Salary by experience
View as table
| Experience | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 0-2 yrs | CHF 49'100 |
| 3-5 yrs | CHF 50'400 |
| 6-8 yrs | CHF 54'000 |
| 9-11 yrs | CHF 55'000 |
| 12-21 yrs | CHF 62'500 |
| 21+ yrs | CHF 55'344 |
Top HR
Swiss professionsDesign & Crafts
Fotofachmann/-frau BP
You run photo businesses or manage your own shops with professional expertise
01 · Overview
What this profession is about
Experienced professionals advise clients, shoot in the studio, and handle business management tasks
Photo professionals with a federal certificate combine creative work with business know-how. You advise clients on technical equipment, shoot studio portraits, and handle video production and websites. Self-employed professionals also manage their companies, bookkeeping, and marketing. This role requires technical understanding, an eye for image composition, and strong communication skills.
FieldDesign & Crafts
Education pathContinuing Education Profession
IndustryAudiovisual Media
Swissdoc 0.613.19.0
02 · Salary
What you can earn
✓ Exact salary match
Salaries reflect Swiss market data. Range covers entry to senior. Salary reference based on Fotofachmann. Based on 90 observations, updated 7 months ago.
Salary trend
+7% over decadeView as table
| Period | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 2014-2016 | CHF 50'600 |
| 2017-2019 | CHF 48'000 |
| 2020-2022 | CHF 55'000 |
| 2023-2025 | CHF 54'300 |
Top earning cantons
View as table
| Canton | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Berne | CHF 55'225 | 22 |
| Zurich | CHF 52'500 | 14 |
Top paying industries
View as table
| Industry | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade / Wholesaling | CHF 54'900 | 42 |
| Service sector in general | CHF 50'400 | 21 |
| Media / Printing / Publishing | CHF 48'000 | 9 |
03 · Pathway
How to enter and grow
Swiss training pathway available in the full profile
- 🎓 Fotofachmann/-frau mit eidg. Fachausweis
- ⏱ 3 Semester, berufsbegleitend
Official education path
The part-time training lasts three semesters and prepares you for the federal certificate.
Typical training path
Fotofachmann/-frau mit eidg. Fachausweis
Prerequisites
- eidg. Fähigkeitszeugnis (EFZ) als Fotofachmann/-frau EFZ or equivalent qualification in the photo industry and at least 2 years of professional experience in the photo industry
- Berufs-, Fach- or gymnasiale Maturität, Fachmittelschulausweis or equivalent qualification and at least 4 years of professional experience in the photo industry
Requirements
- Enjoyment of sales and advising
- Interest in photography
- Sociability
- Technical understanding
- Good comprehension skills
- Sense for colors and framing
- No allergies
- No color vision deficiencies
04 · Skills & fit
What it takes
Required skills
- Technical understanding
- Creative eye
- Sales talent
- Entrepreneurial thinking
- Team leadership
Personality fit
- Swiss career path
- Career transition
- Professional growth
05 · Daily reality
What the work feels like
Typical day
You set up the right lighting in the photo studio and choose the background for a new portrait. During the shoot, you constantly check the image quality and adjust the camera settings precisely.
- You advise clients professionally on cameras, lenses, and accessories.
- You set up the appropriate lighting for every subject in the studio.
- You take portraits and constantly monitor the image quality.
- You transfer the shots to a computer and edit them digitally.
- You create websites and handle their ongoing technical maintenance.
- You manage the bookkeeping and develop marketing concepts for the business.
- You train staff, teach apprentices, and coordinate workflows reliably.
- You resolve legal questions about copyrights and image usage competently.
Working conditions
You work in photo specialty shops, department stores, or in relevant sections of large retail chains. Self-employed professionals run their own companies and shape their work environment flexibly.
Where to learn
- imagingswiss - der FotoverbandMatt 1, 6017 Ruswil
- Schule für Gestaltung ZürichAusstellungsstrasse 104, 8005 Zürich
Strengths
- Technical understanding
- Creative eye
- Sales talent
- Entrepreneurial thinking
- Team leadership
Trade-offs
- High responsibility
- Physical strain
- Economic pressure
- Detail-oriented work
06 · Similar
