- Salary statistics
- Ward doctor salary
Ward doctor salary
Latest available salary statistics are for 2025. Compare average pay, salary range and related job listings.
89 800 - 117 800 SEK / month
Women earn 99% of what men do.
Hälso- & sjukvård
Related tools
Salary progression Ward doctor
What does a department doctor do? – Tasks and work environment
A department doctor primarily works in hospital wards, responsible for investigation, treatment, and follow-up of admitted patients. Tasks include medical assessments, medication prescriptions, performing minor procedures, and collaborating with other healthcare staff and relatives. The department doctor also supervises younger colleagues and participates in ward rounds, reports, and multidisciplinary meetings. The work environment is characterized by a high pace, great responsibility, and close contact with patients at various stages of care, often under pressure where quick decisions are required.
Salary development over time
The salary for department doctors has shown a clear upward trend in recent years. In 2022, the average salary was 86,400 SEK, which increased to 93 600 SEK in 2023 and reached 98 000 SEK in 2024. This development corresponds to an increase of approximately 8.3% over three years. The salary increase is partly explained by high demand for specialists, increased skill requirements, and greater pressure on the healthcare sector, where regions and employers compete for experienced doctors. Negotiations on working conditions and the availability of substitutes have also contributed to rising salary levels within the profession. The trend indicates continued strong salary growth, especially in regions with a significant shortage of specialist skills.
Department doctor salary – complete overview
- Average salary: 98 000 SEK/month
- Lowest salary: 84,600 SEK/month (men), 91,200 SEK/month (women)
- Highest salary: 110,600 SEK/month (men), 101,500 SEK/month (women)
- Hourly rate (average): 563 SEK
- Gender difference: Women earn 99% of what men do (men 98 700 SEK, women 97 300 SEK)
- Regional differences: Salary levels vary between regions, with higher compensation in areas with a particular shortage of specialists.
Department doctors often have the opportunity to participate in clinical research and development work, which can broaden career paths and add variety to daily work. Many also engage in training younger colleagues and medical students, which is seen as both an achievement and a chance for personal development.
Education and qualifications
To work as a department doctor, you need a medical license and specialist competence within a relevant area. The educational path is long and includes university education and several years of practical service. After completing medical studies, there is a period of general internship (AT) and then specialist training (ST), meaning it often takes at least ten years from start of studies to becoming a fully qualified specialist.
- Medical education: 6 years at university (medical program)
- Internship (AT): approx. 18–24 months
- Specialist training (ST): 5 years within chosen specialty
- Medical license: Issued by the National Board of Health and Welfare after approved AT
- Continuing education: Ongoing training and courses are required to stay updated
Common benefits and compensations
Department doctors often have access to benefits such as extra vacation days, wellness allowances, pension contributions, and opportunities for professional development. Many employers also offer flexible working hours, on-call pay, and support for further training, making the profession attractive beyond just salary.
Competition and challenges
The competition for positions as a department doctor is generally low due to high demand for specialists in healthcare. However, challenges include workload, high responsibility, and the need for continuous professional development. There is a shortage of department doctors in many regions, which can lead to high demands and pressured schedules. At the same time, the profession involves a complex balance of medical responsibility, leadership, and patient contact. The move towards multidisciplinary teams and digitalization also introduces new requirements for flexibility and collaboration.
Tips for aspiring department doctors
To succeed as a department doctor, it is good to combine analytical skills with empathy and stress resilience. Establishing good routines for self-study and ongoing education early on makes it easier to stay updated within your specialty. Good communication skills are essential, both in patient interactions and in teamwork. It is also wise to develop organizational skills, as the role often involves coordination and supervision. Being attentive and flexible facilitates navigating the fast-paced and evolving healthcare environment. Engagement in research or teaching can create more opportunities and provide extra motivation. Finally, a genuine interest in medical development and patient-centered work is necessary to thrive and grow in the profession.
