Salary by experience
View as table
| Experience | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 0-2 yrs | CHF 51'450 |
| 3-5 yrs | CHF 60'944 |
| 6-8 yrs | CHF 49'850 |
| 9-11 yrs | CHF 50'000 |
| 12-21 yrs | CHF 56'838 |
| 21+ yrs | CHF 223'908 |
Top HR
Swiss professionsTransport, Logistics & Safety
Lotse/Lotsin
You guide ships safely through narrow waters and harbours
01 · Overview
What this profession is about
Ship pilots navigate foreign vessels safely in harbours and on rivers. You take over bridge duty and advise the ship's command.
As a ship pilot, you take responsibility for the safe navigation of vessels in narrow waters and harbours. On open water or in your assigned area, you guide the ship's command with expert advice. Your knowledge of radar guidance and international regulations makes you an essential expert for every maritime challenge.
FieldTransport, Logistics & Safety
Education pathSpecialisation / Professional Function
IndustryWater Transport
Swissdoc 0.635.7.0
02 · Salary
What you can earn
✓ Strong salary match
Salaries reflect Swiss market data. Range covers entry to senior. Salary reference based on Shipping Specialist. Based on 54 observations, updated 7 months ago.
Salary trend
-17% over decadeView as table
| Period | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 2014-2016 | CHF 65'500 |
| 2017-2019 | CHF 49'500 |
| 2020-2022 | CHF 46'500 |
| 2023-2025 | CHF 54'200 |
Top paying industries
View as table
| Industry | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Industry various | CHF 58'500 | 7 |
| Transport / Logistics | CHF 52'950 | 14 |
| Retail trade / Wholesaling | CHF 52'105 | 10 |
03 · Pathway
How to enter and grow
Swiss training pathway available in the full profile
- 🎓 Kapitän/in der Binnenschifffahrt EFZ bzw. Schiffsführer/in
Official education path
Entry is through a specialized pilot training program linked to specific ship command experience.
Typical training path
Kapitän/in der Binnenschifffahrt EFZ bzw. Schiffsführer/in
Prerequisites
- Hochrhein-Patent (for the Rhine at Basel)
Requirements
- Sense of responsibility
- Reliability
- Independence
- Strong teamwork skills
- Stress tolerance
04 · Skills & fit
What it takes
Required skills
- Strong sense of responsibility
- High stress tolerance
- Strong teamwork skills
- High reliability
Personality fit
- Swiss career path
- Career transition
- Professional growth
05 · Daily reality
What the work feels like
Typical day
You stand on the bridge of an arriving freighter and monitor the approach together with the ship's command. At the same time, you coordinate onshore radar guidance to ensure safe passage through the narrow area.
- You advise the ship's command on navigation.
- You strictly follow maritime safety regulations.
- You provide onshore radar guidance for the assigned area.
- You guide ships safely through narrow channels.
- You apply international inland waterway regulations.
Working conditions
You work primarily on the bridge of ships in harbours and on rivers. You also often coordinate your tasks from onshore pilot stations.
Where to learn
- Schweizerische Vereinigung für Schifffahrt und HafenwirtschaftSüdquaistrasse 14, 4019 Basel
Strengths
- Strong sense of responsibility
- High stress tolerance
- Strong teamwork skills
- High reliability
Trade-offs
- Shift work
- High responsibility
- Weather dependence
- Isolation
06 · Similar
