- Salary statistics
- Housing assistant
Housing assistant
29 000 - 35 300 kr / month
Women earn 100% of what men do.
Socialt arbete
Salary progression Housing assistant
What does a residential assistant do? – Tasks and work environment
A residential assistant works closely with individuals who need support in their daily lives, often within municipal or private housing for people with disabilities, mental health issues, or other special needs. Tasks include providing practical help with daily chores, motivating independence, and contributing to a safe and stimulating environment. The work commonly occurs both day and evening shifts as well as weekends, requiring flexibility. The work environment is characterized by proximity to clients and colleagues, as well as a great responsibility for the quality of care and following individual care plans.
Salary development over time
Salaries for residential assistants have shown steady growth over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 30,500 SEK, increasing to 31 400 SEK in 2023. In 2024, the average is 32 300 SEK, representing a total increase of approximately 6.6% over the period. This positive salary trend can be explained by continued high demand for qualified staff in care services, along with increased requirements for education and quality. Staff shortages and an aging population also compel employers to offer competitive salaries to attract and retain the right skills. The even gender distribution in salary setting also reflects a growing awareness of fair conditions within the profession.
Residential assistant salary – a complete overview
- Average salary: 32 300 SEK/month
- Lowest salary: 29,000 SEK/month (female, public sector), 30,100 SEK/month (male)
- Highest salary: 35,300 SEK/month (male, municipal sector), 34,100 SEK/month (female)
- Hourly wage: 194 SEK/hour
- Gender differences: Women earn on average 32 400 SEK/month, men 32 300 SEK/month
- Regional differences: Data on regional differences is not available
Education and qualifications
To work as a residential assistant, a high school education in healthcare and social care is usually required, but other comparable qualifications may also be relevant. Many employers seek experience from care work or supplementary courses, especially in disabilities, psychiatry, or social work. Internships during education are often mandatory and advantageous for employment.
- High school education: Care and social care program (3 years)
- Supplementary courses: Psychiatry, disabilities, social work
- Internship: Often mandatory during training
- Prerequisites: Swedish, basic social studies
- Certifications: Training in low-arousal approaches or similar is advantageous
Many residential assistants describe that no two days are the same, making the profession both challenging and stimulating. Flexibility and the ability to quickly adapt to new situations are important qualities for success and job satisfaction. The work often involves close and long-term relationships with clients, which can be very rewarding.
Common benefits and compensations
Residential assistants are often offered benefits such as overtime pay for unsociable hours, wellness allowances, opportunities for professional development, as well as collective insurance and occupational pension schemes. The work may also include access to supervision and training days, especially in the municipal sector.
Challenges and competition
Demand for residential assistants remains high nationwide, but recruitment is characterized by difficulties in finding enough qualified applicants. Many work part-time, which can make it challenging for employers to cover all shifts. Challenges in the profession include high demands on flexibility, stress management, and the ability to meet clients with diverse needs and backgrounds. Despite these challenges, the profession offers a meaningful opportunity to make a difference. The number of job openings is relatively high, making competition for positions low for those with the right education and experience.
Tips for aspiring residential assistants
To succeed as a residential assistant, it is good to have strong empathy and a genuine commitment to helping others in daily life. Flexibility facilitates adapting to quickly changing situations and different clients. Accuracy is important when it comes to documentation and following routines, which contributes to safety for both yourself and clients. The ability to collaborate with colleagues and take initiative makes the work more effective and stimulating. Communication skills are crucial, both in interactions with clients and in dialogue with relatives and other professionals. Finally, patience and stress management are key qualities to sustain the role and create a positive work environment.
