Salary by experience
View as table
| Experience | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 0-2 yrs | CHF 52'295 |
| 3-5 yrs | CHF 52'295 |
| 6-8 yrs | CHF 51'094 |
| 9-11 yrs | CHF 59'000 |
| 12-21 yrs | CHF 60'000 |
| 21+ yrs | CHF 62'023 |
Top HR
Swiss professionsSales & Procurement
Buchhändler/in EFZ
Choose books for people and give expert advice.
01 · Overview
What this profession is about
You advise customers on choosing media. You manage product ranges and keep in touch with publishers.
As a Buchhändler/in EFZ, you combine your passion for literature with professional trade. You look after customers, select new releases and create an inviting shop window. Your daily routine shifts between personal advice, efficient stock management and digital ordering. You work closely with publishers and help shape the local cultural scene.
FieldSales & Procurement
Education pathVocational Training (Apprenticeship)
IndustryRetail
Swissdoc 0.613.1.0
02 · Salary
What you can earn
✓ Exact salary match
Salaries reflect Swiss market data. Range covers entry to senior. Salary reference based on Bookseller. Based on 188 observations, updated 7 months ago.
Salary trend
-13% over decadeView as table
| Period | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 2014-2016 | CHF 62'400 |
| 2017-2019 | CHF 56'299 |
| 2020-2022 | CHF 55'900 |
| 2023-2025 | CHF 54'600 |
Top earning cantons
View as table
| Canton | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Berne | CHF 56'600 | 22 |
| Zurich | CHF 55'965 | 27 |
| Geneva | CHF 54'600 | 13 |
| Vaud | CHF 51'562 | 14 |
Top paying industries
View as table
| Industry | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Service sector in general | CHF 62'335 | 10 |
| Media / Printing / Publishing | CHF 61'784 | 13 |
| Consulting various | CHF 55'147 | 6 |
| Retail trade / Wholesaling | CHF 54'600 | 138 |
03 · Pathway
How to enter and grow
- 🎓 Buchhändler/in EFZ
- ⏱ 3 Jahre
Official education path
You train for three years in a bookshop. You attend vocational school classes every week.
Typical training path
Buchhändler/in EFZ
Curriculum
- Beratung und Verkauf
- Betriebliche Prozesse
- Bibliografie und Recherche
- Handelsobjekte
- Literatur, Kultur, Wissenschaft
- Lokale Landessprache
- Zweite Landessprache und Englisch
Prerequisites
- obligatorische Schule abgeschlossen
Requirements
- Kontaktfreude
- Interesse an Büchern
- gute Allgemeinbildung und Interesse am Zeitgeschehen
- kundenorientiertes Verhalten
- Freude am Recherchieren
- gutes mündliches und schriftliches Deutsch
- Flair für die Digitalisierung
- Ordnungssinn
- 1Beratung und Verkauf
- 2Betriebliche Prozesse
- 3Bibliografie und Recherche
- 4Handelsobjekte
- 5Literatur, Kultur, Wissenschaft
- 6Lokale Landessprache
- 7Zweite Landessprache und Englisch
04 · Skills & fit
What it takes
Required skills
- Customer focus
- Interest in literature
- Sense of order
- Love of research
- Communication
Personality fit
- Swiss career path
- Career transition
- Professional growth
05 · Daily reality
What the work feels like
Typical day
You stand behind the counter and listen carefully. A customer looks for a specific non-fiction book. You check availability on the computer. Then you sort the new delivery carefully onto the shelf.
- You advise customers expertly when choosing books and media.
- You curate shop windows and present new releases to customers.
- You check digital catalogs to research specific literature requests.
- You manage stock, check deliveries and sort goods into place.
- You maintain regular contact with publishers and other suppliers.
- You create inventory lists and process exchanges or complaints.
- You handle basic accounting tasks and answer customer inquiries.
Working conditions
You work in book and multimedia stores, second-hand shops or publishing houses. Your working hours follow the shop opening times.
Where to learn
- Schweizer Buchhandels- und Verlagsverband SBVVLimmatstr. 107, 8031 Zürich
Strengths
- Customer focus
- Interest in literature
- Sense of order
- Love of research
- Communication
Trade-offs
- Weekend work
- Physical strain
- Price control
06 · Similar
