Per SCB wage statistics, 2025
Salaries in Sweden (2026)
Sweden quotes pay as a monthly salary per occupation, set by collective agreements at the floor and individual negotiation above it. The all-employee average reached about 42,900 kronor a month in 2025 per Statistics Sweden (SCB), against a median of 37,100 kronor in 2024 - and the headline gross is then shaped by municipal tax averaging 32.38 percent in 2026. Here are the verified benchmarks for the five professions internationals actually move for, and what survives tax.
By the NordicPay editorial team · Updated $1
Quick answer — gross salaries in Sweden, per month
| Profession | Gross SEK / month | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse | 44,000 average | per SCB, 2025 |
| Software engineer | 53,000-55,100 median | per SCB, 2025 |
| Teacher (compulsory school) | 41,600 average | per SCB, 2025 |
| Electrician | 34,800-37,700 | per SCB-based 2025 statistics |
| Chef | 31,400-32,800 | per SCB-based 2025 statistics |
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.
How Swedish pay works
SCB's salary statistics report average monthly salaries per occupation, typically excluding overtime, with the newest tables reflecting the 2025 settlements. Two features matter when you read them. First, collective agreements set minimum terms for most of the labour market - about nine in ten employees are covered - so the negotiation margin above the floor is where titles diverge. Second, supplements for unsocial hours, on-call duty and overtime are paid on top of the base, which is why a nurse's total earnings routinely exceed the headline average.
Experience moves the number more than employer branding does. Newly graduated nurses start in the mid-30,000s before supplements and pass 40,000 within five to eight years in most regions; teachers progress along municipal scales with the 2025 settlement rounds adding about 3 percent; electricians and chefs see the largest spread between small towns and the big cities. Every guide in the cards above carries the full occupational table, the experience bands and a worked take-home example for its profession.
Tax in Sweden: what survives of the gross
Sweden runs a simple-looking schedule at high rates. Municipal income tax averages 32.38 percent in 2026, per SCB's annual compilation of municipal rates, and runs from roughly 29 to 35 percent depending on where you live - Stockholm city charges 30.55 percent. On top of that, a 20 percent state income tax applies in 2026 to taxable income above 643,000 kronor a year - a break point of 660,400 kronor, about 55,000 a month, before the pension credit. Everyone nominally pays a 7 percent public pension contribution on earnings up to 673,038 kronor, but for most employees it is credited straight back.
| Tax / deduction | Rate 2026 | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Municipal income tax | 29-35% (average 32.38%) | all taxable employment income |
| State income tax | 20% | income above 643,000 SEK per year |
| Public pension contribution | 7% | credited back for most earners; ceiling 673,038 SEK |
| Employer social contributions | ≈31.4% | paid by employer on top of gross, not on your payslip |
| Effective tax on an average full-time wage | roughly 22-26% | single taxpayer after the earned income tax credit |
The earned income tax credit (jobbskatteavdrag) already pushes the effective rate below the nominal municipal rate for most full-time earners - a single taxpayer on the 42,900 kronor average keeps roughly 22-26 percent less than gross. Employers add social contributions of about 31.4 percent and most staff a negotiated occupational pension (ITP for white-collar, SAF-LO for blue-collar) on top. Non-residents on short assignments can sometimes opt for the flat 25 percent SINK tax instead of the progressive system - check with Skatteverket before you sign. Run your own numbers in the calculators at Skatteverket; the benchmarks on this page come from Statistics Sweden (SCB) and SKR.
For the same five professions in the other systems, see salaries in Norway, salaries in Denmark and salaries in Finland - or the NordicPay hub for the four-country comparison.
FAQ
What is the average salary in Sweden in 2026?
Statistics Sweden (SCB) put the all-employee average at about 42,900 kronor a month in 2025, with a median of 37,100 kronor in 2024. The five most internationally recruited professions span from roughly 31,400 kronor for chefs to 53,000-55,100 kronor for software engineers.
How much tax do I pay on a Swedish salary?
Municipal income tax runs 29-35 percent depending on the municipality, averaging 32.38 percent in 2026, and a 20 percent state tax applies above 643,000 kronor a year (a break point of 660,400 kronor before the pension credit). After the earned income tax credit, a single average full-time earner pays an effective rate of roughly 22-26 percent.
Is there a minimum wage in Sweden?
No. Sweden has no statutory minimum wage; floors are set by collective agreements covering most of the labour market. Practical floors are visible in the trades - apprentice electricians, for example, start around 23,000-28,000 kronor a month before their certification.
Which profession pays the most in Sweden?
Of the five benchmark professions, software engineers earn the most: a private-sector median of 53,000-55,100 kronor a month with means reaching 57,500 per SCB 2025. Nurses average 44,000 kronor, teachers 41,600, electricians 34,800-37,700 and chefs 31,400-32,800.
Do I need to speak Swedish to work in Sweden?
In tech, English suffices at most employers. In nursing, teaching and the trades, documented Swedish proficiency is effectively required - Socialstyrelsen recognition for nurses, teacher certification for schools - so budget six to twelve months for recognition and language in regulated professions.