Salary by experience
View as table
| Experience | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 0-2 yrs | CHF 58'500 |
| 3-5 yrs | CHF 60'000 |
| 6-8 yrs | CHF 65'000 |
| 9-11 yrs | CHF 68'250 |
| 12-21 yrs | CHF 74'328 |
| 21+ yrs | CHF 78'000 |
Top HR
Swiss professionsMetal, Machinery & Watchmaking
Inhaber/in eines Uhrenateliers
You restore watches and run your own workshop with passion
01 · Overview
What this profession is about
As Inhaber/in eines Uhrenateliers, you repair watches, restore antiques, and run your own specialist shop
In your own watch workshop, you blend precise craftsmanship with an entrepreneurial spirit. You take in old timepieces, analyse their mechanics, and get them ticking again. Alongside restoring antique clocks, you design custom spare parts. As a manager, you handle customer contact, train apprentices, and steer your business to financial success.
FieldMetal, Machinery & Watchmaking
Education pathSpecialisation / Professional Function
IndustryWatchmaking & Microtechnology
Swissdoc 0.556.27.0
02 · Salary
What you can earn
✓ Strong salary match
Salaries reflect Swiss market data. Range covers entry to senior. Salary reference based on Horloger. Based on 1,055 observations, updated 7 months ago.
Salary trend
+18% over decadeView as table
| Period | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 2014-2016 | CHF 56'000 |
| 2017-2019 | CHF 62'556 |
| 2020-2022 | CHF 63'200 |
| 2023-2025 | CHF 66'000 |
Top earning cantons
View as table
| Canton | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Lucerne | CHF 71'640 | 14 |
| Zurich | CHF 69'000 | 21 |
| Geneva | CHF 68'770 | 177 |
| Berne | CHF 65'000 | 127 |
| Neuchâtel | CHF 64'350 | 271 |
| Vaud | CHF 62'632 | 112 |
Top paying industries
View as table
| Industry | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Recruitment agency / Staffing | CHF 71'500 | 5 |
| Retail trade / Wholesaling | CHF 71'000 | 28 |
| Media / Printing / Publishing | CHF 69'457 | 18 |
| Consumer / Luxury goods industry | CHF 65'520 | 379 |
| Commercial operation / Skilled crafts | CHF 64'646 | 338 |
| Education | CHF 64'500 | 6 |
03 · Pathway
How to enter and grow
Swiss training pathway available in the full profile
- 🎓 Inhaber/in eines Uhrenateliers
Official education path
You enter the field through a watchmaker apprenticeship, supplemented by specialised master craftsman training.
Typical training path
Inhaber/in eines Uhrenateliers
Prerequisites
- Fundierte Berufskenntnisse
- Betriebswirtschaftliches Know-how
Requirements
- Freude am Kontakt mit der Kundschaft
04 · Skills & fit
What it takes
Required skills
- Precise craftsmanship
- Entrepreneurial thinking
- Customer focus
- Technical understanding
Personality fit
- Swiss career path
- Career transition
- Professional growth
05 · Daily reality
What the work feels like
Typical day
You sit at a fine precision workstation. You adjust tiny gears under a magnifying glass for a historical pocket watch. After assembly, you check the movement. You also document the restoration process for the client.
- You repair mechanical and electronic watches from all eras.
- You carefully restore historical clocks and antiques.
- You develop custom spare parts for collectors and enthusiasts.
- You carry out maintenance work for external watch shops and dealers.
- You train apprentices in precise craftsmanship and technical skills.
- You manage the staff and coordinate daily operations.
- You advise customers expertly on watch care and restoration.
Working conditions
You work in your own watch workshop or in specialised restoration studios. Your workspace features quiet rooms, fine tools, and a controlled environment for precision work.
Where to learn
- Centre de formation professionnelle neuchâtelois (CPNE) Pôle Technologies et Industrie (CPNE-TI), site Klaus RueKlaus 1, 2400 Le Locle
Strengths
- Precise craftsmanship
- Entrepreneurial thinking
- Customer focus
- Technical understanding
Trade-offs
- High concentration
- Financial uncertainty
- Complex fault analysis
- Regular further training
06 · Similar
