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

Lohnerhöhung nach Abschluss des Studium «Kindererziehung HF» / «Kindheitspädagogik HF»

After completing your studies, you can work as a child educator CHE or, as the profession is now called, as a child pedagogue CHE.significantly increase their salary through a promotion and a change of job.They often move from the salary level of a qualified employee to a management position (e.g. as head of a daycare center) in lower or middle management. It is common to receive a salary increase after completing a degree in Childhood Education CHEof up to 30 %- occasionally 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.

Click on "Salarium - statistical wage calculator" under Source and then on the "Calculate wages" 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 refers to the data from Salarium (end of 2024). You can find informationhere. 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.

Note: The calculation is intended as an example of "child rearing CHE" and is always a rounded figure. As mentioned above, the salary depends on various factors and sometimes varies greatly.

Example after studying child education CHE as a child educator with Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education (Attention: CHF 713,000 more salary by the time of 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 her 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.

Continuing education, further training CHE: CHF 51'620.80

  • 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)

Difference in salary and return on investment calculation "Child rearing CHE": CHF 713,000

  • 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)

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 calculatorwww.salarium.chwith the following settings:

Calculations as care Federal VET Diploma, direction childcare before College of Higher Education (CHE child education): CHF 4,398

  • 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 4'398

Calculations Child educator CHE salaryafter the College of Higher Education "Child Education CHE": CHF 6,168

  • 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: CHF 7,478

  • 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)

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

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