Salary by experience
View as table
| Experience | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 0-2 yrs | CHF 67'500 |
| 3-5 yrs | CHF 58'000 |
| 6-8 yrs | CHF 63'000 |
| 9-11 yrs | CHF 63'300 |
| 12-21 yrs | CHF 42'000 |
| 21+ yrs | CHF 85'995 |
Top HR
Swiss professionsCulture & Media
Konferenzdolmetscher/in FH
You interpret live at conferences and congresses
01 · Overview
What this profession is about
Konferenzdolmetscher/in FH transfer speeches and conversations live into other languages
You sit in the soundproof booth and listen carefully to the speakers. With just a few seconds delay, you repeat their words precisely in another language. This demanding work requires high concentration, solid language skills, and excellent general knowledge. You accompany international congresses, political negotiations, or specialist conferences to ensure smooth communication. You work closely with colleagues and take turns regularly.
FieldCulture & Media
Education pathHigher Education Profession
IndustryMedia, Information & Film
Swissdoc 0.811.18.0
02 · Salary
What you can earn
✓ Exact salary match
Salaries reflect Swiss market data. Range covers entry to senior. Salary reference based on Konferenzdolmetscherin. Based on 42 observations, updated 7 months ago.
Salary trend
+25% over decadeView as table
| Period | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 2014-2016 | CHF 57'500 |
| 2017-2019 | CHF 58'000 |
| 2020-2022 | CHF 63'000 |
| 2023-2025 | CHF 72'000 |
Top paying industries
View as table
| Industry | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Service sector in general | CHF 72'000 | 6 |
| Health care / Social services | CHF 67'500 | 6 |
| Public administration / Associations | CHF 45'000 | 9 |
03 · Pathway
How to enter and grow
Swiss training pathway available in the full profile
- 🎓 Eidg. anerkanntes Diplom "Master of Arts ZFH in Angewandter Linguistik, Vertiefung Konferenzdolmetschen"
- ⏱ 3 Semester Vollzeit (Teilzeitstudium möglich)
Official education path
The main path is a 3-semester full-time study with the option of part-time study.
Typical training path
Eidg. anerkanntes Diplom "Master of Arts ZFH in Angewandter Linguistik, Vertiefung Konferenzdolmetschen"
Prerequisites
- Completed Bachelor-Hochschulstudium in Angewandte Sprachen or equivalent university degree
- Competence test in Applied Linguistics and Interpretation Studies for non-related university degrees
- Excellent command of native language and at least two foreign languages
- Eignungsprüfung Konferenzdolmetschen
- Proof of English skills (at least level C1)
- Proof of German skills (at least level C2) for non-native German speakers
Requirements
- Oral and written language proficiency
- Good general knowledge
04 · Skills & fit
What it takes
Required skills
- Language skills
- Concentration
- General knowledge
- Teamwork
Personality fit
- Swiss career path
- Career transition
- Professional growth
05 · Daily reality
What the work feels like
Typical day
You sit in the soundproof booth and listen to the speakers through headphones. With a few seconds delay, you speak the translation into the microphone while colleagues take turns.
- You translate spoken language live from one language into another.
- You work in a soundproof booth with a microphone during simultaneous interpretation.
- You analyze and process the speeches in real time.
- You take turns regularly with your colleagues.
- You prepare for assignments with specialist dictionaries.
- You interpret back and forth sentence by sentence at negotiations and receptions.
- You constantly check your own pronunciation and output.
- You adapt to exact or summary translation depending on the assignment.
Working conditions
You work at changing locations such as international congresses, specialist conferences, or parliamentary services. You often sit in soundproof booths, and less often directly among the speakers.
Where to learn
- ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften Departement Angewandte LinguistikTheaterstrasse 15c, 8401 Winterthur
- Schweizerischer Verband für Übersetzen, Terminologie und Dolmetschen ASTTIZeughausgasse 18, 3001 Bern
- Dolmetscher- und Übersetzervereinigung (DÜV)Lindenbachstr. 7, 8042 Zürich
Strengths
- Language skills
- Concentration
- General knowledge
- Teamwork
Trade-offs
- High concentration
- Flexible hours
- Changing locations
- Preparation effort
06 · Similar
