Salary by experience
View as table
| Experience | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 0-2 yrs | CHF 51'350 |
| 3-5 yrs | CHF 56'004 |
| 6-8 yrs | CHF 56'000 |
| 9-11 yrs | CHF 45'045 |
| 12-21 yrs | CHF 54'660 |
| 21+ yrs | CHF 70'750 |
Top HR
Swiss professionsHospitality & Hotels
Sommelier/-ière BP
You advise guests on wine selection and design wine lists.
01 · Overview
What this profession is about
As Sommelier/-ière BP, you advise guests expertly. You create wine lists, negotiate with winemakers, and ensure perfect wine pairing.
You are the contact person for perfect wine pairing in the hospitality industry. Your expertise covers everything from selecting the best wines to advising guests. You negotiate with winemakers, manage the selection, and organize events. With your refined taste and service orientation, you create an unforgettable dining experience.
FieldHospitality & Hotels
Education pathContinuing Education Profession
IndustryHospitality, Housekeeping & Facility Management
Swissdoc 0.220.44.0
02 · Salary
What you can earn
✓ Strong salary match
Salaries reflect Swiss market data. Range covers entry to senior. Salary reference based on Sommelier. Based on 130 observations, updated 7 months ago.
Salary trend
+3% over decadeView as table
| Period | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 2014-2016 | CHF 58'000 |
| 2017-2019 | CHF 44'625 |
| 2020-2022 | CHF 52'800 |
| 2023-2025 | CHF 60'000 |
Top earning cantons
View as table
| Canton | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Geneva | CHF 58'300 | 21 |
| Vaud | CHF 57'600 | 21 |
| Fribourg | CHF 55'600 | 12 |
| Jura | CHF 52'026 | 15 |
| Valais | CHF 48'700 | 14 |
Top paying industries
View as table
| Industry | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade / Wholesaling | CHF 62'500 | 8 |
| Catering / Hotel | CHF 54'600 | 115 |
03 · Pathway
How to enter and grow
- 🎓 Sommelier/Sommelière mit eidg. Fachausweis
- ⏱ Ca. 2 Jahre, berufsbegleitend
Official education path
This part-time course lasts about two years. It provides solid knowledge in viticulture, service, and international wine advisory.
Typical training path
Sommelier/Sommelière mit eidg. Fachausweis
Curriculum
- Weinbau, Kelterung und Weinkunde
- Kenntnis der Weine aus
- Aller Welt
- Service, Beratung, Abstimmung von Gerichten und Weinen
Prerequisites
- eidgenössisches Fähigkeitszeugnis (EFZ)
- Abschluss einer höheren Fachschule oder einer Fachhochschule in den Bereichen der Gastronomie, Hotellerie, Weinbau, Weinhandel or an equivalent certificate
- at least 3 years of professional experience in the field of restoration, wine production, or wine trade
- required module completions or equivalency certificates
Requirements
- strong sense of smell and taste
- customer and service orientation
- foreign language skills
- creativity
- clean working method and sense of hygiene
- 1Weinbau, Kelterung und Weinkunde
- 2Kenntnis der Weine aus
- 3Aller Welt
- 4Service, Beratung, Abstimmung von Gerichten und Weinen
Where this can lead
Career changers can enter with a relevant gastronomy or viticulture qualification and professional experience. Further training as a wine journalist or seminar leader also expands your prospects.
04 · Skills & fit
What it takes
Required skills
- Taste
- Service orientation
- Language skills
- Negotiation skills
- Hygiene awareness
Personality fit
- Swiss career path
- Career transition
- Professional growth
05 · Daily reality
What the work feels like
Typical day
You stand behind the bar. You check the wine temperatures. You prepare the right bottle for each table. While you explain the list, you listen carefully. You create the ideal pairing experience.
- You advise guests expertly on selecting the right wine.
- You create wine lists and follow current taste trends.
- You negotiate purchase prices directly with winemakers and suppliers.
- You store the selection properly and manage inventory.
- You organize wine tastings and support related marketing events.
- You actively maintain business contacts with vineyards worldwide.
- You handle bookkeeping and create cost calculations.
Working conditions
You work in international experiential dining, luxury hotels, or on cruise ships. Your workplace is often the wine bar or the kitchen. You work in a team with the service manager.
Where to learn
- Hotel & Gastro formation Eichistrasse 20Postfach 362, 6353 Weggis
Strengths
- Taste
- Service orientation
- Language skills
- Negotiation skills
- Hygiene awareness
Trade-offs
- Irregular hours
- Physical strain
- High responsibility
- Service stress
06 · Similar
