How much does an apprentice earn in the first year in Switzerland?

The salary varies according to the canton, the professional sector and the chosen address. First-year apprentices typically earn 30-60% of the salary of a qualified professional in the same industry. In the Canton of Lucerne, as in the other cantons, this remuneration is subject to mandatory contributions: AVS/AI/IPG at 5.3%, AD/AC at 1.1%, LAINF/LAA from 0.7% to 1.5%. Many cantons offer partial exemptions from contributions in the first year. It is essential to check the specific contract with the company to know the exact amount.

What is the difference between an apprenticeship and a traditional vocational school?

Apprenticeship (dual training) combines practical experience in the company (3-4 days per week) with theoretical education in vocational school (1-2 days). Traditional vocational school provides teaching mainly in the classroom with limited company internships. Apprenticeship is the most common path in Switzerland and offers a more direct link to the labour market. Both paths culminate in a federal vocational training certificate (AFP) and, optionally, in professional maturity.

What happens if I stop the apprenticeship during the first year?

During the trial period (generally 1-3 months), you can withdraw from the contract with a short written notice. After the probationary period, the cancellation rules are governed by the contract and federal law: 1 month in the first year, 2 months from the 2nd to the 9th year, and 3 months from the 10th year onwards. Stopping the apprenticeship prematurely means losing the professional certificate related to that internship; however, you can retry an apprenticeship at another company or in a different industry.

How do I get into university after an apprenticeship?

With the apprenticeship certificate (AFP) you cannot directly access a traditional cantonal university. However, if you achieve professional maturity during or after your apprenticeship, you have direct access to university vocational schools (SUPs) without an entrance exam. To access a cantonal university, you would need to complete an additional year of preparation and achieve high school maturity, or attend an official catwalk course.

Does the Canton of Lucerne have different rules for apprenticeships than the other cantons?

No. Apprenticeships in Switzerland are mainly regulated by federal regulations, in particular the Code of Obligations (CO) and the Federal Act on Vocational Training. The Canton of Lucerne applies these national standards and ensures regulatory consistency. However, the cantons manage independently: the registration of training companies in the cantonal register, the management and supply of vocational schools, and the provision of some subsidies for apprentices in economic difficulty. For specific information on the situation in the canton of Lucerne, please contact the cantonal vocational training office.

Apprenticeship and vocational training: Lucerne guide

By Redazione Frontaliere Ticino (AI-generated text) · Published on 3 September 2026 · Updated on 19 October 2026

Vocational training classroom in a Swiss school with apprentices working on technical equipment

How to find an internship in the Canton of Lucerne, sign an apprenticeship contract, understand the salary and achieve professional maturity.

Context

In a nutshell

Vocational training in Switzerland combines business teaching, vocational school and general training
Apprentice is subject to AVS/AI/IPG (5.3% employee), AD/AC (1.1%) and LAINF/LAA (0.7-1.5%) contributions
The maximum time is 45 hours per week (industry, offices, trade) or 50 hours in other sectors
Professional maturity is a federal certificate that allows access to universities of applied sciences

Key facts

What: Vocational training for apprentices in Switzerland through a dual system
Who: SECO (State Secretariat for the Economy), cantons, training companies
Where: Canton of Lucerne and other Swiss cantons
When: Starts after compulsory school, generally aged 15-16
Duration: 2-4 years according to professional address
Minimum holiday: 4 weeks per year (5 weeks if the apprentice is a minor)

Vocational training in Switzerland is one of the pillars of the national education system. At the federal level, the SECO coordinates vocational training standards, while individual cantons manage territorial enforcement. In the Canton of Lucerne, as in all Swiss cantons, apprenticeships combine three fundamental elements: practical teaching in the company (3-4 days a week), attendance at vocational school (1-2 days a week), and integrated general training (ethics, citizenship, foreign languages).

Choosing to undertake an apprenticeship is a decision

Operational details

In the Canton of Lucerne, as in the rest of Switzerland, finding an apprenticeship position requires personal initiative. Companies registered in the canton's list of trainers offer positions, often advertised on their websites or through sectorial trade associations (agricultural, construction, commercial, industrial, etc.). The secondary school provides information and contacts to facilitate the search for an apprenticeship.

The apprenticeship contract

Once a company willing to offer an apprenticeship is found, the apprentice and the employer sign a binding contract. The contract must specify: the total duration of the apprenticeship (2-4 years depending on the field), the monthly wage, the weekly working hours, the holiday arrangements, and the initial probationary period.

Swiss law provides for an initial probationary period (generally 1-3 months) during which both parties can terminate the contract with short notice. After the probationary period, the notice periods become more stringent: 1 month in the first year, 2 months from the second to the ninth year, and 3 months from the tenth year onwards. The apprenticeship contract is regulated by federal civil law (Code of Obligations, CO), not by cantonal laws, thus ensuring national legal consistency.

Rights and protection of the apprentice

During the apprenticeship, the young person has the right to a fair wage, although lower than that of a qualified worker in the same sector. The wage varies according to the canton, the professional sector, and the year of training: apprentices in the first year typically earn 30-60% of what an experienced professional earns; the amount increases in subsequent years.

The apprentice also benefits from fundamental rights: health and safety at work protection according to SUVA (Swiss National Accident Insurance Fund) regulations; guaranteed access to vocational school and mandatory courses; protection from discrimination. The employer, on the other hand, is obliged to provide complete and certified training, the necessary tools and raw materials, and to allow attendance at vocational school during working hours.

If you wish to check the cost of living in the Canton of Lucerne and plan your budget during your apprenticeship, consult our cost-of-living analyzer.

