Salary by experience
View as table
| Experience | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 0-2 yrs | CHF 50'400 |
| 3-5 yrs | CHF 50'958 |
| 6-8 yrs | CHF 54'000 |
| 9-11 yrs | CHF 65'000 |
| 12-21 yrs | CHF 61'500 |
| 21+ yrs | CHF 59'187 |
Top HR
Swiss professionsNature & Environment
Tierpfleger/in EFZ
You care for the health and well-being of animals
01 · Overview
What this profession is about
Tierpfleger/in EFZ care for, nurse, and feed animals in shelters, labs, or parks.
As Tierpfleger/in EFZ, you take responsibility for the daily well-being of various animal species. You maintain their habitats, prepare species-appropriate food, and monitor the animals' health. You assist veterinarians with treatment when needed. Your work is physically demanding, but also very rewarding. You work closely with colleagues and maintain strict hygiene standards.
FieldNature & Environment
Education pathVocational Training (Apprenticeship)
IndustryAnimal Husbandry & Care
Swissdoc 0.140.19.0
02 · Salary
What you can earn
✓ Exact salary match
Salaries reflect Swiss market data. Range covers entry to senior. Salary reference based on Gardienne d'animaux. Based on 157 observations, updated 7 months ago.
Salary trend
-4% over decadeView as table
| Period | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 2014-2016 | CHF 60'000 |
| 2017-2019 | CHF 52'560 |
| 2020-2022 | CHF 51'188 |
| 2023-2025 | CHF 57'850 |
Top earning cantons
View as table
| Canton | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Basel-Stadt | CHF 68'250 | 12 |
| Zurich | CHF 60'350 | 30 |
| Vaud | CHF 59'247 | 14 |
| Berne | CHF 54'600 | 15 |
Top paying industries
View as table
| Industry | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Chemicals / Pharmaceuticals | CHF 76'174 | 12 |
| Tourism / Travel / Recreation | CHF 63'500 | 6 |
| Education | CHF 61'464 | 5 |
| Public administration / Associations | CHF 60'060 | 13 |
| Commercial operation / Skilled crafts | CHF 55'850 | 6 |
| Health care / Social services | CHF 52'000 | 27 |
03 · Pathway
How to enter and grow
- 🎓 Tierpfleger/in EFZ
- ⏱ 3 Jahre
Official education path
The training takes place over 3 years in practice and one school day per week at the vocational school.
Typical training path
Tierpfleger/in EFZ
Curriculum
- Biologie und Tierhaltung
- Hygiene und Krankheiten
- Betriebsorganisation und Logistik
- Berufsethik und Recht
- Kommunikation und Kundenkontakt
- Zusätzliche
- Fächer
- Je nach Fachrichtung
Prerequisites
- obligatorische Schule abgeschlossen
Requirements
- Enjoyment working with animals
- Dexterity and sensitivity when handling animals and people
- Good observation skills and attention
- Sense for craft and practical work and enjoyment of physical effort (physical strength)
- Good health and no allergies
- Sense of cleanliness and willingness to perform dirty work
- No disgust towards odors, excrement, and special animals
- Reliability and sense of responsibility
- 1Biologie und Tierhaltung
- 2Hygiene und Krankheiten
- 3Betriebsorganisation und Logistik
- 4Berufsethik und Recht
- 5Kommunikation und Kundenkontakt
- 6Zusätzliche
- 7Fächer
- 8Je nach Fachrichtung
Where this can lead
A lateral entry is possible with relevant professional experience and additional qualifications.
04 · Skills & fit
What it takes
Required skills
- Animal love and patience
- Sharp observation skills
- Physical stamina
- High reliability
Personality fit
- Swiss career path
- Career transition
- Professional growth
05 · Daily reality
What the work feels like
Typical day
You start at the prep station and mix food for the different animal groups. After that, you check the enclosures and groom the animals.
- You groom the fur and trim the claws of the animals.
- You prepare species-appropriate food and monitor their diet.
- You monitor their health and spot early signs of illness.
- You clean and disinfect the enclosures to strict standards.
- You care for the animals and assemble transport cages for moves.
- You assist veterinarians with treatment.
- You look after visitors and answer questions about animal care.
Working conditions
You work in animal shelters, labs, wildlife parks, or industrial facilities. Your workplace is often outdoors or in specially equipped animal housing rooms.
Where to learn
- Schweizerischer Verband für die Berufsbildung in Tierpflege SVBTHirschmattstrasse 36, 6002 Luzern
Strengths
- Animal love and patience
- Sharp observation skills
- Physical stamina
- High reliability
Trade-offs
- Irregular working hours
- Physical strain
- Health risks
- Tight job market
06 · Similar
