What is the average salary in Sweden? See average and median pay, salaries by job and city, and how much is left after tax.
What is the average salary in Sweden?
The average monthly salary in Sweden is about 42 900 SEK before tax (SCB, 2025).
The median salary – the middle salary, where half earn more and half earn less – is a bit lower, about 38 300 SEK (SCB, 2025). The median is often a better picture of a "normal" salary, because a few very high salaries pull the average up.
Salaries in Sweden are almost always given per month and before tax.
Average salary by job
| Job Average monthly salary |
| Doctor (specialist) | 98 000 SEK |
| Software developer | 55 500 SEK |
| Engineer (civil engineer) | 52 200–59 500 SEK |
| Nurse | 44 000 SEK |
| Teacher (compulsory school) | 41 700 SEK (municipal schools) |
| Electrician | 39 600 SEK |
| Shop assistant | 34 600 SEK |
| Bus driver | 33 400 SEK |
| Cleaner | 28 600 SEK |
| Restaurant / kitchen assistant | 28 300 SEK |
Source: SCB, salary structure statistics 2025 – average monthly salary, all sectors (nurse: registered nurse; teacher: municipal sector; engineer: range across civil engineer fields).
Average salary by city and region
Stockholm has the highest salaries, but also the highest rents. Check if you are paying too much rent in Sweden.
Men and women
Women in Sweden earn on average about 10 % less than men: 40 600 SEK compared with 45 100 SEK a month (SCB, 2025). Most of the gap comes from men and women working in different jobs and sectors.
How much is left after tax?
Most of your income tax goes to your municipality and is usually around 30–35 % (average municipal tax 2026: 32.38 %, SCB). Your exact net pay depends on where you live. Check it with Skatteverket's tax calculator.
Learn more about Swedish taxes.
Benefits on top of salary
A Swedish salary often comes with more than the monthly amount:
- At least 25 days of paid holiday a year, by law.
- Holiday pay (semesterersättning) – extra money when you take holiday.
- Occupational pension (tjänstepension) paid by the employer, if there is a collective agreement.
- Wellness allowance (friskvårdsbidrag) – many employers pay for gym or sports.
- Parental leave paid by Försäkringskassan.
Is the average salary enough to live in Sweden?
For one person, yes – an average salary covers rent, food and transport, with some left over. In Stockholm, rent takes a big part. Families often need two incomes.
FAQ
What is a good salary in Sweden?
Anything above the median, about 38 300 SEK a month (SCB, 2025), is a good salary. Above 50 000 SEK is high.
What is the minimum salary in Sweden?
There is no legal minimum wage. Pay floors are set in collective agreements. Read more about the minimum wage in Sweden.
Are salaries in Sweden high?
They are high compared to most of Europe, but taxes are also high. In return you get free school, cheap healthcare and paid parental leave.
Do salaries rise every year?
Yes, most collective agreements give a yearly raise, often around 3 %. The current benchmark deal for industry gives 6.4 % over two years: 3.4 % in 2025 and 3.0 % in 2026 (Industriavtalet, 2025).
See also: three things you didn't know about salaries in Sweden.
Written by
The Career Sweden Team brings together experts in recruitment, communication, and relocation, all working toward one goal: helping international talents find their place in Sweden. We create clear, reliable guides and articles about Sweden’s job market, recruitment, and work culture — as well as practical, fact-based resources on everything that shapes life and career here.
