For employers
Average and median salary in Sweden
The difference between average and median pay decides whether your salary negotiation or recruitment budget is right. We show both – by occupation, sector and region – based on SCB data.
Average vs median – which should employers use?
The average salary is the mean of all salaries in an occupation. A handful of high executive salaries can pull the average several thousand kronor above what a typical employee actually earns.
The median salary is the middle value – half earn more, half earn less. It is insensitive to extreme values and therefore a more honest benchmark when you set pay or evaluate an offer.
Rule of thumb: use the median as your starting point and look at the P10–P90 range to see how much experience and responsibility shift the pay within that occupation.
Salary is only half the cost
A median salary of 40,000 SEK/month costs you as employer about 54,726 SEK/month including employer social fees, ITP1 pension and holiday pay – a multiple of 1.37×. Run the exact numbers in our cost calculator. Rates for 2026.
Gross salary → total monthly and annual cost incl. ITP1 pension and holiday pay.
Open calculator →Frequently asked questions
- What is the average salary in Sweden in 2026?
- The overall average across the entire labour market is around SEK 39,000–40,000/month according to SCB, but variation between occupations is large. Search your occupation for a relevant figure instead of the national average.
- Are bonuses and shift premiums included in the median salary?
- SCB's wage structure statistics use contracted full-time monthly pay. Variable compensation and shift premiums are normally excluded, which is worth keeping in mind when comparing a concrete offer.