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Average salary in Sweden

Author: Madalina Roman

10 December 2024

According to the latest data provided by the OECD, the average salary in Sweden in 2023 was SEK 506,967 (USD 46,329.43) in a year. The monthly equivalent is SEK 42,248 (USD 3,860.85).

However, the average salary does not reflect the real earnings in a country. You need to understand the median salary and average wages based on region, education level, or occupation. This article tackles all these factors and more.

Please note:

All data in this article are based on official statistics and reports, such as those from the Official Swedish Statistics Institute (SCB) and OECD reports.
The official currency of Sweden is the Swedish krona (SEK)
All figures in the article are gross salaries.
One SEK equals 0.091 USD when writing this article. Please double-check the exchange rate at the time of reading.

Key statistics for Sweden

Average annual salary: SEK 506,967 (USD 46,329.43). Source: OECD
Average monthly salary: SEK 42,248 (USD 3,860.85). Source: OECD
Median wage: SEK 35,600 (USD 3,253.32). Source: SCB
Minimum wage: Sweden does not have a statutory minimum salary. Instead, trade unions negotiate minimum wage levels in collective agreements.
Gender pay gap: 10 % Source: World Economic Forum
Sweden has pioneered gender equality in all its forms, and in the yearly report of the World Economic Forum, out of 150 countries ranked, Sweden has always ranked in the first five positions.

Average salary in Sweden

The average salary in Sweden in a regular month is SEK 42,248 (USD 3,860.85), according to OECD, and the yearly equivalent of this average salary is SEK 506,967 (USD 46,329.43).

You need to keep in mind that the average salary in a country generally reflects the overall level of income for employees, and it reveals information about economic health and labor market conditions. However, it is a broad indicator of income, and you should interpret it in context.

What’s interesting about the average salaries in Sweden is that, according to the OECD, there was constant wage growth even during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is not the case in most countries.

For context, check how salaries in Sweden increased:

The average salary in Sweden in 2018: SEK 428 095
The average salary in Sweden in 2019: SEK 441 610
The average salary in Sweden in 2020: SEK 451 333
The average salary in Sweden in 2021: SEK 470 420
The average salary in Sweden in 2022: SEK 488 840
The average salary in Sweden in 2023: SEK 506 967

Median salary

The median salary in Sweden in 2024 is SEK 35,600 (USD 3,253.32) per month. The median salary is a more accurate indicator of income level and distribution in countries, as it is a given population’s midpoint of income distribution. That means half of the workers earn less than the median, and half earn more, making the median a key indicator of the typical salary in a country or sector. It provides a more accurate income picture for the “average” worker than the arithmetic average (mean).

Note that the median wage is not the same as the median average income, as Swedish salaries, as most salaries, are subject to income taxes by the national taxation board.

Minimum wage

Sweden does not have a statutory minimum salary. Instead, trade unions negotiate minimum wage levels in collective agreements. This model, which Sweden operates under, is known as the “Swedish model” or “Nordic model.”

The collective agreements cover about 90% of workers, with 100% coverage in the public sector and around 80% in the private sector. Primarily driven by industrial sector negotiations, the process generally sets the benchmark for other sectors, too. Minimum wages vary by sector and are typically negotiated every three years.

What’s more, the Swedish model includes special provisions for younger employees (under 20) and certain occupations, with subminimum wages based on age or experience levels.

Average salary by region

As expected, geographical disparities are noticeable in Sweden. The salary distribution is higher in the major cities and the capital city, while in rural areas, it’s lower. Stockholm, the nation’s capital city and economic hub, has the highest average monthly salary at approximately SEK 38,000. The capital city has a high concentration of certain industries, like the tech industry, with high-paying salaries and corporate headquarters, hence its position in the first place. Stockholm is followed closely by Gotland at around SEK 37,500.

Some interesting patterns of economic differences between regions can be seen by looking at the central and southern counties. Halland and Västra Götaland, for instance, offer relatively high salaries (around SEK 35,000-36,000), while northern regions such as Västerbotten and Norrbotten have slightly lower averages (around SEK 34,000).

It’s worth noting that the difference between the highest and lowest-paying regions is quite modest, with most counties falling within a range of SEK 32,000-36,000 monthly.

Source: Official Statistics of Sweden

Average salary by occupation

When analyzing salaries by occupation, as in most countries, skilled labor is among the higher salary brackets. Salaries range from approximately SEK 155,800 at the highest end to SEK 23,400 at the lowest. This is not a discrepancy between European countries and other countries, but it does illustrate a wider spectrum of earning potential across different occupations.

It is noteworthy, however, that even the lowest salaries in Sweden provide a living wage, most probably due to the strong union presence and collective bargaining system mentioned earlier. Another important note is that Sweden has a relatively compressed wage structure, meaning there are no high discrepancies between the highest and lowest salaries compared to other developed economies.

Concluding, Sweden has a rather egalitarian approach to wage-setting.

