Sweden is one of the most attractive countries for people looking for high standards of living. This is thanks to the higher than the EU average minimum salaries in the country, as well as amazing average wages paid each month.
If you are wondering what are the minimum wages in Sweden, but also the average salaries, you’re at the right place! I have gathered this data for you and I am sharing it below so that you can better plan for a potential move to Sweden.
Even though salaries have constantly gone up since 2015 until late 2022, the health crisis that started in 2020 has also left some effects over the economic evolution of Sweden. This includes the high inflation year of 2022 and 2023 so far.
With 2022 seeing record inflation (around 10% year over year), salaries simply didn’t manage to keep up the pace. Fortunately, they were already solid and the inflation won’t affect the quality of living as it does in other countries.
This means that salaries in Sweden can still be considered among the best in the world, especially when you compare them with the estimated cost of living in the country. (Yes, that is high too – but salaries do keep up).
So, without further ado, let’s check out the minimum wage in Sweden in 2023, as well as the average salary you can earn here!
What is the minimum wage in Sweden in 2023?
There is no minimum salary declared by law in Sweden. However, general data shows that minimum salaries in the country hover around the 18,500 SEK / month (which is around 1,650 Euros) gross. The NET values (take home) are around 1,500 Euros per month.
Rates are negotiated by workers’ unions and agreed directly with the employer, considering a fair rate for a decent living and also considering other numbers and statistics from various unions regarding average salaries, as guidelines.
This means that even the minimum wage in Sweden is enough for most people to live a decent life here, especially if they don’t live alone.
Just so you get an idea of how things stand, an average McDonald’s cashier’s minimum salary is around 113 SEK/hour, which is around $10 now (but it was around $13 before the Dollar’s increased valuation).
In the HoReCa industry, on the other hand, statistics show that the minimum wage is slightly higher – around 23,800 SEK monthly (2,150 Euros). All these are gross numbers, the take home pay being slightly lower.
But still, as you can see in my examples above, even these minimum amounts are really solid.
But all in all, even minimum salary in the country – no matter the industry you’re going to work in – is high enough to allow a person to live a decent life – this is really a change compared to how most other countries work, and one extra reason to love Sweden.
But you will do even better if you manage to earn the average monthly salary in Sweden – and this is what we’re going to talk about next.
What is the average wage in Sweden in 2023?
On average, a person working in Sweden full time will receive in hand around 32,500 SEK per month – which is around 2,900 Euros. This is the NET salary or the amount you end up receiving in your bank account at the end of the month.
According to Trading Economics, the average gross wage in 2023 in Sweden is around 43,200 SEK per month, which translates into around 3,900 EUR/month. (Remember, these are gross values – so before tax!)
Even though salaries have seen a small boost throughout 2022 and 2023 so far, there was still an increase overall, one that followed to better years in terms of earnings (2020 and 2021).
This means that, compared to 2019, the average salary in Sweden went up by around 600 Euros. It seems to have stabilized since late 2022 and many analysts believe that 2023 will be pretty flat in terms of average earnings here.
Some jobs are better paid than others – so that is something that you should consider. This means that jobs in the finance sector, but also specialist physicians or PR managers will earn a lot more than maids, cashiers or berry pickers and planters – like everywhere in the world.
In other words, don’t expect to just move to Sweden and start earning 2,850 Euros per month instantly (which is the average net wage in the country at the moment). The field of work and your experience matter a lot too!
Keep in mind that all these average salaries strongly depend on the education level, experience and skills of the employee, as well as on the city chosen from Sweden.
Wages tend to be slightly higher in cities such as Stockholm and municipalities such as Danderyd, Lidingo, Taby and Vellinge, and lower in municipalities such as Arjang or Eda. This goes on par with the cost of living in Sweden, which is higher than in most European countries.
Conclusion
The amazing public services, the excellent corporate culture promoting work-life balance & harmony, as well as all the other wonderful things this country has to offer are all encouraging people to move here. And, as we can see above, salaries also play a major role in this.
In fact, according to the LIME Assessment Framework (LAF) regarding education, Sweden scores over 10 points – which means that it is amongst the only three European states that classify in the category of countries with good educational performance, along with Germany and Austria.
With 14 points obtained assessing early leavers from education & training, Sweden actually has the best performance in Europe.
So, with great public service, amazing education, kind people and high standards of living, Sweden seems one of the best places to move to, not only for studies but also for work.
In conclusion, Sweden is amongst the most well-developed countries in Europe, and a great choice if you decide to move and work here.
Even though minimum wages are not government-regulated, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t good enough to offer a decent life. Plus, the average salaries in the country are some of the highest in the European Union.
Sweden performs wonderfully in multiple dimensions of well-being, compared to most other countries, ranking above average in all measures, from civic engagement, sense of community and environmental quality to public service, education, work-life balance, jobs and salaries, safety and health.
As for the minimum and average wage in Sweden 2023, these are also helping us all get a better understanding of the standards and costs of living expected in this country.
So, if you have any additional information or comments regarding the Swedish system, that may help in getting a clearer picture of the incomes and outcomes in Sweden, feel free to comment below!
Absolute horse s! Who’s giving you these numbers?
The websites quoted in the article, as well as personal experience.
It would be a lot more useful if you actually shared the numbers you consider correct in order to make this article better or at least offer a different perspective, to help people interested in the matter.
I would like to know what kind of job gives you 43 000 ish? Honestly, most people get 28-38 000 (before taxes).
And my job is minimum wage apparently 🤪
That is the gross salary, before taxes. After taxes, the net salary is closer to the numbers you have mentioned.
Exclude the top 1% of earners and the numbers would become more realistic.