Wage increase after completing the public relations training course to become a PR specialist (FPE)
The "PR Specialist (FPE)" course provides the basic knowledge required for a qualified job in the field of public relations. Taking on a new position is often associated with a significant pay rise. All graduates of this course achieve the following in the first two years after completing the "Public Relations Specialist (FPE)" coursea wage increase of up to 30 %.
Wage development criteria
In individual cases, the development of the "PR Specialist (FPE)" salary depends on other criteria such as industry, region, company or previous education, professional experience and age of the applicant.
Calculate your individual chances with the help of a salary calculator. We have calculated an example for the step-by-step procedure.
Click on "Salarium - statistical wage calculator" under Source and then on the "Calculate wages" button:
- Region: Choose your region / place of work (in the example Eastern Switzerland)
- Industry: Select your industry (in the example 35 Energy supply)
- Occupational group: Enter "24 business economists and comparable specialists" (incl. PR specialists)
- Position in the company: Without management function
- Hours per week: 42
- Education: Completed vocational training
- Age: Your estimated age after completing the continuing education, further training (29 in the example)
- Years of service: Your number of years of service (0 in the example)
- Company size: Size of your (desired) employer (in the example 50 and more employees)
- 12/13 monthly salary: 12 monthly salaries
- Special payments: No
- Monthly/hourly wage: Monthly wage
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 result of the calculation shows a salary of CHF 7,846 per month. After completing the Federal Diploma of Higher Education in PR, the salary increases to CHF 9,544. To calculate this, set "Position in company" to "Level 3+4: Lower management", "Education" to "Higher vocational training" and "Age" to 31 years.
Note: The calculation is intended as an example "PR specialist (FPE)". As mentioned above, the salary depends on various factors and can vary considerably.
Example of a PR specialist with a Federal Diploma of Higher Education: CHF 383,000 more salary until retirement
Mirjam works as a Federal VET Diploma commercial clerk in a large pharmaceutical company in Birsfelden. The 23-year-old really enjoys her job as a marketing assistant. Mirjam deals with requests for quotations from marketing service providers, takes care of incoming correspondence, prepares controlling reports and presentations. She demonstrates a high level of service orientation and good communication skills. Mirjam would like to develop further as a public relations specialist. To this end, she attends the PR specialist course. There, Mirjam learns the conceptual and strategic basics of corporate communication, how to choose the right measures and channels and how to create content. After completing her Federal Professional Examination, she will be able to help plan and implement communication projects and edit texts in the pharmaceutical company's communications department. Over time, Mirjam is even able to carry out her own communication tasks independently. She also writes texts for digital media and social media. Mirjam coordinates the design and production of her contributions. She can also play an important role in the planning, organization and implementation of employee events. With her federal certificate in public relations, Mirjam will be able to work in customer communication, media relations, internal communication or event organization in the future. With the recognized qualification as a PR specialist, she can take on a qualified role in the conception, planning and implementation of various PR media and PR measures or media relations coordination. Mirjam's continuing education, further training will give her additional opportunities for further development, better job opportunities and higher earnings.
Financial benefits of continuing education, further training as a PR specialist
As a PR specialist, Mirjam will receive CHF 640 more per month than before and will therefore have at least CHF 301,000 more at her disposal by the time she retires than if she 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 FPE PR specialist: CHF 6,640
- 12 months, part-time
- School fees, documents: CHF 9,900 minus CHF 4,950 federal contribution = CHF 4,950
- Exam fee: CHF 1'690
- Total training costs: CHF 6'640
Salary difference and return calculation: CHF 301,000
- Difference in salary between the position as a Federal VET Diploma clerk and the position as a PR specialist: CHF 6,542 - CHF 5,902 = CHF 640 per month and CHF 7,680 per year (12 x CHF 640 = CHF 7,680)
- She recoups the total training costs of CHF 6,640 in just over 10 months with her higher salary as a PR specialist (CHF 6,640 / CHF 640 per month = 10.4 months)
- Over the remaining 40 years until their retirement (25 to 65), this additional income will add up to CHF 307,200 (40 x CHF 7,680 = CHF 307,200)
- If the training costs are deducted from this additional income, an additional sum of around CHF 301,000 remains at her disposal(CHF 307'200 - CHF 6'640 = CHF 300'560)
The training costs correspond to an average of the "PR Specialist (FPE)" courses offered in German-speaking Switzerland.
The wages were calculated in the federal wage calculatorwww.salarium.chwith the following settings:
Calculations as a Federal VET Diploma clerkbefore the Federal Professional Examination: CHF 5'902
- Region: Northwestern Switzerland
- Sector: 21 Manufacture of pharmaceutical products
- 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: 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 5'902
Calculationsafter the Federal Professional Examination "PR Specialist": CHF 6,542
- Region: Northwestern Switzerland
- Sector: 21 Manufacture of pharmaceutical products
- Occupational group: 24 Business economists and comparable academic professions
- Position in the company: Level 5 without management function
- Hours per week: 42 hours
- Education: Higher vocational training, College of Higher Education
- Age: 24 years
- Years of service: not specified
- Company size: 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 6'542
(All figures as at November 2022)
Find an educational institution that offers the "PR specialist (FPE)" course now:
Overview of schools for public relations training to become a PR specialist