Key facts about Department Doctors
- Education level: Medical degree + specialist training (about 11–12 years total)
- Work environment: Hospitals, wards, high pace
- Demand: Great opportunities for employment, especially in regions with shortages
- Typical work form: Full-time, often with on-call duties and standby
- Special skills: Medical diagnostics, treatment, and supervision
Career paths and future prospects
After three to five years as a department doctor, opportunities open for further career development in clinical management, research, teaching, or specialized roles within healthcare. Many choose to deepen their expertise within their specialty, become senior consultants, or engage in development projects and medical committees. The prognosis according to the Employment Service shows very good employment opportunities and an expected increase in demand for specialists over the next five years. Despite some recruitment difficulties, especially in rural areas and smaller regions, there are a large number of vacant positions nationally – 375 according to the latest data. The job market for department doctors is therefore considered strong and stable moving forward.
Frequently asked questions about Department Doctors
- What does a department doctor earn?
- The average salary is 98 000 SEK/month and the hourly rate is 563 SEK. - How to become a department doctor?
- By completing medical education, internship (AT), specialist training, and obtaining a license. - Are there salary differences between men and women?
- Yes, women earn 99% of what men do within the profession. - What are the future prospects for department doctors?
- The forecast shows great opportunities for employment and increased demand over the next five years. - Which workplaces hire department doctors?
- Mainly hospitals, but also private clinics and research institutions. - What is the highest and lowest salary for department doctors?
- Highest salary is 110,600 SEK/month (men), 101,500 SEK/month (women). Lowest salary is 84,600 SEK/month (men), 91,200 SEK/month (women). - How does the region influence the salary?
- Salaries vary between regions, with higher levels where there is a shortage of specialists.
Salary distributed by age and sector
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 80100 kr | 84700 kr |
| 35-44 | 101% | 85700 kr | 90300 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 96600 kr | 101800 kr |
| 55-64 | 100% | 98300 kr | 102700 kr |
| 65-68 | 97% | 103100 kr | 105900 kr |
| Snitt | 99% | 93300 kr | 98000 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 80400 kr | 85800 kr |
| 35-44 | 97% | 85900 kr | 91400 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 94500 kr | 100700 kr |
| 55-64 | 96% | 99500 kr | 104800 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 103400 kr | 106700 kr |
| Snitt | 95% | 92900 kr | 98500 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 94% | 90400 kr | 91800 kr |
| 45-54 | 91% | 96300 kr | 97300 kr |
| 55-64 | 91% | 99500 kr | 103200 kr |
| 65-68 | 73% | 125700 kr | 128000 kr |
| Snitt | 87% | 97800 kr | 99800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 80400 kr | 85900 kr |
| 35-44 | 97% | 85800 kr | 91400 kr |
| 45-54 | 96% | 94500 kr | 100700 kr |
| 55-64 | 97% | 99500 kr | 104800 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 102900 kr | 106200 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 92900 kr | 98500 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 119% | 84900 kr | 85600 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 106600 kr | 107300 kr |
| 55-64 | 93200 kr | 94100 kr | |
| Snitt | 113% | 94900 kr | 95600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 119% | 84900 kr | 85600 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 106600 kr | 107300 kr |
| 55-64 | 93200 kr | 94100 kr | |
| Snitt | 113% | 94900 kr | 95600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 80600 kr | 85900 kr |
| 35-44 | 101% | 84600 kr | 89900 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 96700 kr | 103600 kr |
| 55-64 | 100% | 97500 kr | 102900 kr |
| 65-68 | 97% | 104200 kr | 107300 kr |
| Snitt | 99% | 93100 kr | 98700 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 80700 kr | 86900 kr |
| 35-44 | 97% | 86400 kr | 93200 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 95300 kr | 103200 kr |
