Wage increase after completing the "Child Education CHE" / "Childhood Education CHE" degree course

Once you have completed your studies, you can significantly increase your salary as a child educator CHE or, as the profession is now called, as a child educator CHE through a promotion and a change of job. They often move from the salary level of a qualified employee to a managerial position (e.g. as head of a daycare center) in lower or middle management. A salary increase of up to 30 % is common after completing a degree in Childhood Education CHE - in some cases even more.

You can calculate your individual salary opportunities with a degree in childhood education CHE with just a few clicks using the federal government's salary calculator. Criteria such as sector, region, employer, training, professional experience and age play a decisive role in salary development. We are happy to help you with the calculation with an example. A 25-year-old nursery school teacher in the Zurich area would like to study to become a childhood educator CHE in order to pursue a more interesting job.

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 sector (e.g. 85 Education and teaching)
  • Step 3: Enter the occupational group (23 teachers)
  • 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.

As a childcare worker, he earns around CHF 6,009 per month. After successfully completing a degree in child education CHE, he takes on specialist tasks and is promoted to a higher salary group. To calculate the child educator CHE salary after graduation, go back to the "Education" section and select "Higher vocational training / College of Higher Education". The age is now 27 years.

His CHE childcare salary thus increases to CHF 6,762 - with a management function even to CHF 8,631.

Please note: The calculation is intended as an example "raising children CHE" and is always a rounded figure. As mentioned above, the salary depends on various factors and sometimes varies greatly.

Another example after studying child education CHE as a child educator with a federal diploma: CHF 713,000 more salary by the time you retire: CHF 713,000 more salary until retirement.

Alexandra is 27 years old and has been working as a childcare assistant in a daycare center in Bern since completing her apprenticeship as a "Federal VET Diploma childcare specialist, specializing in childcare". She is very happy in her role in childcare and loves her work with the children. Alexandra sees it as a personal challenge to manage a daycare center herself in the future. Thanks to her Federal VET Diploma, she can complete the shortened CHE Child Education course in just two years. During her studies, she works part-time (60%) as a childcare worker. This reduces the training costs. Alexandra is looking forward to using her CHE degree to help shape the educational concept as a childcare center manager. After continuing education, further training as a child educator with a federally recognized diploma, she can discuss the implementation of the concepts in everyday life. Through this practice-oriented child education training at a College of Higher Education, she can make the leap to manager and try to create a harmonious interaction between families, children and caregivers. Thanks to the specialist and leadership skills she has acquired and the successful completion of a College of Higher Education, she is well equipped for the operational management of a childcare center. As a qualified child educator CHE, Alexandra has new opportunities on the job market, better earning prospects and a wide range of career options.

Financial benefits of continuing education, further training CHE

As a certified child educator CHE, Alexandra will receive CHF 1,235 more per month than before and will therefore have at least CHF 713,000 more at her disposal by the time she retires than if she had not completed this continuing education, further training at the College of Higher Education (CHE Child Education).

If she is also given the opportunity to take on a first management role as a daycare center manager from the age of 30, a further CHF 550,200 will be added until retirement (CHF 7,478 - CHF 6,168 = CHF 1,310 per month / per year 12 x CHF 1,310 = CHF 15,720 / 65 - 30 = 35 years until retirement / 35 x CHF 15,720 = CHF 550,200).

As this theoretical calculation does not take into account any further pay rises, promotions or interest on savings, the "child-rearing CHE" salary can still increase significantly.

Calculation in detail "Child rearing CHE"

Continuing education, further training CHE:

  • 24 months part-time
  • Tuition fees, documents, registration fee, diploma fee: CH 9'400
  • Loss of salary: CHF 42,220.80 (40 percent of CHF 4,398 per month for two years equals 2 x 12 x CHF 1759.2 = CHF 42,220.80)
  • Total training costs: CHF 51,620.80 (CH 9,400 + CHF 42,220.80)

Wage difference and return calculation "Child rearing CHE":

  • Difference in salary between the position as a childcare worker and the position as a child educator CHE: CHF 6,168 - CHF 4,398 = CHF 1,770 per month and CHF 21,240 per year (12 x CHF 1,770 = CHF 21,240)
  • She recoups the total training costs for CHE child education of CHF 51,620.80 in almost two and a half years with her higher salary as a CHE child educator (CHF 51,620.80 / CHF 21,240 per month = 2.4 years)
  • Over the remaining 36 years until their retirement (29 to 65), this additional income will add up to CHF 764,640 (36 x CHF 21,240 = CHF 764,640)
  • If the training costs are deducted from this additional income, an additional sum of around CHF 713,000 remains at her disposal(CHF 764,640 - CHF 51,620.80 = CHF 713,019.20)

Sources:

  • The training costs correspond to an average of the "Child Education CHE" courses offered in German-speaking Switzerland.
  • The "Child rearing CHE" wages were calculated in the federal wage calculator www.salarium.ch with the following settings:
  • Calculations as a Federal VET Diploma in childcare before the College of Higher Education (CHE Child Education):
    • Region: Espace Mittelland
    • Sector: 85 Education and training
    • Occupational group: 53 care professions
    • Position in the company: Level 5 without management function
    • Hours per week: 42 hours
    • Education: Completed vocational training
    • Age: 27 years
    • Years of service: not specified
    • Company size: less than 20 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 CHF 4'398
  • Calculations Child educator CHE salaryafter the College of Higher Education "Child Education CHE":
    • Region: Espace Mittelland
    • Sector: 85 Education and training
    • Professional group: 23 teachers
    • Position in the company: Level 3+4 Lower management
    • Hours per week: 42 hours
    • Education: College of Higher Education
    • Age: 29 years
    • Years of service: not specified
    • Company size: less than 20 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 6'168
  • Calculationswith subsequent management function:
    • Region: Espace Mittelland
    • Sector: 85 Education and training
    • Professional group: 23 teachers
    • Position in the company: Level 1+2 Upper and middle management
    • Hours per week: 42 hours
    • Education: College of Higher Education
    • Age: 30 years
    • Years of service: not specified
    • Company size: less than 20 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 7'478

(All figures as at November 2022)

Click on the image below to access the statistical calculator.

Salarium - Statistischer Lohnrechner

Find an educational institute that offers the "Child Education CHE" degree program now.

Overview of schools for studying child education CHE to become a child educator CHE