Nordic salary data, verified
Nordic salaries, in numbers that reach your bank account
The Nordic job market quotes monthly salaries in four currencies and four tax systems, and the headline gross never tells you what survives. NordicPay collects the verified benchmarks - per Statistics Sweden (SCB), Statistics Norway (SSB), Statistics Denmark (DST) and Statistics Finland - for the five professions internationals actually move for, and works each one down to a realistic net.
By the NordicPay editorial team · Updated $1
Key numbers at a glance
| Country | Average monthly gross wage | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Sweden | SEK ≈42,900 | per SCB, 2025 |
| Norway | NOK 62,070 (2024: 59,370) | per SSB |
| Denmark | DKK ≈51,675 | per DST, 2024 |
| Finland | EUR 3,800 median, private sector | per Statistics Finland, 2023 |
Nurse Salary in Sweden
Average SEK 44,000 per SCB 2025; regional median SEK 37,500 per SKR, top decile above 46,200.
Software Engineer Salary in Sweden
Private-sector median SEK 53,000-55,100 with means to 57,500 per SCB 2025.
Teacher Salary in Sweden
Compulsory-school average SEK 41,600 per SCB 2025; municipal median 42,800 per SKR.
Electrician Salary in Sweden
Average roughly SEK 34,800-37,700 per SCB-based 2025 statistics; apprentices 23,000-28,000.
Chef Salary in Sweden
Average roughly SEK 31,400-32,800 per SCB-based 2025 statistics; top band near 40,400.
Nurse Salary in Norway
Average NOK 56,710 incl. supplements per SSB 2024; master's start above 61,000.
Software Engineer Salary in Norway
Around NOK 73,000-75,000 a month per SSB-based 2024 data.
Teacher Salary in Norway
Grunnskolelarere average about NOK 58,370 per SSB occupational tables.
Electrician Salary in Norway
Average NOK 48,700-52,000 per SSB-based 2024 figures, with overtime on top.
Chef Salary in Norway
Agreement minimum from NOK 35,703 (April 2025); market pay typically 40,000-45,000.
Nurse Salary in Denmark
Base about DKK 43,400 with total earnings near 48,200 incl. pension, per DST-based 2024 data.
Software Engineer Salary in Denmark
Average about DKK 66,986 incl. pension per DST-based 2024 data.
Teacher Salary in Denmark
Folkeskole average about DKK 48,400 per DST-based figures; 2025 deal adds about 3,600.
Electrician Salary in Denmark
Average DKK 238.37 an hour per Dansk El-Forbund 2024 - about 38,100 a month base.
Chef Salary in Denmark
Average about DKK 35,150 per DST LONS20 tables, 2024.
Nurse Salary in Finland
Average total pay about EUR 3,155 per TEUNA from Statistics Finland data.
Software Engineer Salary in Finland
Average about EUR 5,211 per Statistics Finland-based data.
Teacher Salary in Finland
Class teachers about EUR 3,700-4,100 per Statistics Finland-based data.
Electrician Salary in Finland
Median about EUR 3,650 per Statistics Finland data, 2023.
Chef Salary in Finland
Median about EUR 2,700; MaRa minimum rises to about EUR 2,179 in June 2026.
Sweden: salary levels and how pay works
Sweden's wage statistics, published by SCB, report average monthly salaries per occupation: the all-employee average reached about 42,900 kronor a month in 2025, with a median of 37,100 kronor in 2024. Collective agreements set the floors, individual negotiation sets the rest, and municipal income tax averaging 32.38 percent in 2026 plus a 20 percent state tax above roughly 55,000 kronor a month determine the net.
| Profession guide | Headline figure (gross) |
|---|---|
| Nurse | Average SEK 44,000 per SCB 2025; regional median SEK 37,500 per SKR, top decile above 46,200. |
| Software Engineer | Private-sector median SEK 53,000-55,100 with means to 57,500 per SCB 2025. |
| Teacher | Compulsory-school average SEK 41,600 per SCB 2025; municipal median 42,800 per SKR. |
| Electrician | Average roughly SEK 34,800-37,700 per SCB-based 2025 statistics; apprentices 23,000-28,000. |
| Chef | Average roughly SEK 31,400-32,800 per SCB-based 2025 statistics; top band near 40,400. |
The five Sweden guides each carry the full occupational table, the experience bands and a worked take-home example: Nurse, Software Engineer, Teacher, Electrician, Chef.