| 55-64 | 96% | 100100 kr | 106600 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 105100 kr | 109100 kr |
| Snitt | 95% | 94000 kr | 100900 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 94% | 92700 kr | 95900 kr |
| 45-54 | 91% | 101600 kr | 104600 kr |
| 55-64 | 91% | 103700 kr | 108600 kr |
| 65-68 | 73% | 138500 kr | 141900 kr |
| Snitt | 87% | 105600 kr | 109300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 80700 kr | 86900 kr |
| 35-44 | 97% | 86300 kr | 93200 kr |
| 45-54 | 96% | 95200 kr | 103200 kr |
| 55-64 | 97% | 100000 kr | 106500 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 104400 kr | 108300 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 93900 kr | 100800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 119% | 79000 kr | 79400 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 105700 kr | 106400 kr |
| Snitt | 113% | 89200 kr | 89800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 119% | 79000 kr | 79400 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 105700 kr | 106400 kr |
| Snitt | 113% | 89200 kr | 89800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 79600 kr | 83400 kr |
| 35-44 | 101% | 86700 kr | 90600 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 96600 kr | 100400 kr |
| 55-64 | 100% | 99100 kr | 102500 kr |
| 65-68 | 97% | 101200 kr | 103600 kr |
| Snitt | 99% | 93500 kr | 97300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 80100 kr | 84600 kr |
| 35-44 | 97% | 85400 kr | 90000 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 93900 kr | 98500 kr |
| 55-64 | 96% | 98900 kr | 102800 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 100900 kr | 103100 kr |
| Snitt | 95% | 92000 kr | 96300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 94% | 89200 kr | 89800 kr |
| 45-54 | 91% | 94600 kr | 95000 kr |
| 55-64 | 91% | 96400 kr | 99300 kr |
| 65-68 | 73% | 103500 kr | 103900 kr |
| Snitt | 87% | 93800 kr | 94800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 80200 kr | 84700 kr |
| 35-44 | 97% | 85400 kr | 90000 kr |
| 45-54 | 96% | 93800 kr | 98600 kr |
| 55-64 | 97% | 99000 kr | 102900 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 100800 kr | 103100 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 91900 kr | 96300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 119% | 93100 kr | 94100 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 107100 kr | 107800 kr |
| 55-64 | 99900 kr | 101100 kr | |
| Snitt | 113% | 100600 kr | 101600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 119% | 93100 kr | 94100 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 107100 kr | 107800 kr |
| 55-64 | 99900 kr | 101100 kr | |
| Snitt | 113% | 100600 kr | 101600 kr |
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 Ward doctor has the SSYK code 2211, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.
-
General Practitioner with Interest in Supervision at Varvet Health Centre, Hudiksvall
Specialist doctors
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 - 00:55 -
Specialist Doctor in General Medicine at Health Centre in Mellerud
Specialist doctors
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 - 00:51 -
Specialist Physician in General Practice at Nygatan Health Centre
Specialist doctors
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 - 00:28
Compare salary, work tasks and job outlook in adjacent occupations to find roles with similar skills or pay levels.
-
Average salary: 39 500 SEK/month • Hälso- & sjukvård
Ambulance care staff
Compare with Ward doctor
Tue, 23 Jun 2026 - 20:43 -
Home nurse, care assistant salary
Average salary: 29 600 SEK/month • Hälso- & sjukvård
Care assistants
Compare with Ward doctor
Tue, 23 Jun 2026 - 09:19 -
Average salary: 35 000 SEK/month • Hälso- & sjukvård
Assistant nurses, care and special departments and reception
Compare with Ward doctor
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 - 03:32 -
Average salary: 48 600 SEK/month • Hälso- & sjukvård
Psychologists
Compare with Ward doctor
Tue, 23 Jun 2026 - 11:24 -
Average salary: 44 000 SEK/month • Hälso- & sjukvård
Registered nurses
Compare with Ward doctor
Tue, 23 Jun 2026 - 18:48 -
Ambulance driver, paramedic salary
Average salary: 39 500 SEK/month • Hälso- & sjukvård
Ambulance care staff
Compare with Ward doctor
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 - 00:57