What is the average duration of an apprenticeship in the Canton of Zurich?

The standard duration is 3-4 years, depending on the professional address and industry. Some routes (commerce, hairdressing) last 3 years; others (construction, mechanics, IT) can last up to 4 years. The exact duration is specified in the apprenticeship contract and varies according to federal requirements for each recognized profession.

What salary does an apprentice receive during the internship?

The salary varies by professional sector and by year of apprenticeship. There is no uniform federal minimum wage for apprentices, but each sector has negotiated tables between professional associations and trade unions. In the Canton of Zurich, the first year typically corresponds to a lower salary than the next; the exact amount is fixed in the contract and grows progressively each year according to the sectoral tables.

How to find an internship offer in the Canton of Zurich?

Access federal portals (YOUSTY, LENA, professional association websites), directly contact training companies in your sector, visit the cantonal career guidance office, participate in fairs and school orientation days. The research should begin 12-18 months before the end of middle school. The spontaneous search for applications increases the chances of success.

What rights does an apprentice have in Switzerland during the apprenticeship?

Apprentices are entitled to progressive pay, 5 weeks of annual leave if under-20 (4 if over-20), AVS/AI contributions paid by the company, protection from night and hazardous work (under-18), free access to canton-funded vocational school, and protection from arbitrary dismissal after the probationary period. These rights are guaranteed by the Code of Obligations art. 344 ff. and by the federal law on vocational training.

What is professional maturity and how do you access it during your apprenticeship?

Professional maturity (MP) is a federal certification that can be achieved in parallel with an apprenticeship without extending its duration. In the Canton of Zurich, vocational schools offer integrated MP modules with 1-2 additional lessons per week. Access depends on school performance in math and languages. MP allows direct access to university vocational schools (SUPs) without requiring additional training.

Apprenticeship in the Canton of Zurich: a practical guide (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 2 September 2026

Swiss vocational training classroom with apprentices working at professional workstations

How to find an internship, understand the apprenticeship contract, salaries and professional maturity in the Canton of Zurich.

Context

In a nutshell

Swiss apprenticeship: integrated dual system (school + company), typical duration 3-4 years
Canton Zurich: one of the main training hubs with a consistent offer of internships
Mandatory written contract with specific rights: increasing salary per year, 5 weeks under-20 holidays
Professional maturity: certification parallel to the apprenticeship that accesses the SUPs

Key facts

What: Dual vocational training system (company + vocational school) with binding contract
Where: Canton Zurich (applicable in all cantons according to uniform federal law)
When: Duration 3-4 years, starting at 15-16 years post-secondary
Who: Post-compulsory young people; registered training companies; cantonal vocational schools
Rights: Increasing salary per year, legal protection CO art. 344 ff., AVS/AI contributions, 5 weeks under-20 holidays

Apprenticeship in Switzerland is the most common training path for young people after middle school. In the Canton of Zurich, the system works according to the federal dual model: each apprentice alternates days at the training company with days of vocational school, acquiring both practical and theoretical skills. The standard duration is 3-4 years, depending on the business address.

Throughout the course, a written apprenticeship contract governs rights and duties. The company undertakes to train according to federal requirements and sectoral standards;

Operational details

Finding an internship in the Canton of Zurich

The offer of traineeships in the Canton of Zurich is published on federal and cantonal platforms managed by professional associations. The main resources are the national brokerage portals (YOUSTY, LENA and similar), where each company registered as a trainer publishes annually the available positions by sector.

The Cantonal Vocational Guidance Office of the Canton of Zurich collects information on places, carries out individual counselling for young people and provides data on training companies active in the territory. In addition, trade unions and professional associations for specific sectors (construction, electronics, commerce, hospitality, agriculture) publish dedicated offers.

The research should begin 12-18 months before the end of middle school. Young people spontaneously send applications to training companies, attaching school report card, motivational letter, personal curriculum. Selection interviews and short aptitude tests at the company often follow.

The apprenticeship contract: rights and obligations

The binding contract stipulated between apprentice (and parents if minor), training company and competent cantonal office contains elements standardized by federal law:

Total duration of the apprenticeship (example: 3 years, 4 years)
Professional sector and Federal Certificate of Competence number (AFC — Certificate of Vocational Training)
Monthly salary

Useful planning tools

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

Key points

The professional maturity: parallel certification to the apprenticeship

An even more attractive path is the professional maturity (PM), a federal certification that can be obtained parallel to the apprenticeship without extending the overall duration of the training. The PM allows direct access to professional universities (PU — Fachhochschulen) without requiring an additional year of complementary training.

In the Canton of Zurich, vocational schools offer professional maturity modules integrated into the apprenticeship curriculum, typically with 1-2 additional lessons per week. Access to the PM depends on school performance during the apprenticeship: educational institutions evaluate aptitudes in mathematics, languages, and technical subjects. The consequence of the PM is a federal certificate that certifies both professional skills and academic preparation.

Step-by-step procedure to start

Phase 1 — Orientation and research (months 10-12 of middle school)

Consult the cantonal orientation office of the Canton of Zurich, participate in professional fairs and school orientation days, discuss with parents and teachers, identify 5-10 realistic sectors of interest based on personal aptitudes and local market.

Phase 2 — Active application (months 18-6 before the end of middle school)

Regularly visit federal portals of internship offers (YOUSTY, LENA, professional association websites), write a concise CV and personalized motivational letter, contact training companies directly in the chosen sector, participate in informative meetings and company open days, prepare for aptitude tests and selection interviews.

Phase 3 — Negotiation and contract signing (months 3 before the start of the apprenticeship)

…

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average duration of an apprenticeship in the Canton of Zurich?: The standard duration is 3-4 years, depending on the professional address and industry. Some routes (commerce, hairdressing) last 3 years; others (construction, mechanics, IT) can last up to 4 years. The exact duration is specified in the apprenticeship contract and varies according to federal requirements for each recognized profession.
What salary does an apprentice receive during the internship?: The salary varies by professional sector and by year of apprenticeship. There is no uniform federal minimum wage for apprentices, but each sector has negotiated tables between professional associations and trade unions. In the Canton of Zurich, the first year typically corresponds to a lower salary than the next; the exact amount is fixed in the contract and grows progressively each year according to the sectoral tables.
How to find an internship offer in the Canton of Zurich?: Access federal portals (YOUSTY, LENA, professional association websites), directly contact training companies in your sector, visit the cantonal career guidance office, participate in fairs and school orientation days. The research should begin 12-18 months before the end of middle school. The spontaneous search for applications increases the chances of success.
What rights does an apprentice have in Switzerland during the apprenticeship?: Apprentices are entitled to progressive pay, 5 weeks of annual leave if under-20 (4 if over-20), AVS/AI contributions paid by the company, protection from night and hazardous work (under-18), free access to canton-funded vocational school, and protection from arbitrary dismissal after the probationary period. These rights are guaranteed by the Code of Obligations art. 344 ff. and by the federal law on vocational training.
What is professional maturity and how do you access it during your apprenticeship?: Professional maturity (MP) is a federal certification that can be achieved in parallel with an apprenticeship without extending its duration. In the Canton of Zurich, vocational schools offer integrated MP modules with 1-2 additional lessons per week. Access depends on school performance in math and languages. MP allows direct access to university vocational schools (SUPs) without requiring additional training.