Occupations with the highest average salaries

Among the highest-paid occupations, most positions with higher salaries in 2023, according to SCB, are also lucrative internationally.

For example, finance and insurance managers (SEK 155,800), senior government officials (SEK 109,000), and specialist physicians (SEK 92,200) are consistently high-earning professions globally. What’s particularly interesting in Sweden is the high compensation for senior government officials, which reflects the fact that Sweden has a strong public sector.

Occupation	Monthly salary
Finance and insurance managers, level 1	155 800
Senior government officials	109 000
Finance dealers and brokers	100 800
Specialist physicians	92 200
Finance managers, level 1	89 100
Research and development managers, level 1	89 000
Directors and chief executives (including Chief financial officers)	87 800
Financial and insurance managers, level 2	86 800
Information and communications technology service managers, level 1	81 000
Real estate and head of administration managers, level 1	78 900
Clinical and operations managers in health care, level 1	78 900
Information, communication, and public relations managers, level 1	77 200
Production managers in construction and mining, level 1	77 100
Air traffic controllers	77 000
Architectural and engineering managers, level 1	75 000
Sales and marketing managers, level 1	74 800
Professors	73 900
Administration and planning managers	73 700
Human resource managers, level 1	72 500
Research and development managers, level 2	72 400

Source: Official Statistics of Sweden

Occupations with the lowest average salaries

On the other spectrum, jobs like maids, nannies, and restaurant workers have a lower net salary in Sweden. These service sectors are typically part of lower wage brackets; therefore, Sweden is not peculiar in this case.

Occupation	Monthly salary
Maid, nanny and related workers	23 400
Survey and market research interviewers	25 700
Other service workers not elsewhere classified	25 800
Berry pickers and planters	26 400
Machine operators, bleaching, dyeing and cleaning	26 500
Restaurang and kitchen helpers	26 600
Child care workers	26 600
Cleaners and helpers in offices, hotels and other establishments	26 700
Mixed crop and animal breeders	26 700
Café and confectionery assistants	26 800
Taxi, car, and van drivers	27 500
Teachers’ aides	27 500
Postmen and postal facility workers	27 500
Gardeners, cultivation	27 600
Animal breeders and related workers not elsewhere classified	27 800
Home-based personal care and related workers	27 900
Livestock and dairy producers	28 400
Armed forces occupations, other ranks	28 400
Travel guides	28 500
Library and filing clerks	28 900

Source: Official Statistics of Sweden

Average salary by industry

When analyzing salaries in Sweden by the industry someone is working in, the executive and legislative administration leads the ranks, with the highest average monthly salary at SEK 44,800. Another good salary that follows is hospital activities at SEK 44,700 and supporting service activities for the government at SEK 42,500. Once again, the earnings in the public sector and healthcare roles need to be highlighted.

At the other end of the spectrum, social work industries are at an average of around SEK 30,700-32,300, while arts, entertainment, and recreation workers earn approximately 33,300 SEK monthly.

Interestingly, the gender wage gap varies significantly by industry. While some sectors, like municipal adult education, have near parity, others, like hospital activities, come with high differences, with men earning substantially more (SEK 53,800 compared to women’s SEK 42,100).

	Average monthly salary
Branch of industry	Total	Women	Men
Total	34 800	34 700	35 200
Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities	37 600	38 800	37 200
Construction	36 300	36 500	36 200
Accommodation and food service activities	32 300	32 200	32 400
Real estate activities	39 200	38 600	39 700
Administrative and support service activities	32 600	31 400	33 400
Public administration and defence; compulsory social security	41 400	40 900	42 400
Administration of the State and the economic and social policy of the community	41 500	41 000	43 100
Executive and legislative administration of central and local government	44 800	43 500	47 700
Supporting service activities for the government as a whole	42 500	41 600	44 300
Administration of primary and secondary education	40 800	40 300	42 900
Administration of social welfare	40 000	40 100	40 000
Administration of infrastructure programmes	43 000	42 300	43 800
Provision of services to the community as a whole	39 000	39 300	38 900
Education	35 400	35 300	35 800
Pre-primary education	31 300	31 400	30 100
Primary education	36 200	36 600	34 900
Secondary education	39 800	39 700	39 900
General secondary education	40 100	40 000	40 200
Municipal adult education	39 600	39 800	39 000
Technical and vocational secondary education	39 400	39 000	39 800
Other education	35 900	36 100	35 700
Human health and social work activities	32 100	32 300	31 100
Hospital activities	44 700	42 100	53 800
Residential care activities for mental retardation, mental health and substance abuse	32 700	32 900	32 200
Residential care activities for the elderly and disabled	32 000	32 300	30 500
Social work activities without accommodation for the elderly and disabled	30 900	31 100	30 100
Social work activities without accommodation for the elderly	30 700	31 000	29 900
Social work activities without accommodation for disabled persons	32 300	32 500	31 600
Other social work activities without accommodation	38 100	38 400	37 200
Arts, entertainment and recreation	33 300	33 600	32 800

Source: Official Statistics of Sweden

Average salary by education

As in most countries, there is a clear link between higher education and earnings in Sweden. Postgraduate education, besides being highly valued, also comes with the highest monthly salaries for most Swedes; according to the Official Statistics of Sweden, workers with Postgraduate degrees, including Master’s degrees, earn around SEK 70,000 for men and SEK 65,000 for women.