Useful planning tools

To estimate your pension strategy, use the pension planner and the pillar 3 simulator.

Key points

The apprentice's remuneration and mandatory contributions

The apprentice's remuneration is subject to the same mandatory social security contributions as other dependent employees. Although the gross remuneration is lower than that of a qualified professional, the contributions remain unchanged in percentage.

For an apprentice, the main contributions on remuneration are:

AVS/AI/IPG: 5.3% on the employee's behalf (the employer pays an additional 5.3%)
Unemployment insurance (AD/AC): 1.1% up to an annual maximum
Accident insurance (LAINF/LAA): 0.7% – 1.5% depending on the industry

In the Canton of Lucerne, as in many cantons, some apprentices may be enrolled in a company pension fund (LPP/BVG) if the company provides it; this enrollment depends on the industry and the company's policy. In the first year of apprenticeship, several cantons offer partial or total exemptions from some contributions. It is important to verify with the employer and the cantonal vocational training office the specific procedures applicable to your situation.

The professional maturity: advanced federal certificate

The professional maturity is a federal certificate that the apprentice can obtain in parallel to the apprenticeship (parallel training) or after the end of the apprenticeship (subsequent training). This certificate attests to both the specific technical skills of the trade and a solid general education (foreign languages, economics, sciences), and represents a significant added value in the labor market.

An important feature of professional maturity is that it provides direct access to university studies in applied sciences (professional universities, SUP) without an admission exam. Professional maturity requires reaching a minimum average in certain subjects. Generally, the courses are held during the last two years of the apprenticeship, 1-2 days a week in addition to the regular vocational school. In the Canton of Lucerne, as in other Swiss cantons, the canton itself and the vocational schools organize and manage the courses for professional maturity.

Practical procedure: the steps to start an apprenticeship

1. Identify the field of interest - Choose a professional field that reflects your interests, aptitudes and career aspirations. 2. Research and applications - Consult the websites of regional employers' associations, the offers published by secondary schools, and the portals of local companies. 3. Selection interviews - Prepare a curriculum vitae and a cover letter; participate in the evaluation interviews. 4. Contract negotiation - Once you receive an apprenticeship offer, carefully examine the apprenticeship contract. Verify remuneration, weekly hours, total duration, holidays, probation period and other important details. 5. School enrollment - The employer will enroll you in the cantonal vocational school and, if desired, in the courses for professional maturity. 6. Check for benefits - In the Canton of Lucerne and other cantons, there may be cantonal subsidies for low-income apprentices, scholarships, or benefits for particular family situations. Inquire at the cantonal vocational training office.

Before signing the contract, it is essential to carefully read all the conditions. If you have doubts or questions, you can consult the Swiss workers' rights protection associations present in the canton, or directly contact the competent cantonal office.

Tools to calculate your net remuneration

To understand the exact impact of social security contributions on your apprentice's remuneration, you can use our payslip calculator. The tool allows you to enter the gross remuneration and obtain a detailed estimate of the net remuneration, taking into account AVS, AD/AC, LAINF and other elements specific to your cantonal situation.

If you wish to deepen the functioning of the pension contributions and how they affect your future pension (whether it is AVS, LPP or the third pillar), consult our complete guide on pensions. Understanding how your professional training fits into the Swiss pension system is essential for planning your financial future.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an apprentice earn in the first year in Switzerland?: The salary varies according to the canton, the professional sector and the chosen address. First-year apprentices typically earn 30-60% of the salary of a qualified professional in the same industry. In the Canton of Lucerne, as in the other cantons, this remuneration is subject to mandatory contributions: AVS/AI/IPG at 5.3%, AD/AC at 1.1%, LAINF/LAA from 0.7% to 1.5%. Many cantons offer partial exemptions from contributions in the first year. It is essential to check the specific contract with the company to know the exact amount.
What is the difference between an apprenticeship and a traditional vocational school?: Apprenticeship (dual training) combines practical experience in the company (3-4 days per week) with theoretical education in vocational school (1-2 days). Traditional vocational school provides teaching mainly in the classroom with limited company internships. Apprenticeship is the most common path in Switzerland and offers a more direct link to the labour market. Both paths culminate in a federal vocational training certificate (AFP) and, optionally, in professional maturity.
What happens if I stop the apprenticeship during the first year?: During the trial period (generally 1-3 months), you can withdraw from the contract with a short written notice. After the probationary period, the cancellation rules are governed by the contract and federal law: 1 month in the first year, 2 months from the 2nd to the 9th year, and 3 months from the 10th year onwards. Stopping the apprenticeship prematurely means losing the professional certificate related to that internship; however, you can retry an apprenticeship at another company or in a different industry.
How do I get into university after an apprenticeship?: With the apprenticeship certificate (AFP) you cannot directly access a traditional cantonal university. However, if you achieve professional maturity during or after your apprenticeship, you have direct access to university vocational schools (SUPs) without an entrance exam. To access a cantonal university, you would need to complete an additional year of preparation and achieve high school maturity, or attend an official catwalk course.
Does the Canton of Lucerne have different rules for apprenticeships than the other cantons?: No. Apprenticeships in Switzerland are mainly regulated by federal regulations, in particular the Code of Obligations (CO) and the Federal Act on Vocational Training. The Canton of Lucerne applies these national standards and ensures regulatory consistency. However, the cantons manage independently: the registration of training companies in the cantonal register, the management and supply of vocational schools, and the provision of some subsidies for apprentices in economic difficulty. For specific information on the situation in the canton of Lucerne, please contact the cantonal vocational training office.