Salary by experience
View as table
| Experience | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 0-2 yrs | CHF 57'171 |
| 3-5 yrs | CHF 62'787 |
| 6-8 yrs | CHF 65'650 |
| 9-11 yrs | CHF 69'125 |
| 12-21 yrs | CHF 75'405 |
| 21+ yrs | CHF 78'500 |
Top HR
Swiss professionsMetal, Machinery & Watchmaking
Polisseur/-euse EBA
You polish watch and jewellery parts with the utmost precision and care.
01 · Overview
What this profession is about
You process and refine the surfaces of watch and jewellery parts in specialised ateliers.
In quiet polishing ateliers, you focus on the finest details. As a Polisseur/-euse EBA, you turn raw components into shining works of art through targeted grinding and refining. Your hands guide the tools while your eye checks every curve and edge. This job requires manual skill, patience, and a sure touch for valuable materials. If you love precision, you will find exciting work here in the Swiss watch and jewellery industry.
FieldMetal, Machinery & Watchmaking
Education pathVocational Training (Apprenticeship)
IndustryArt & Crafts
Swissdoc 0.556.28.0
02 · Salary
What you can earn
✓ Exact salary match
Salaries reflect Swiss market data. Range covers entry to senior. Salary reference based on Polisher. Based on 561 observations, updated 7 months ago.
Salary trend
+14% over decadeView as table
| Period | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 2014-2016 | CHF 62'000 |
| 2017-2019 | CHF 66'000 |
| 2020-2022 | CHF 67'600 |
| 2023-2025 | CHF 70'688 |
Top earning cantons
View as table
| Canton | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Solothurn | CHF 81'559 | 16 |
| Zurich | CHF 77'850 | 18 |
| Geneva | CHF 72'917 | 99 |
| St. Gallen | CHF 70'556 | 17 |
| Berne | CHF 70'000 | 37 |
| Vaud | CHF 69'351 | 21 |
Top paying industries
View as table
| Industry | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Media / Printing / Publishing | CHF 79'300 | 6 |
| Medical Technology | CHF 75'400 | 7 |
| Machine / System construction | CHF 69'250 | 59 |
| Industry various | CHF 69'000 | 159 |
| Consumer / Luxury goods industry | CHF 68'000 | 152 |
| Commercial operation / Skilled crafts | CHF 67'200 | 143 |
03 · Pathway
How to enter and grow
- 🎓 Polisseur/Polisseuse EBA
- ⏱ 2 Jahre
Official education path
You complete a two-year vocational apprenticeship with weekly vocational school visits and practical time in the atelier.
Typical training path
Polisseur/Polisseuse EBA
Curriculum
- Organisieren und Vorbereiten der Arbeit
- Durchführen von manuellen Verfahren zur Oberflächenvorbereitung und -bearbeitung gemäss den Produktionsetappen
- Durchführen von manuellen mikromechanischen Verfahren
Prerequisites
- obligatorische Schule abgeschlossen
Requirements
- dexterous hands
- precise way of working
- good concentration
- patience and endurance
- reliability
- no allergies when handling metals
- 1Organisieren und Vorbereiten der Arbeit
- 2Durchführen von manuellen Verfahren zur Oberflächenvorbereitung und -bearbeitung gemäss den Produktionsetappen
- 3Durchführen von manuellen mikromechanischen Verfahren
Where this can lead
A career change is rare because the apprenticeship is highly specialised. However, interested people can aim for a shortened apprenticeship as a surface refiner for watches and jewellery EFZ.
04 · Skills & fit
What it takes
Required skills
- Manual dexterity
- Precise work
- Patience
- Eye for detail
Personality fit
- Swiss career path
- Career transition
- Professional growth
05 · Daily reality
What the work feels like
Typical day
You sit at your workbench and carefully work on a watch case with fine polishing tools. You constantly check the surface until the desired matte or glossy finish is perfect.
- You prepare work plans and set up the necessary machines.
- You grind surfaces by hand or with machines in a very targeted way.
- You refine parts by sandblasting or targeted polishing with sticks.
- You decide which surfaces stay matte and which edges remain sharp.
- You check the size of the components with precise measuring tools.
- You clean the workpieces carefully with soapy water or solvents.
- You handle valuable metals like gold with extreme care.
- You maintain your tools and dispose of waste in an environmentally friendly way.
Working conditions
You work in specialised polishing ateliers or in companies in the watch and jewellery industry. Your workplace is a workbench where you do fine handwork while sitting.
Where to learn
- Arbeitgeberverband der Schweizerischen Uhrenindustrie AvenueLéopold-Robert 65, 2301 La Chaux-de-Fonds
Strengths
- Manual dexterity
- Precise work
- Patience
- Eye for detail
Trade-offs
- Physical strain
- Tight job market
- High responsibility
- Contact with chemicals
06 · Similar