When descending the steps of the educational ladder, the average wages also steadily decrease.

Also, a traditional Swedish university degree (post-secondary education of 3+ years) comes with notably higher earnings than shorter programs. Unfortunately, while a gender wage gap is noticeable across all education levels, it becomes more visible at higher educational levels.

Average monthly salary by level of education 2023

Source: Official Statistics of Sweden

Gender wage gap

Sweden has pioneered gender equality in all its forms, but it still faces challenges in achieving complete wage parity. In the yearly report of the World Economic Forum, out of 150 countries ranked based on the gender gap, Sweden has always ranked in the first five positions, which sets it among the pioneers.

In 2023, Sweden’s gender pay gap was approximately 10%, meaning that a woman earned 90% of a man’s salary. Typically, this disparity is due to many structural and social factors. While some differences originate in profession, sector, position, work experience, and age, others are more directly linked to gender.

Like in most countries, a contributing factor is that women, after having children, are more likely to work part-time than men. This tendency affects their immediate earning potential and has longer-term implications for career advancement, wage development, and pension funds. Women benefit from paid parental leave, but their salaries are still affected in the longer term.

One initiative taken by the Swedish government is the Discrimination Act of 2009, which mandates employers to actively promote equality and work towards evening out pay gaps.

An interesting fact is that, according to Statistics Sweden’s bi-annual report on gender equality, 53% of Sweden’s state-owned companies had a woman as CEO in 2023. In the same companies, 45% of the chairpersons were women.

Interesting labor market facts about Sweden

Strong labor participation rates: Sweden has one of the highest employment rates in Europe, with a participation rate of over 80% among the working-age population. Source linked.
Generous parental leave: Sweden offers 480 days of parental leave per child, shared between parents, with 90 days reserved exclusively for each parent. This also comes with health insurance and is, in essence, a strong social safety net. Such agreements and policies promote gender equality in both the workplace and caregiving. Source linked.
High union membership: Approximately 70% of Swedish workers belong to trade unions, which adds up to significant leverage for collective bargaining and securing competitive wages and benefits.
Flexible working environment: Many Swedish companies allow flexible working hours and encourage remote work, supported by the country’s strong digital infrastructure and progressive labor laws. Source linked.
Focus on skills and education: About 1/3 of Sweden’s workforce has higher education, and the country invests heavily in vocational training and lifelong learning programs to meet the needs of its advanced industries. Source linked.
Worker’s compensation insurance: Employees are covered by mandatory worker’s compensation insurance, ensuring they receive financial support in case of workplace injuries or occupational diseases, as well as unemployment insurance. Source linked.
Low unemployment rates: Sweden’s unemployment rate remains relatively low compared to the EU average, attributed to strong labor market policies and economic resilience. Source linked.
GDP and economic strength: Sweden’s GDP per capita is among the highest in the EU, at USD 60,000 (2023). The country is known for its highly competitive economy, with major automotive, pharmaceutical, and IT industries. Source linked.

Comparison with other countries

When comparing Sweden with other European countries like Germany, Poland, Romania, the UK, or Spain, Sweden clearly sits among the top earners.

It is, however, surpassed by Germany with annual average salaries of €50,250 and the UK with €49,300 per year. Nonetheless, Sweden has significantly higher salaries than Eastern European counterparts like Romania, with €20,000, Poland, with €24,000, and Southern Europe’s Spain, with €26,948.

What’s interesting is that, when analyzing these countries, there are different approaches to minimum wage:

Sweden has a unique collective bargaining system without statutory minimums;
Western European have high minimums (UK: £11.44/hour, Germany: €12.41/hour);
There are lower regulated minimums in Eastern Europe (Romania: €826 monthly).

What’s also interesting is that while Sweden doesn’t have statutory minimum wages, its median wage (SEK 35,600) is competitive among other high-income European nations.

Read more:

Sources:

https://data-explorer.oecd.org/vis?df[ds]=DisseminateFinalDMZ&df[id]=DSD_EARNINGS%40AV_AN_WAGE&df[ag]=OECD.ELS.SAE&dq=……&pd=2000%2C&to[TIME_PERIOD]=false&vw=tb

https://www.scb.se

https://www.scb.se/en/finding-statistics/statistics-by-subject-area/labour-market/wages-salaries-and-labour-costs/salary-structures-whole-economy/pong/tables-and-graphs/average-monthly-salary-by-level-of-education

https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-gender-gap-report-2024/in-full/benchmarking-gender-gaps-2024-2e5f5cd886/#in-focus-country-performances-top-10-and-most-populous