Wage increase after completion of the "Mechanical Engineering Technician CHE" course (formerly "Mechanical Engineering Technician CHE")
Graduating from a College of Higher Education (technical college), for example as a mechanical engineering technician CHE (formerly technician CHE mechanical engineering), is often associated with the leap into a first management function, group management or the assumption of demanding specialist tasks.This usually also has a noticeable effect on wages.
Relevant wage criteria
There are of course differences in detail, e.g. according to industry, region and exact area of responsibility. In addition, your own previous education, age and professional experience can also play an important role.
However, the majority of the participating mechanical engineering technicians CHE (formerly technicians CHE mechanical engineering or technicians CHE mechanical engineering) achievea higher salary of up to 30 % after completing their studies.
You can calculate your personal salary opportunities with just a few clicks using the Confederation's salary calculator. We are happy to provide you with an example of the calculation.
Click below on "Salarium - statistical wage calculator" (at source) and then on the button "Techniker CHE Maschinenbau Lohn berechnen":
- Step 1: Enter your region / place of work (e.g. Zurich)
- Step 2: Enter your industry (e.g. 28 Mechanical engineering)
- Step 3: Enter the occupational group (72 metalworkers)
- 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.
The example salary in our calculation is CHF 6,169. Now go back to the "Training" section and select "Higher vocational training / College of Higher Education" and in our example this results in a new average salary of CHF 6,577 Mechanical Engineering Technician CHE (formerly Technician CHE Mechanical Engineering). If you then enter "Lower management" under "Position in company", the average salary increases to CHF 7,092.
Note:This calculation is intended as an example and is always a rounded figure. As mentioned above, the salary depends on various factors and can vary considerably.
Example: Technician Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education in Mechanical Engineering (new: Mechanical Engineering Technician Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education): CHF 417,000 more salary until retirement
Leon is 23 years old and works as a polymechanic in a medium-sized company in the machine industry in Hergiswil. As a mechanic in mechanical engineering, he impresses with his precision and high sense of responsibility. Leon also has good spatial awareness and analytical thinking. In his daily work on the machines, he demonstrates patience, perseverance and a high tolerance for frustration. Leon has already been involved in projects and has demonstrated good communication skills and a commercial mindset. He would like to take on a management role in mechanical engineering in the future. In order to be able to take over the technical and personnel management of a department in production or quality assurance, he would like to complete continuing education, further training as a mechanical engineering technician CHE (formerly technician Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education (Achtung)) with a federally recognized diploma. He can achieve this by acquiring comprehensive knowledge in design, machine technology, control and regulation technology and mechatronics. Thanks to the technical and management skills he has learned and a successfully completed College of Higher Education, Leon would be well equipped for a department manager role. As a mechanical engineering technician CHE (formerly technician CHE mechanical engineering), he has numerous career opportunities, better earning potential and access to Master's degree courses at (technical) Universities.
Financial benefits of continuing education, further training "Mechanical Engineering Technician CHE" (formerly Technician CHE Mechanical Engineering)
As a mechanical engineering technician CHE (formerly technician CHE mechanical engineering), Leon will receive CHF 926 more per month than before and will therefore have at least CHF 417,000 more at his disposal by the time he retires than if he had not completed this continuing education, further training at the College of Higher Education.
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 in mechanical engineering CHE: CHF 16'650
- 36 months, part-time
- Tuition fees, documents: CH 16'200
- Team development seminar: CHF 450
- Total training costs: CHF 16'650
Salary difference and return calculation: CHF 417,000
- Difference in salary between the position as a polymechanic and the position as a technician CHE mechanical engineering: CHF 6,005 - CHF 5,079 = CHF 926 per month and CHF 11,112 per year (12 x CHF 926 = CHF 11,112)
- He recoups the total training costs of CHF 16,650 in just under 18 months with his higher salary as a CHE mechanical engineering technician (CHF 16,650 / CHF 926 per month = 17.9 months)
- In the remaining 39 years until his retirement (26 to 65), this additional income will add up to CHF 433,368 (39 x CHF 11,112 = CHF 433,368)
- If the training costs are deducted from this additional income, an additional sum of around CHF 417,000 remains at his disposal(CHF 433'368 - CHF 16'650 = CHF 416'718)
The training costs for mechanical engineering technicians CHE (formerly technicians CHE mechanical engineering) 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 as a polymechanic Federal VET Diplomabefore the College of Higher Education: CHF 5,079
- Region: Central Switzerland
- Industry: 28 Mechanical engineering
- Occupational group: 72 Metalworkers, mechanics and related occupations
- 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 5'079
Calculationsafter the College of Higher Education as a mechanical engineering technician CHE (new: mechanical engineering technician CHE): CHF 6,005
- Region: Central Switzerland
- Industry: 28 Mechanical engineering
- Occupational group: 31 Engineering and similar specialists
- Position in the company: Level 5 without management function
- Hours per week: 42 hours
- Education: College of Higher Education
- Age: 26 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 6'005
(All figures as at November 2022)
Find an educational institute that offers the Mechanical Engineering Technology course (formerly Technikerin / Techniker CHE Maschinenbau) here:
To the school overview "Technician CHE Mechanical Engineering"
