Occupational therapist salary

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Occupational therapist salary

39 500 SEK

Occupational therapists

Latest available salary statistics are for 2025. Compare average pay, salary range and related job listings.

31 600 - 48 400 SEK / month

Women earn 101% of what men do.

Hälso- & sjukvård

Average salary 39 500 SEK/month Monthly gross salary
Salary range 31 600 - 48 400 SEK Latest available range Data year 2025 Latest published dataset

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Salary trend About the role What does an occupational therapist do? – Tasks and work environment Salary development over time Occupational therapist salary – complete overview Open jobs Related occupations About the data FAQ

Salary progression Occupational therapist

Average salary 39 500 kr
Males 39 000 kr
Females 39 500 kr
1 Likes 0 Comments 225 Vacant jobs ->

What does an occupational therapist do? – Tasks and work environment

Occupational therapists play a central role in healthcare, focusing on supporting and enabling an independent life for individuals with various disabilities. Tasks include assessing patients' activity abilities, planning and implementing rehabilitation efforts, and adapting everyday environments and assistive devices. The work often involves close collaboration with other professionals such as physiotherapists, doctors, and nurses. Occupational therapists are active in primary care, hospitals, municipal care, schools, and private practices. The work environment is characterized by patient-centered work, varying pace, and high demands on flexibility and communication.

Salary development over time

Salary development for occupational therapists has been positive over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 35,400 SEK, followed by an increase to 38 100 SEK in 2023 and further to 39 500 SEK in 2024. This represents a total increase of approximately 7.6 percent over the period, slightly above the average for similar healthcare professions. This trend reflects increased demand for the profession, especially due to an aging population and a greater need for rehabilitation. Improved working conditions and labor market needs have also contributed to stable salary improvements for the group.

Occupational therapist salary – complete overview

  • Average salary: 39 500 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 32,700 SEK/month (female, government sector, high school education)
  • Highest salary: 48,300 SEK/month (female, municipal sector, doctoral education)
  • Hourly wage: 229 SEK
  • Women earn: 101% of men's salary (women: 39 500 SEK, men: 39 000 SEK)
  • Regional differences: Salary levels may vary between urban and rural areas, as well as depending on employer and sector.

Many occupational therapists work across professions, gaining a broad understanding of the entire care chain. This opens opportunities to specialize in areas such as hand rehabilitation, psychiatry, or elderly care, which can lead to a dynamic and developing career.

– statsskuld.se

Education and qualifications

To work as an occupational therapist, a university-level degree is required. Licensure is issued by the National Board of Health and Welfare after completing the degree, which is mandatory for practicing in the field. The education includes both theoretical components and practical training, with opportunities for further specialization within different fields.

  • Formal degree: Occupational therapy program, 3 years (180 hp)
  • Licensure: Issued by the National Board of Health and Welfare after graduation
  • Practical training (VFU): Included as a mandatory part of the education
  • Further education: Possible within areas such as hand rehabilitation or psychiatry
  • Prerequisites: Basic eligibility for higher education studies

Common benefits and allowances

Occupational therapists are often offered benefits such as generous occupational pension, wellness allowance, professional development, and flexible working hours. In some cases, extra vacation days, subsidized lunches, and compensation for unsocial hours may be provided, depending on the employer and sector.

Competition and challenges

The profession of occupational therapy is characterized by high demand and some recruitment difficulties, especially within municipal services and rural areas. Workload can be high, and there are significant demands on managing many cases simultaneously. Challenges may also arise in implementing new work methods and digital solutions, as well as in meeting patients with complex needs. However, competition for positions is relatively low, providing good opportunities for recent graduates to quickly establish themselves in the labor market.

Tips for aspiring occupational therapists

To succeed as an occupational therapist, it is beneficial to have a genuine interest in people and a desire to make a difference in their everyday lives. Good communication skills are essential, as the work involves collaboration with both patients and colleagues from various professions. Being solution-oriented helps in finding individually tailored interventions, while patience and empathy are vital when working with individuals in difficult life situations. Precision facilitates documentation and follow-up, and flexibility makes it easier to handle changes in tasks and routines. Continuously updating knowledge about new methods and research within the field also provides long-term career development.

Key facts about Occupational Therapist

  • Education level: University degree (3 years, 180 hp)
  • Licensure: Required, issued by the National Board of Health and Welfare
  • Work environment: Patient-centered work within healthcare, social care, and schools
  • Demand: Great opportunities for employment nationwide
  • Number of job openings: 375 (May 2024)

Career paths and future prospects

After three to five years in the profession, an occupational therapist can advance to specialized roles, such as within hand rehabilitation, neurorehabilitation, or psychiatry. There are also opportunities to work in research, education, or as a manager within healthcare organizations. Forecasts from the Swedish Public Employment Service indicate that opportunities for employment as an occupational therapist are large, and demand is expected to increase over the next five years, mainly due to an aging population and increased rehabilitation needs. The recruitment situation is characterized by a paradox: there are both recruitment difficulties and some mobility within the profession. Overall, the future outlook is very positive for those choosing to train as an occupational therapist.

Frequently asked questions about Occupational Therapist

  • What does an occupational therapist earn?
    - The average salary for an occupational therapist is 39 500 SEK/month, with variations depending on experience, education, and sector.
  • How do you become an occupational therapist?
    - A three-year university degree and a license from the National Board of Health and Welfare are required.
  • Are there salary differences between men and women?
    - Yes, women earn an average of 39 500 SEK and men 39 000 SEK, which means women earn 101% of men's salaries.
  • What does an occupational therapist do?
    - Occupational therapists support individuals with disabilities to live independent lives through adaptation, rehabilitation, and aids.
  • What are the future prospects?
    - Opportunities for employment are plentiful, and demand is expected to increase in the coming years.
  • What is the highest and lowest salary for occupational therapists?
    - The highest salary is 48,300 SEK/month (female, municipal sector, doctoral education) and the lowest is 32,700 SEK/month (female, government sector, high school education).
  • Where do occupational therapists work?
    - They work in health centers, hospitals, municipal care, schools, and private clinics.

Richard Andersson

Richard Andersson - 2025-07-09 09:40:53

Occupation
Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Occupational therapist is 48400 kr. This salary belongs to a woman working in the Municipal sector with a postgraduate education. The highest salary for a man in this profession is 41900 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Occupational therapist is 31600 kr. This salary belongs to a man working in the Government sector. The lowest salary for a woman in this profession is 31900 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
18-24 32200 kr 32300 kr
25-34 97% 36100 kr 36200 kr
35-44 98% 38800 kr 38900 kr
45-54 101% 40900 kr 41000 kr
55-64 41800 kr 41800 kr
65-68 42700 kr 42800 kr
Snitt 101% 39400 kr 39500 kr
* Empty columns indicate that the statistical data was insufficient to allow for a statistically significant conclusion.
Salary per sector
Salary based on education
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About the data

All information displayed on this page is based on data from the Swedish Central Bureau of Statistics (SCB), the Swedish Tax Agency and the Swedish employment agency. Learn more about our data and data sources here.

All figures are gross salaries, meaning salaries before tax. The average salary, or mean salary, is calculated by adding up the total salary for all individuals within the profession and dividing it by the number of individuals. For specific job categories, we have also considered various criteria such as experience and education.

Profession Occupational therapist has the SSYK code 2273, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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Salary, Taxes, and Fees
Net salary 31 390
Net salary
31 390
Taxes
11 718
Fees
12 582

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* Updated with 2026 taxes

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