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
Dolmetscher/in BP
You mediate between people and professionals in different languages.
01 · Overview
What this profession is about
Dolmetscher/in BP translate orally between migrants and professionals, prepare conversations and ensure confidentiality.
As Dolmetscher/in BP, you ensure that people in different languages understand each other. You prepare conversations, gather relevant information and clarify expectations in advance. Whether in a hospital, in court or at school: your work connects cultures and enables important conversations. You often work alongside your main job and visit a wide variety of locations.
FieldCulture & Media
Education pathContinuing Education Profession
IndustryMedia, Information & Film
Swissdoc 0.811.30.0
02 · Salary
What you can earn
✓ Exact salary match
Salaries reflect Swiss market data. Range covers entry to senior. Salary reference based on Dolmetscherin. 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
- 🎓 Dolmetscher/in mit eidg. Fachausweis
- ⏱ ca. 2 Jahre, berufsbegleitend
Official education path
You complete a part-time further training course of about two years to obtain the federal certificate.
Typical training path
Dolmetscher/in mit eidg. Fachausweis
Prerequisites
- eidgenössisches Fähigkeitszeugnis (EFZ) or equivalent qualification
- Minimum 2 years of professional experience
- Minimum 500 hours of interpreting experience in the areas of Asylum & Justice, Education & Social Affairs and/or Health
- Minimum 250 hours of interpreting experience in the exam focus
- Last professional interpreting experience must not be more than four months old at the application deadline
- Language proficiency level C1 (CEFR) in the exam language
- Language proficiency level C1 (CEFR) in the interpreting language
Requirements
- Strong communication skills
- Very good language skills
- Interest in mediation work and intercultural topics
Where this can lead
Career changers are possible if you have comparable language skills and professional experience.
04 · Skills & fit
What it takes
Required skills
- Language skills
- Communication skills
- Intercultural understanding
- Ethical attitude
Personality fit
- Swiss career path
- Career transition
- Professional growth
05 · Daily reality
What the work feels like
Typical day
You sit down before an appointment and quickly check the technical terms for the upcoming conversation. Then you take your seat and interpret precisely between the speakers until all questions are answered.
- You prepare conversations and gather relevant technical information for the assignment.
- You clarify expectations and conditions for communication in advance.
- You interpret orally between migrants and professionals from medicine or justice.
- You ensure understanding during short telephone calls in emergencies.
- You express yourself accurately and with nuance in both languages.
- You notice communication difficulties and react appropriately to disruptions.
- You follow ethical principles such as confidentiality and impartiality.
- You summarize information at events for people who speak other languages.
Working conditions
You work in various locations such as doctor's offices, schools, courts or online. You are often employed by regional interpretation services or advisory centers.
Where to learn
- INTERPRET Schweiz. Interessengemeinschaft für interkulturelles Dolmetschen und VermittelnMonbijoustrasse 61, 3007 Bern
- Schweizerischer Verband für Übersetzen, Terminologie und Dolmetschen ASTTIZeughausgasse 18, 3001 Bern
Strengths
- Language skills
- Communication skills
- Intercultural understanding
- Ethical attitude
Trade-offs
- Mental strain
- Irregular hours
- Side job
- Regional demand
06 · Similar
