Salary by experience
View as table
| Experience | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 0-2 yrs | CHF 66'801 |
| 3-5 yrs | CHF 67'866 |
| 6-8 yrs | CHF 71'630 |
| 9-11 yrs | CHF 72'000 |
| 12-21 yrs | CHF 75'077 |
| 21+ yrs | CHF 78'000 |
Top HR
Swiss professionsConstruction
Kranführer/in
You operate heavy cranes on construction sites and in industry.
01 · Overview
What this profession is about
Kranführer/in steer lifting equipment on construction sites. You check the machinery daily. You secure load transport together with the team.
The crane operation starts early in the morning. You check the machinery. You discuss the loads with the team and lift heavy components safely. Whether on the construction site or in the factory: your precise controls and your vigilance make the difference. With the right permit, exciting tasks open up for you in logistics and high-rise construction.
FieldConstruction
Education pathSpecialisation / Professional Function
IndustryPlanning & Civil Engineering
Swissdoc 0.430.50.0
02 · Salary
What you can earn
✓ Exact salary match
Salaries reflect Swiss market data. Range covers entry to senior. Salary reference based on Crane Operator. Based on 1,105 observations, updated 7 months ago.
Salary trend
+14% over decadeView as table
| Period | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 2014-2016 | CHF 67'000 |
| 2017-2019 | CHF 70'000 |
| 2020-2022 | CHF 70'000 |
| 2023-2025 | CHF 76'255 |
Top earning cantons
View as table
| Canton | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Zug | CHF 79'500 | 14 |
| Basel-Stadt | CHF 79'000 | 20 |
| Aargau | CHF 78'000 | 57 |
| Schwyz | CHF 77'783 | 16 |
| Berne | CHF 75'400 | 60 |
| Solothurn | CHF 75'300 | 23 |
Top paying industries
View as table
| Industry | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Public administration / Associations | CHF 85'000 | 6 |
| Commercial operation / Skilled crafts | CHF 77'400 | 32 |
| Utilities | CHF 76'150 | 6 |
| Building trade / Real estate | CHF 72'634 | 760 |
| Education | CHF 72'000 | 5 |
| Machine / System construction | CHF 72'000 | 103 |
03 · Pathway
How to enter and grow
Swiss training pathway available in the full profile
- 🎓 Schweiz. anerkannter "Kranführerausweis A" (Fahrzeugkrane) bzw. "Kranführerausweis B" (Turmdrehkrane)
- ⏱ Rund 1 Jahr, berufsbegleitend
Official education path
You enter the profession through a part-time training program of around 1 year to obtain the recognized Kranführer/in permit A or B.
Typical training path
Schweiz. anerkannter "Kranführerausweis A" (Fahrzeugkrane) bzw. "Kranführerausweis B" (Turmdrehkrane)
Prerequisites
- Minimum age 18 years
- Good oral and written German skills (level B1)
- Practical experience and technical understanding
- Completion of 'Questions about health status' and 'Vision and hearing test' forms
Requirements
- High sense of responsibility
- High risk awareness
- Reliability
04 · Skills & fit
What it takes
Required skills
- Technical understanding
- Risk awareness
- Communication skills
- Physical fitness
Personality fit
- Swiss career path
- Career transition
- Professional growth
05 · Daily reality
What the work feels like
Typical day
You stand at the preparation post and check the lifting gear. You do this before the crane lifts the next load. You coordinate with the site manager via radio. The machine hovers precisely over the construction site.
- You steer tower cranes or vehicle cranes via radio or from the cabin.
- You check the machinery daily. You report technical defects immediately to your superiors.
- You choose the right lifting gear. You secure the loads before transport.
- You communicate with the entire construction team via radio or hand signals.
- You discuss the daily schedule with the site management in the morning. You plan the lifting routes.
- You put the machine into the prescribed shutdown state after work.
Working conditions
You work in construction companies, crane operators, carpentry shops, or production halls. You often perform your tasks at great heights and under time pressure.
Where to learn
- Suva HauptsitzFluhmattstr. 1, 6002 Luzern
- Verein K-BMFWeinbergstrasse 49, 8042 Zürich
Strengths
- Technical understanding
- Risk awareness
- Communication skills
- Physical fitness
Trade-offs
- Physical strain
- Shift work
- High sense of responsibility
- Weather dependency
06 · Similar
