Crane operator in Switzerland: 2026 salary, Suva licence, training and CACES equivalence

A crane operator working in the main construction sector is covered by the National Collective Agreement for the main construction sector (LMV/CN). For the wage classes, the LMV/CN says (appendix 5, chap. 1, art. 3 para. 2):

• licensed crane operator who operates the crane more than occasionally: class A at least;
• crane operator who operates the crane on less than 20 % of working days: class B, to be agreed in writing at the start of the year;
• in Geneva, the supplementary agreement (appendix 13, art. 1, item 3, let. c) places crane operators with completed training or an equivalent diploma in class Q.

2026 minimums (appendix 4):

In gross CHF. In Geneva, the Q column applies to the trained crane operator. In Neuchâtel and Jura, class Q follows the red zone for the hourly wage and the blue zone for the monthly wage: that is what Annex 4 says.

These are minimums. Holidays, the 13th-month salary and allowances come on top.

Fictional example. Two crane operators paid by the hour, 176.00 h in the month.

• Marco, class A, site in Lausanne: 176.00 × 32.80 = CHF 5'772.80 gross.
• Julien, class Q, site in Geneva: 176.00 × 34.00 = CHF 5'984.00 gross, plus the Geneva paid break of 2.9 %.

At the ECB rate of 23 October 2026 (1 € = CHF 0.9227), that is about 6 256 € and 6 485 € gross. The net depends on contributions and tax: see from gross to net and the salary calculator.

In staff leasing, your employer is the agency. If the company running the site is covered by the LMV/CN, the agency must apply its minimum wages and working hours to you (Employment Services Act, AVG/LSE art. 20). Coming from France, also read temporary work from France and L, B, G permits.

The rule comes from the Crane Ordinance (KranV/OGrues), a federal text based on the Accident Insurance Act (UVG/LAA). It sorts cranes into three groups (art. 2):

A "crane" lifts at least 1000 kg (or 40'000 Nm) with a motor; an excavator with a hook is not one (art. 2).

For all cranes, the operator must be physically and mentally fit, able to make themselves understood on site and trained (art. 5 para. 1). Since 1 September 2023, the person who slings the loads must also be trained (art. 6 para. 3).

The licence is issued and withdrawn by Suva, the Swiss accident insurance fund (art. 11). It is valid with no time limit, for category A, B or both. You must carry it with you at work.

1. Selection period (optional): the company can let you try the crane for up to two months, accompanied by a crane operator who has held a licence for at least three years.
2. Basic course at a centre recognised by Suva: operating the crane of your category, slinging, safety, the operator's rights and duties, inspection and maintenance. You need a certificate of fitness (health questionnaire, eyesight and hearing test) and must speak French, German or Italian, for example at A2 level.
3. Practical work period: with the trainee crane operator licence, you operate the crane on site under the supervision of an experienced crane operator, for up to 10 months.
4. Exam, theoretical (written and oral, over one day) and practical. It can be retaken twice; the trainee licence is then extended by 6 months each time.

If you already hold licence A, you can take exam B without redoing a basic course, and vice versa (art. 12 para. 2). The minimum age is 17 for the trainee licence and 18 for the crane operator licence.

Where to train? Any centre that offers the programme and exam recognised by Suva: Suva publishes the up-to-date list on its page "Training for operating mobile cranes and slewing tower cranes". The centre sends you the registration file, with the health questionnaire and the eyesight and hearing test.

How much does it cost? Prices vary a lot depending on the centre and on whether the employer contributes to the joint fund. Prices published on orientation.ch, accessed 23 October 2026:

The employer certifies your practice hours before the exam: ask them who pays for the course.

In Switzerland, you need a Swiss licence from Suva, even with a foreign certificate. You can apply to exchange it, provided Suva recognises the basic course and exam of your centre. The exchange costs CHF 80.00.

• France: Suva recognises the CACES R487 (tower crane, category 1 and/or 2 passed) and the CACES R483 (mobile crane), only if they were obtained at one of the centres it lists (for example Orakin in Strasbourg, AFTRAL in Paris, ECIR Formation in Mallemort, Certigo JB in Saint-Vit; some centres only for the R487). The R490 (truck loader crane) does not appear on the list.
• Germany: mobile cranes from five listed centres, tower cranes from centres approved by ZUMBau.
• Austria: no equivalence for now.
• Other countries: only a few mobile crane centres are recognised (Liebherr in Ehingen, Germany; EUC Lillebaelt, Denmark; Sarens and Comokra, Belgium; Mammoet, Netherlands).
• Italy: Suva recognises no Italian centre (list accessed 23 October 2026). An Italian "patentino" therefore cannot be exchanged: you must follow the Swiss training. If in doubt: kranfuehrerausweis@suva.ch.

If your centre is not on the list, you must follow the Swiss training. The exchange file includes Suva form 88181, the original licence or a certified copy, an identity document and a photo.