Wage increase after completion of the "Process Specialist (FPE)" course

Lohnerhöhung nach Abschluss des Lehrgangs „Prozessfachmann/-frau (BP)“

The "Process Specialist (FPE)" course provides the basic knowledge required for qualified work in the field of process management. Graduates of this continuing education, further training course can, in the event of a subsequent job changeoften achieve a higher salary.The majority of graduates of this course receive the following qualifications in the first two years after completing the Process Specialist (FPE) coursea wage increase of up to 20 %.

Important salary criteria

In individual cases, the development of the salary depends on other criteria such as sector, region, company or previous education, professional experience and age of the applicant.

Calculate your individual opportunities with the help of a salary calculator. We have created an example for you.

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. 80 security services and detective agencies)
  • Step 3: Enter "31 Technical engineers and comparable specialists" in the typing field for the occupational group
  • Step 4: Position in the company - select "Level 5: Without management function"
  • Step 5: Weekly hours 42
  • Step 6: Training: Completed vocational training
  • Step 7: Enter your age (e.g. 30 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 5,249.

Now go back to the item "Position in the company" and select "Level 3+4: Lower management", under "Education" change to "Higher vocational training, College of Higher Education" and change "Age" to 32 years", resulting in a new average salary of CHF 6,456.

Note: The calculation for process specialists (FPE) is intended as an example. As mentioned above, the salary depends on various factors and can vary considerably.

Example of a process specialist with Federal Diploma of Higher Education: CHF 500,000 more salary until retirement

Kevin is 24 years old and works as a Federal VET Diploma commercial clerk in the process management department of a large animal feed manufacturing company in Winterthur. The process department takes care of the processes involved in the development, procurement and production of animal feed. Kevin really enjoys working on internal company matters and the close contact with other departments. His clean and meticulous way of working and his situational solution proposals are appreciated by everyone in the company. To expand his knowledge of ways to optimize work processes, work design, production planning and business management, Kevin is attending continuing education, further training to become a process specialist. The Federal Professional Examination will enable him to further improve operational processes in the future. Process specialists find new, technical and economically feasible solutions. They implement these in their day-to-day work with the departments concerned. Thanks to his federal certificate as a process specialist, Kevin was able to take over the management of a work team. He plans the use of equipment and machines for them. Kevin decides when which feedstuffs are to be produced by the team. Thanks to his recognized qualification as a process specialist, he has increased his value on the job market and also earns more.

Financial benefits of continuing education, further training as a process specialist

As a litigation specialist, Kevin will receive CHF 1,077 more per month than before and will therefore have at least CHF 500,000 more at his disposal by the time he retires than if he 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 process specialist: CHF 4'250

  • 18 months, part-time
  • School fees, documents: CHF 6,300 minus CHF 3,150 federal contribution = CHF 3,150
  • Exam fee: CHF 1'100
  • Total training costs: CHF 4'250

Salary difference and return calculation: CHF 500,000

  • Difference in salary between the position as a Federal VET Diploma commercial clerk and the position as a process specialist: CHF 6,307 - CHF 5,230 = CHF 1,077 per month and CHF 12,924 per year (12 x CHF 1,077 = CHF 12,924)
  • He recoups the total training costs of CHF 4,250 with the higher salary as a process specialist in just under 4 months (CHF 4,250 / CHF 1,077 per month = 3.9 months)
  • Over the remaining 39 years until his retirement (26 to 65), this additional income will add up to CHF 504,036 (39 x CHF 12,924 = CHF 504,036)
  • If the training costs are deducted from this additional income, an additional sum of around CHF 500,000 remains at his disposal(CHF 504'036 - CHF 4'250 = CHF 499'786)

The training costs correspond to an average of the courses offered in German-speaking Switzerland.

The wages were calculated in the federal wage calculatorwww.salarium.chwith the following settings:

Calculations with Federal VET Diploma in Business Administrationbefore the Federal Professional Examination: CHF 5'230

  • Region: Zurich
  • Sector: 10 Manufacture of food products and animal feed
  • 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: 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 5'230

Calculationsafter the Federal Professional Examination: CHF 6,307

  • Region: Zurich
  • Sector: 10 Manufacture of food products and animal feed
  • Occupational group: 31 Engineering and similar specialists
  • Position in the company: Level 3+4 Lower management
  • Hours per week: 42 hours
  • Education: Higher vocational training, College of Higher Education
  • Age: 26 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 6'307

(All figures as at November 2022)

Click here for the schools that offer the Process Specialist course:

Overview of schoolsProcess specialist (FPE)