Salary by experience
View as table
| Experience | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 0-2 yrs | CHF 60'000 |
| 3-5 yrs | CHF 59'940 |
| 6-8 yrs | CHF 62'045 |
| 9-11 yrs | CHF 62'400 |
| 12-21 yrs | CHF 79'000 |
| 21+ yrs | CHF 72'800 |
Top HR
Swiss professionsMetal, Machinery & Watchmaking
Oberflächenveredler/in Uhren und Schmuck EFZ
You refine watch and jewellery parts with precision and care
01 · Overview
What this profession is about
You work on and decorate watch and jewellery parts by hand or machine to make them look perfect
Precision meets aesthetics. As an Oberflächenveredler/in Uhren und Schmuck EFZ, you prepare watch and jewellery parts professionally. You grind, polish, and satin-finish the surfaces. You work with micromechanical and CNC machines. Your eye for detail ensures flawless results in the Swiss watch and jewellery industry.
FieldMetal, Machinery & Watchmaking
Education pathVocational Training (Apprenticeship)
IndustryArt & Crafts
Swissdoc 0.556.7.0
02 · Salary
What you can earn
✓ Strong salary match
Salaries reflect Swiss market data. Range covers entry to senior. Salary reference based on Oberflächenveredlerin. Based on 144 observations, updated 7 months ago.
Salary trend
+25% over decadeView as table
| Period | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 2014-2016 | CHF 50'500 |
| 2017-2019 | CHF 61'730 |
| 2020-2022 | CHF 70'750 |
| 2023-2025 | CHF 63'000 |
Top earning cantons
View as table
| Canton | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Solothurn | CHF 76'712 | 14 |
| Zurich | CHF 73'250 | 20 |
| St. Gallen | CHF 62'370 | 13 |
| Berne | CHF 61'600 | 15 |
| Vaud | CHF 60'000 | 12 |
Top paying industries
View as table
| Industry | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Technology | CHF 80'950 | 5 |
| Commercial operation / Skilled crafts | CHF 69'200 | 11 |
| Chemicals / Pharmaceuticals | CHF 67'000 | 15 |
| Building trade / Real estate | CHF 66'194 | 16 |
| Industry various | CHF 64'900 | 48 |
| Machine / System construction | CHF 59'800 | 11 |
03 · Pathway
How to enter and grow
- 🎓 Oberflächenveredler/in Uhren und Schmuck EFZ
- ⏱ 3 Jahre
Official education path
The training lasts three years and takes place at the company and at the vocational school.
Typical training path
Oberflächenveredler/in Uhren und Schmuck EFZ
Curriculum
- Organisieren und Vorbereiten der Arbeit
- Durchführen von manuellen Verfahren zur Vorbereitung und Bearbeitung von Oberflächen
- Durchführen von manuellen Verfahren und Arbeiten mit mikromechanischen Maschinen
- Durchführen von komplexen Verfahren zur Vorbereitung und Bearbeitung von Oberflächen (Schwerpunkt
- Haute
- Horlogerie) mit CNC-Maschinen (Schwerpunkt CNC)
Prerequisites
- obligatorische Schule abgeschlossen
Requirements
- manual dexterity
- ability to concentrate
- logical thinking
- technical understanding
- good eyesight (including corrected visual acuity)
- no allergies when handling metals
- sense of cleanliness
- sense of beauty
- 1Organisieren und Vorbereiten der Arbeit
- 2Durchführen von manuellen Verfahren zur Vorbereitung und Bearbeitung von Oberflächen
- 3Durchführen von manuellen Verfahren und Arbeiten mit mikromechanischen Maschinen
- 4Durchführen von komplexen Verfahren zur Vorbereitung und Bearbeitung von Oberflächen (Schwerpunkt
- 5Haute
- 6Horlogerie) mit CNC-Maschinen (Schwerpunkt CNC)
Where this can lead
A lateral entry is often possible if you have related initial training or extensive professional experience in precision engineering.
04 · Skills & fit
What it takes
Required skills
- Manual dexterity
- Sustained focus
- Sense of aesthetics
- Technical understanding
Personality fit
- Swiss career path
- Career transition
- Professional growth
05 · Daily reality
What the work feels like
Typical day
You stand at your workbench and inspect the surface of a watch case under a magnifying glass. With fine abrasives and controlled machine work, you give the metal the desired, flawless finish.
- You check technical drawings and prepare the work plans for the order.
- You set up tools and prepare the machines for processing.
- You grind away irregularities and clean the watch and jewellery parts thoroughly.
- You make simple parts by hand or operate CNC machines for complex shapes.
- You polish or satin-finish the surfaces to achieve the desired visual result.
- You check the dimensions and quality with special measuring tools.
- You maintain your tools and machines and dispose of waste in an environmentally friendly way.
Working conditions
You work in companies in the watch and jewellery industry, often at specialized workbenches. You will mainly find jobs in the Jura arc between Geneva and Schaffhausen.
Where to learn
- Arbeitgeberverband der Schweizerischen Uhrenindustrie AvenueLéopold-Robert 65, 2301 La Chaux-de-Fonds
Strengths
- Manual dexterity
- Sustained focus
- Sense of aesthetics
- Technical understanding
Trade-offs
- Physical strain
- Intense visual demands
- Handling chemicals
- Flexible working hours
06 · Similar
