Wage after completion of the FH degree program "Physiotherapy Bachelor (FH)"

The Bachelor's degree in Physiotherapy FH certifies that you have the professional competence to carry out physiotherapy treatments independently. This enables you to find employment in a physiotherapy facility and aspire to a position in the medical management of a clinic. You can also set up your own physiotherapy practice.

You can calculate your salary prospects using figures from the Federal Statistical Office. Your personal salary prospects depend on various criteria such as the region, your employer, your previous training, your professional experience and your age. However, you can calculate your potential salary increase using the "Salarium" salary calculator. We have calculated an example for you to show you how it works.

A 26-year-old trained medical practice assistant works in the secretarial department of a large acute hospital in the Aarau region, where she earns around CHF 5,135 per month. She then decides to study for a bachelor's degree in physiotherapy. After completing her studies, she is 30 years old and gets a job in the same hospital in the therapy department, where she takes on corresponding tasks and thus moves into a different, higher salary group. Her monthly salary is now CHF 6,739, which corresponds to a salary increase of CHF 1,604 or around 32%.

This is how it works: Click on the button " Calculate wages"

  • REGION: Select your region / place of work (in the example Northwestern Switzerland)
  • INDUSTRY: Select "86 Healthcare"
  • PROFESSIONAL GROUP: enter "Physiotherapist FH" and Salarium will suggest the corresponding occupational group: 22 Academic and allied health professions (previously no. 32)
  • POSITION IN THE COMPANY: without management function
  • HOURS PER WEEK: 42
  • EDUCATION: University of Applied Sciences (previously completed vocational training)
  • AGE: Your estimated age after completing the training (in the example 30, previously 26)
  • YEARS OF SERVICE: Your number of years of service (0 in the example)
  • COMPANY SIZE: 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.

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

Another example of a physiotherapist FH with a Bachelor's degree: CHF 577,000 more salary until retirement

Jan works as a commercial clerk in the complaints department of an electrical wholesaler in Bern. Although he is able to interact with people on a daily basis and benefit from his good communication skills, the contact often takes place over the phone and is associated with problems, anger and dissatisfaction on his part. At the age of 23, he wants to fundamentally change his life. He wants to work as a physiotherapist in direct contact with people in order to tackle their health problems together, promote their rehabilitation and maintain their mobility. In this way, he can actively contribute to preventive healthcare together with his patients. To be able to work professionally as a physiotherapist, Jan would like to complete a bachelor's degree in physiotherapy at a university of applied sciences. He was able to successfully complete his declaration of aptitude thanks to his vocational baccalaureate and then started his two-month nursing internship, where he showed a great sense of responsibility. He was enthusiastic about working as a physiotherapist and began his FH studies full of anticipation. His pronounced manual dexterity and enjoyment of practical work were also an advantage for him in his later internships as a physiotherapist. At the age of 28, Jan was finally able to start his new career in physiotherapy as a qualified physiotherapist in a rehabilitation clinic.

Financial benefits of the Bachelor's degree program in Physiotherapy FH

After his degree in physiotherapy, Jan will receive CHF 1,769 more per month than before and will therefore have at least CHF 577,000 more at his disposal by the time he retires than if he had not studied.

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

FH degree course in physiotherapy:

  • 4 years of full-time study, integrated internships
  • Admission costs (registration, aptitude test, enrollment): CHF 550
  • Tuition costs (tuition fees, semester fees and other costs): CHF 9,000
  • Loss of earnings during the four years of full-time study: CHF 289,328 (4 x 13 x CHF 5,564)
  • Internship wages during training: CHF 25,000
  • Total training costs: CHF 273,878 (training costs plus lost wages minus internship wages = CHF 550 + CHF 9,000 + CHF 289,328 - CHF 25,000)

Wage difference and yield calculation:

  • Difference in salary between the position as a businessman and the position as a physiotherapist: CHF 7,333 - CHF 5,564 = CHF 1,769 per month and CHF 22,997 per year (13 x CHF 1,769 = CHF 22,997)
  • He recoups the total training costs of CHF 273,878 in 11.9 years with his higher salary as a physiotherapist (CHF 273,878 / CHF 22,997 per year = 11.9 years)
  • Over the remaining 37 years until retirement (28 to 65), this additional income will add up to CHF 850,889 (37 x CHF 22,997 = CHF 850,889)
  • If the training costs are deducted from this additional income, an additional sum of around CHF 577,011 remains at his disposal(CHF 850'889 - CHF 273'878= CHF 577'011)

Sources:

  • The training costs correspond to an average of the courses offered in German-speaking Switzerland.
  • Wages were calculated in the federal wage calculator www.salarium.ch with the following settings:
  • Calculations Kaufmann EFZwith a vocational baccalaureate before the Bachelor's degree:
    • Region: Espace Mittelland
    • Industry: 46 Wholesale
    • 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: with 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 5'564
  • Calculationsafter the Bachelor's degree:
    • Region: Espace Mittelland
    • Industry: 86 Healthcare
    • Occupational group: 22 Academic and allied health professions
    • Position in the company: Level 5 without management function
    • Hours per week: 42 hours
    • Education: University of Applied Sciences (FH)
    • Age: 28 years
    • Years of service: not specified
    • Company size: with 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 7'333

(All figures as at November 2022)

Click on the image below to access the federal salary calculator.

Salarium - Statistischer Lohnrechner

Here you can find an educational institute that offers the Physiotherapist FH course:

Directly to providers "Physiotherapy Bachelor (FH)"