Norway: salary levels and how pay works
Norway's SSB wage statistics measure monthly wages per November: the national average was 59,370 kroner in 2024 and 62,070 kroner in 2025, with the most common wage sitting between 40,000 and 45,000 kroner. The tax stack is 22 percent ordinary income tax, 7.6 percent national insurance and 1.7-17.7 percent bracket tax in 2026, softened by the standard minstefradrag deduction.
| Profession guide | Headline figure (gross) |
|---|---|
| Nurse | Average NOK 56,710 incl. supplements per SSB 2024; master's start above 61,000. |
| Software Engineer | Around NOK 73,000-75,000 a month per SSB-based 2024 data. |
| Teacher | Grunnskolelarere average about NOK 58,370 per SSB occupational tables. |
| Electrician | Average NOK 48,700-52,000 per SSB-based 2024 figures, with overtime on top. |
| Chef | Agreement minimum from NOK 35,703 (April 2025); market pay typically 40,000-45,000. |
The five Norway guides each carry the full occupational table, the experience bands and a worked take-home example: Nurse, Software Engineer, Teacher, Electrician, Chef.
Denmark: salary levels and how pay works
Denmark's DST-based figures show average monthly earnings of about 51,675 kroner across all employees in 2024. From the top, 8 percent AM contribution, 12.01 percent bottom-bracket tax, municipal tax near 25 percent and the reformed 2026 top brackets - with a 52.07 percent marginal ceiling - decide what survives, while employer pensions commonly add 10 percent or more on top of gross.
| Profession guide | Headline figure (gross) |
|---|---|
| Nurse | Base about DKK 43,400 with total earnings near 48,200 incl. pension, per DST-based 2024 data. |
| Software Engineer | Average about DKK 66,986 incl. pension per DST-based 2024 data. |
| Teacher | Folkeskole average about DKK 48,400 per DST-based figures; 2025 deal adds about 3,600. |
| Electrician | Average DKK 238.37 an hour per Dansk El-Forbund 2024 - about 38,100 a month base. |
| Chef | Average about DKK 35,150 per DST LONS20 tables, 2024. |
The five Denmark guides each carry the full occupational table, the experience bands and a worked take-home example: Nurse, Software Engineer, Teacher, Electrician, Chef.
Finland: salary levels and how pay works
Finland's Statistics Finland reports a private-sector median of 3,800 euro a month for 2023, and an income-register median near 3,325 euro by late 2024. Progressive state tax of 12.64-37.5 percent, municipal tax averaging about 7.5 percent and the 7.30 percent TyEL pension contribution build the payslip, with the earned-income tax credit worth up to 3,430 euro softening the load in 2026.
| Profession guide | Headline figure (gross) |
|---|---|
| Nurse | Average total pay about EUR 3,155 per TEUNA from Statistics Finland data. |
| Software Engineer | Average about EUR 5,211 per Statistics Finland-based data. |
| Teacher | Class teachers about EUR 3,700-4,100 per Statistics Finland-based data. |
| Electrician | Median about EUR 3,650 per Statistics Finland data, 2023. |
| Chef | Median about EUR 2,700; MaRa minimum rises to about EUR 2,179 in June 2026. |
The five Finland guides each carry the full occupational table, the experience bands and a worked take-home example: Nurse, Software Engineer, Teacher, Electrician, Chef.
One more measurement warning before you compare offers across borders. Swedish figures are monthly salaries per occupation, typically excluding overtime; Norwegian figures are November monthly wages, with trade totals often including supplements; Danish figures mix hourly rates for trades with total earnings including pension for salaried staff; Finnish figures are regular monthly earnings for full-time workers. The profession pages above state the measurement basis for every table - compare like with like, then convert at current exchange rates.
FAQ
Which Nordic country has the highest salaries?
Nominal wages are highest in Norway (average NOK 62,070 a month in 2025 per SSB) and Denmark (about DKK 51,675 across employees in 2024 per DST), but living costs track the pay. In purchasing-power terms the four countries are much closer: Sweden's average was about SEK 42,900 in 2025 per SCB and Finland's private-sector median 3,800 euro in 2023 per Statistics Finland.
How much of a Nordic salary survives tax?
Effective rates for an average single full-time earner run roughly 22-26 percent in Sweden, 26-31 percent in Norway, 32-36 percent in Denmark and 21-27 percent in Finland - well below the headline marginal rates, because credits and standard deductions do heavy lifting in every system.
Are salaries in the Nordics quoted monthly or yearly?
Sweden and Norway quote monthly wages; Denmark mixes hourly rates and monthly earnings; Finland quotes monthly wages with hourly tables for trades. Danish and Norwegian figures often include supplements and pension - always check whether a figure is base pay or total earnings.
Do I need to speak the local language to work in the Nordics?
In tech roles, English suffices at most employers in all four countries. In nursing, teaching and the trades, documented local-language competence is effectively required for certification or classroom and site work - budget six to twelve months for recognition and language in regulated professions.
Is there a minimum wage in the Nordic countries?
No Nordic country has a statutory minimum wage. Floors are set by collective agreements that cover most of the labour market; in Norway's hotel and restaurant sector the agreement minimums apply generally, from NOK 35,703 a month for a qualified cook (April 2025).
Which professions are most in demand across the Nordics?
Nurses, teachers of mathematics and science, software engineers and electrification trades - electricians especially - appear on shortage lists in all four countries, which is why employers actively recruit internationally and recognition pathways are well worn.