Salary by experience
View as table
| Experience | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 0-2 yrs | CHF 60'110 |
| 3-5 yrs | CHF 57'400 |
| 6-8 yrs | CHF 67'950 |
| 12-21 yrs | CHF 72'950 |
| 21+ yrs | CHF 70'825 |
Top HR
Swiss professionsMetal, Machinery & Watchmaking
Feinwerkoptiker/in EFZ
Manufacturing precise lenses and mirrors for high technology
01 · Overview
What this profession is about
You produce highly precise optical components from glass and metal. You also check their quality in the lab.
As a Feinwerkoptiker/in EFZ, you combine craftsmanship with modern technology. You work in workshops and labs. You grind, polish, and coat glass surfaces for lenses and mirrors. You manufacture components for medical technology, astronomy, or the photography industry. Your precise work makes high-resolution microscopes and accurate measuring devices possible. With technical understanding and steady hands, you design optical systems. These systems are essential in many industries.
FieldMetal, Machinery & Watchmaking
Education pathVocational Training (Apprenticeship)
IndustryWatchmaking & Microtechnology
Swissdoc 0.580.3.0
02 · Salary
What you can earn
✓ Exact salary match
Salaries reflect Swiss market data. Range covers entry to senior. Salary reference based on Opticienne en instruments de précision. Based on 36 observations, updated 7 months ago.
Salary trend
+6% over decadeView as table
| Period | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 2014-2016 | CHF 66'600 |
| 2017-2019 | CHF 69'000 |
| 2020-2022 | CHF 57'400 |
| 2023-2025 | CHF 70'825 |
Top earning cantons
View as table
| Canton | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| St. Gallen | CHF 65'254 | 17 |
Top paying industries
View as table
| Industry | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Machine / System construction | CHF 78'208 | 6 |
| Industry various | CHF 65'927 | 14 |
03 · Pathway
How to enter and grow
- 🎓 Feinwerkoptiker/in EFZ
- ⏱ 4 Jahre
Official education path
The training lasts 4 years. It is dual. It takes place in an optical industry company and at a vocational school.
Typical training path
Feinwerkoptiker/in EFZ
Curriculum
- Durchführen von Arbeitsplanung und Logistik
- Herstellen und Unterhalten von Werkzeugen, Betriebs- und Prüfmitteln
- Formen von Werkstücken
- Polieren von Werkstücken
- Reinigen, Veredeln und Schützen von Werkstücken
- Befestigen, Verbinden und Montieren von Werkstücken
- Prüfen von Werkstücken
Prerequisites
- obligatorische Schule abgeschlossen
Requirements
- manual dexterity
- steady hands and fine motor skills
- spatial awareness
- interest in technology
- good eyesight and no color vision defects
- precise working style
- 1Durchführen von Arbeitsplanung und Logistik
- 2Herstellen und Unterhalten von Werkzeugen, Betriebs- und Prüfmitteln
- 3Formen von Werkstücken
- 4Polieren von Werkstücken
- 5Reinigen, Veredeln und Schützen von Werkstücken
- 6Befestigen, Verbinden und Montieren von Werkstücken
- 7Prüfen von Werkstücken
Where this can lead
Career changes are possible through related apprenticeships or technical prior knowledge. Further training leads to advanced professional exams or degree programs at universities of applied sciences.
04 · Skills & fit
What it takes
Required skills
- Manual dexterity
- Steady hands
- Technical understanding
- Good eyesight
Personality fit
- Swiss career path
- Career transition
- Professional growth
05 · Daily reality
What the work feels like
Typical day
You stand at the grinding station. You carefully polish a new lens while monitoring the machine settings.
- You grind and polish glass surfaces for lenses and mirrors.
- You coat surfaces to control light reflection precisely.
- You manufacture mechanical components from various metals.
- You assemble optical systems by fine-gluing lenses and prisms.
- You check component quality using special measurement methods.
- You set up machines for production and maintain them.
Working conditions
You work in production halls, offices, or testing labs of technical instrument manufacturing companies.
Where to learn
- Berufsverband Feinwerkoptiker / Glasbearbeiter c/o Spectros AGLohweg 25, 4107 Ettingen
- SwissOptic AG Lehrlingsausbildung Heinrich-Wild-Strasse9435 Heerbrugg
Strengths
- Manual dexterity
- Steady hands
- Technical understanding
- Good eyesight
Trade-offs
- High precision requirements
- Physical strain
- Strict quality control
- Rotating duties
06 · Similar
