Salary by experience
View as table
| Experience | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 0-2 yrs | CHF 76'000 |
| 3-5 yrs | CHF 80'600 |
| 6-8 yrs | CHF 81'050 |
| 9-11 yrs | CHF 80'769 |
| 12-21 yrs | CHF 88'974 |
| 21+ yrs | CHF 97'214 |
Top HR
Swiss professionsMetal, Machinery & Watchmaking
CAD-/CNC-Programmierer/in (Technischer Modell- und Formenbau)
You program digital tools for precise model and die making
01 · Overview
What this profession is about
You create and adjust CAD/CNC programs to manufacture prototypes, watch models, and tools in technical model making.
In technical model and die making, you combine digital planning with modern manufacturing technology. Your programs control CNC machines that produce complex parts and precise molds. With abstract-logical thinking and spatial imagination, you turn designs into real objects. You work at the intersection of technology and craftsmanship. You ensure that prototypes and tools are created efficiently and without errors.
FieldMetal, Machinery & Watchmaking
Education pathSpecialisation / Professional Function
IndustryMetalwork & Foundry
Swissdoc 0.553.43.0
02 · Salary
What you can earn
✓ Exact salary match
Salaries reflect Swiss market data. Range covers entry to senior. Salary reference based on Mechanical Engineering Technician. Based on 361 observations, updated 7 months ago.
Salary trend
+6% over decadeView as table
| Period | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 2014-2016 | CHF 79'300 |
| 2017-2019 | CHF 77'467 |
| 2020-2022 | CHF 80'300 |
| 2023-2025 | CHF 84'000 |
Top earning cantons
View as table
| Canton | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Solothurn | CHF 90'725 | 17 |
| Zurich | CHF 87'087 | 53 |
| Thurgau | CHF 84'500 | 13 |
| Aargau | CHF 83'835 | 24 |
| Basel-Land | CHF 81'378 | 13 |
| Berne | CHF 80'000 | 27 |
Top paying industries
View as table
| Industry | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Utilities | CHF 98'000 | 5 |
| Building trade / Real estate | CHF 91'000 | 5 |
| Industry various | CHF 82'000 | 45 |
| Machine / System construction | CHF 80'600 | 231 |
| Commercial operation / Skilled crafts | CHF 76'000 | 13 |
| Medical Technology | CHF 73'500 | 11 |
03 · Pathway
How to enter and grow
Swiss training pathway available in the full profile
- 🎓 CAD-/CNC-Programmierer/in im technischen Modell- und Formenbau
Official education path
You enter the field through a vocational apprenticeship as a die maker, followed by specialized CAD/CNC further training courses.
Typical training path
CAD-/CNC-Programmierer/in im technischen Modell- und Formenbau
Prerequisites
- Berufslehre als Formenbauer/in EFZ
- CAD-/CNC-Weiterbildungskurse
Requirements
- Abstract-logical thinking
- Analytical skills
- Spatial imagination
Where this can lead
Career changers can enter the field if you have related initial training and the necessary CAD/CNC skills.
04 · Skills & fit
What it takes
Required skills
- Abstract-logical thinking
- Analytical skills
- Spatial imagination
- Technical understanding
Personality fit
- Swiss career path
- Career transition
- Professional growth
05 · Daily reality
What the work feels like
Typical day
You stand at the computer and check the milling parameters for a new watch model. Then you monitor the first test runs of the CNC system for dimensional accuracy.
- You create and modify CAD/CNC programs for die making.
- You convert digital designs into machine-readable control data.
- You check the program sequences for technical feasibility.
- You optimize manufacturing processes for precise prototype parts and tools.
- You work closely with designers and toolmakers.
- You document all changes to the control files.
Working conditions
You work in workshops for technical model and die making, as well as in prototype manufacturing. You are often employed in companies from the watch industry or toolmaking.
Where to learn
- SWISS FORM Verband Schweizerischer Modellbaubetriebe Bahnhofstrasse 7bPostfach 583, 6210 Sursee
Strengths
- Abstract-logical thinking
- Analytical skills
- Spatial imagination
- Technical understanding
Trade-offs
- High concentration
- Physical strain
- Shift work
- Technological change
06 · Similar
