Salary by experience
View as table
| Experience | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 0-2 yrs | CHF 62'400 |
| 3-5 yrs | CHF 65'039 |
| 6-8 yrs | CHF 70'000 |
| 9-11 yrs | CHF 68'880 |
| 12-21 yrs | CHF 75'780 |
| 21+ yrs | CHF 81'250 |
Top HR
Swiss professionsSales & Procurement
Antiquitäten- und Kunsthändler/in
You trade in historical art objects and advise collectors with expert knowledge.
01 · Overview
What this profession is about
You acquire, appraise and sell historical art and collector items. The job requires specialist knowledge, negotiation skills and a strong feel for the art market.
Antiquitäten- und Kunsthändler/in combine a passion for art with commercial skill. You dive into the world of history, appraise the value of rare objects and act as a bridge between collectors, auction houses and international markets. Your daily routine is shaped by research, cataloguing and direct contact with customers. To succeed here, you need solid specialist knowledge, a trained eye and a strong network.
FieldSales & Procurement
Education pathSpecialisation / Professional Function
IndustryRetail
Swissdoc 0.613.53.0
02 · Salary
What you can earn
✓ Strong salary match
Salaries reflect Swiss market data. Range covers entry to senior. Salary reference based on Purchasing Assistant. Based on 1,495 observations, updated 7 months ago.
Salary trend
+9% over decadeView as table
| Period | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 2014-2016 | CHF 66'000 |
| 2017-2019 | CHF 65'000 |
| 2020-2022 | CHF 67'400 |
| 2023-2025 | CHF 72'000 |
Top earning cantons
View as table
| Canton | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Schaffhausen | CHF 81'250 | 15 |
| Schwyz | CHF 71'500 | 21 |
| Geneva | CHF 71'400 | 53 |
| Zug | CHF 70'750 | 34 |
| Zurich | CHF 69'807 | 256 |
| Aargau | CHF 68'125 | 152 |
Top paying industries
View as table
| Industry | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Education | CHF 79'050 | 6 |
| Banking / Financial institutions | CHF 77'590 | 8 |
| Agriculture / Forestry / Wood | CHF 75'750 | 6 |
| Tourism / Travel / Recreation | CHF 73'500 | 8 |
| Transport / Logistics | CHF 72'000 | 21 |
| Public administration / Associations | CHF 71'473 | 18 |
03 · Pathway
How to enter and grow
Swiss training pathway available in the full profile
- 🎓 Antiquitäten- und Kunsthändler/in
Official education path
Entry is usually through self-study, internships or a degree in art history.
Typical training path
Antiquitäten- und Kunsthändler/in
Prerequisites
- Degree in art history or interior architecture
- Artistic profession
Requirements
- Well-developed understanding of art
- Interest in the art trade, art and art history
- Artistic flair
- Commercial skill
- Organisational and planning skills
- Customer focus and negotiation skills
- Foreign language skills
- Sales talent
Where this can lead
Career changers can often enter via a degree in art history, an artistic training or an internship at auction houses.
04 · Skills & fit
What it takes
Required skills
- Art knowledge
- Commercial sense
- Customer focus
- Network maintenance
Personality fit
- Swiss career path
- Career transition
- Professional growth
05 · Daily reality
What the work feels like
Typical day
You carefully check an old piece of furniture for its provenance and appraise its market value. In conversations with customers, you explain the story behind the object and advise on acquisitions.
- You research the origin and historical value of art objects in depth.
- You appraise rare objects with expert knowledge and create detailed catalogues.
- You advise customers on the selection of collector items.
- You negotiate purchase and sale prices with international partners.
- You maintain a wide network of auction houses and trade fairs.
- You take on commercial tasks such as accounting and marketing.
- You carry out minor restoration work or coordinate it.
Working conditions
You mainly work in antique shops, galleries or specialised art dealerships. Occasionally you represent your company at international fairs and auctions.
Where to learn
- Verband Schweizer Antiquare & Kunsthändler (VSAK) Sekretariat c/o Galerie Patrik Fröhlich ObereZäune 24, 8001 Zürich
- Verband Schweizerischer Antiquare und Restauratoren Sekretariat Jörg MagenerGerechtigkeitsgasse 2, 8001 Zürich
Strengths
- Art knowledge
- Commercial sense
- Customer focus
- Network maintenance
Trade-offs
- Market dependency
- High responsibility
- Travel effort
- Competitive pressure
06 · Similar
