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
Restaurator/in alter Uhren
You preserve historical clockworks with precise handwork for the future.
01 · Overview
What this profession is about
You restore valuable mechanical watches, repair original parts, and make custom replacement parts.
You dive into the fascinating world of timekeeping art. As a Restaurator/in alter Uhren, you give historical mechanisms new life. With great care and expert knowledge, you disassemble complex clockworks, repair original parts, and make precise replacements when needed. Your work combines craftsmanship with history. It preserves cultural heritage for future generations.
FieldMetal, Machinery & Watchmaking
Education pathSpecialisation / Professional Function
IndustryCultural Heritage
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
- 🎓 Restaurator/in von alten Uhren
Official education path
Training usually starts with a watchmaker apprenticeship. You then complete specialized further training in restoration.
Typical training path
Restaurator/in von alten Uhren
Prerequisites
- Craftsmanship
- Ability to analyze and solve problems independently with a logical and methodical approach
- Eye for fine, precise work
- Endurance and patience
Requirements
- Handwerkliches Geschick
- Ability to analyze and solve problems independently
- Logical and methodical way of thinking
- Flair for fine, precise work
Where this can lead
A career change is possible if you have already completed a watchmaker apprenticeship and continue your training.
04 · Skills & fit
What it takes
Required skills
- Craftsmanship
- Analytical thinking
- Precision
- Patience and endurance
Personality fit
- Swiss career path
- Career transition
- Professional growth
05 · Daily reality
What the work feels like
Typical day
You sit focused at your workbench. You clean tiny gears under a magnifying glass. Then you check the function of the repaired clockwork. You adjust it with fine tweaks.
- You carefully analyze the complex mechanisms of historical clockworks.
- You disassemble the parts and clean them properly.
- You repair original parts or make precise replacements.
- You reassemble the restored watches so they work again.
- You exchange technical information with clients or museums.
- You document your restoration steps. You preserve the original material.
Working conditions
You usually work in your own studio or in specialized restoration workshops. Occasionally you also care for objects directly in museums or collections.
Where to learn
- Arbeitgeberverband der schweizerischen Uhrenindustrie Convention patronale de l'industrie horlogère suisse (CP) AvenueLéopold-Robert 65, 2301 La Chaux-de-Fonds
- Verband Schweizer Goldschmiede und Uhrenfachgeschäfte VSGUBahnhofstrasse 7b, 6210 Sursee
- Centre de formation professionnelle neuchâtelois (CPNE) Pôle Technologies et Industrie (CPNE-TI), site Klaus RueKlaus 1, 2400 Le Locle
Strengths
- Craftsmanship
- Analytical thinking
- Precision
- Patience and endurance
Trade-offs
- Physical strain
- Studio isolation
- High responsibility
- Lengthy processes
06 · Similar
