs are deducted from this additional income, an additional sum of around CHF 526,000 remains at his disposal(CHF 534'804 - CHF 9'200 = CHF 525'604)

Sources:

  • The training costs correspond to an average of the courses offered for purchasing specialists (BP) in German-speaking Switzerland.
  • Wages were calculated in the federal wage calculator www.salarium.ch with the following settings:
  • Calculations as import clerkbefore the professional examination:
    • Region: Espace Mittelland
    • Industry sector: 25 Manufacture of fabricated metal products
    • 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 5'464
  • Calculationsafter the professional examination for purchasing specialists (BP):
    • Region: Espace Mittelland
    • Industry sector: 25 Manufacture of fabricated metal products
    • 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, higher technical college
    • 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 6'551

(All figures as at November 2022)

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

Salarium - Statistischer Lohnrechner

Find an educational institute now that offers the course Purchasing Specialist with Federal Certificate.

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