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
Laboruhrmacher/in
You develop and analyse precise watch movements in the research lab.
01 · Overview
What this profession is about
Laboruhrmacher/in guide new developments from prototype construction to production approval in the research lab.
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
- 🎓 Uhrmacher/in EFZ, Schwerpunkt Industrielle Methoden
Official education path
You enter this role with a completed watchmaker training focused on industrial methods, plus relevant work experience.
Typical training path
Uhrmacher/in EFZ, Schwerpunkt Industrielle Methoden
Prerequisites
- Uhrmacher/in EFZ, Schwerpunkt Industrielle Methoden mit Berufserfahrung
Requirements
- Enjoyment of technical challenges
- Analytical skills
- Exact and systematic working style
04 · Skills & fit
What it takes
Required skills
- Technical understanding
- Analytical thinking
- Precise work
Personality fit
- Swiss career path
- Career transition
- Professional growth
05 · Daily reality
What the work feels like
Typical day
You check individual watch components on your workbench for minimal tolerances and document the measurement results precisely. You then discuss the results with the development team to plan the next steps for prototype construction.
- You analyse various watch components in the lab for their functionality.
- You test the accuracy of the mechanics under different conditions.
- You document all measurement values and results systematically in the lab notebook.
- You work closely with the development team to optimise the watch movements.
- You check the homologation of the new models for technical compliance.
Working conditions
You work mainly in closed development and research labs of the watch industry. There you have a well-equipped workstation with precise measuring and testing instruments.
Strengths
- Technical understanding
- Analytical thinking
- Precise work
Trade-offs
- High concentration
- Strict quality requirements
- Repeated tests
06 · Similar