Key facts about Residential Assistant
- Education level: High school diploma (care and social care program)
- Work environment: Residences for people with special needs
- Work form: Shift work, often evenings and weekends
- Demand: Great opportunities for employment nationwide
- Job openings: 237 positions in the profession at the latest count
Career paths and future prospects
After three to five years as a residential assistant, there are opportunities to advance to more specialized roles, such as supervisor, coordinator, or even unit manager within care operations. There are also possibilities for further education, for example, as a support pedagogue or assistant nurse. According to the Swedish Public Employment Service’s forecast, job opportunities are expected to remain strong, with continued stable demand over the next five years. Development in the field is driven by demographic changes and political initiatives in care and support for people with special needs.
Frequently asked questions about Residential Assistants
- What is the average monthly salary for a residential assistant?
- The average monthly salary is 32 300 SEK. - Is there a salary difference between men and women?
- No, women earn on average the same or slightly more than men in the profession. - What education is required to become a residential assistant?
- High school education in healthcare and social care is most common, preferably supplemented with courses in disabilities or psychiatry. - What are the future prospects for residential assistants?
- Opportunities for employment are plentiful, and demand is expected to remain unchanged over the next five years. - What is the highest and lowest salary for a residential assistant?
- The highest salary is 35,300 SEK and the lowest is 29,000 SEK. - What is the work environment like for a residential assistant?
- Work often takes place in residential environments with shift work and close contact with clients.
Salary distributed by age and sector
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 99% | 24300 kr | 28600 kr |
| 25-34 | 97% | 27500 kr | 31300 kr |
| 35-44 | 99% | 29400 kr | 32500 kr |
| 45-54 | 100% | 30300 kr | 33400 kr |
| 55-64 | 101% | 30600 kr | 33900 kr |
| 65-68 | 103% | 30300 kr | 34000 kr |
| Snitt | 100% | 28900 kr | 32300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 99% | 24300 kr | 28500 kr |
| 25-34 | 99% | 27300 kr | 30900 kr |
| 35-44 | 100% | 29200 kr | 32300 kr |
| 45-54 | 100% | 30300 kr | 33400 kr |
| 55-64 | 101% | 30700 kr | 33900 kr |
| 65-68 | 103% | 30500 kr | 34300 kr |
| Snitt | 101% | 28900 kr | 32300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 98% | 28400 kr | 31200 kr |
| 25-34 | 99% | 29300 kr | 31900 kr |
| 35-44 | 98% | 29700 kr | 32100 kr |
| 45-54 | 99% | 30100 kr | 32500 kr |
| 55-64 | 102% | 30500 kr | 32600 kr |
| 65-68 | 29900 kr | 32300 kr | |
| Snitt | 99% | 29700 kr | 32100 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 99% | 24200 kr | 28500 kr |
| 25-34 | 99% | 27200 kr | 30900 kr |
| 35-44 | 100% | 29200 kr | 32300 kr |
| 45-54 | 100% | 30300 kr | 33400 kr |
| 55-64 | 101% | 30700 kr | 33900 kr |
| 65-68 | 103% | 30500 kr | 34300 kr |
| Snitt | 101% | 28900 kr | 32300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 24200 kr | 31100 kr | |
| 25-34 | 94% | 27000 kr | 31300 kr |
| 35-44 | 100% | 29000 kr | 34600 kr |
| 45-54 | 92% | 30100 kr | 33200 kr |
| 55-64 | 103% | 30500 kr | 34100 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 28700 kr | 33000 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 101% | 24900 kr | 29000 kr |
| 25-34 | 93% | 28400 kr | 32700 kr |
| 35-44 | 98% | 30300 kr | 33400 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 30300 kr | 33300 kr |
| 55-64 | 100% | 30100 kr | 33600 kr |
| 65-68 | 29100 kr | 32600 kr | |
| Snitt | 97% | 29300 kr | 32800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 101% | 24900 kr | 29000 kr |
| 25-34 | 93% | 28400 kr | 32700 kr |
| 35-44 | 98% | 30300 kr | 33400 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 30300 kr | 33300 kr |
| 55-64 | 100% | 30100 kr | 33600 kr |
| 65-68 | 29100 kr | 32600 kr | |
| Snitt | 97% | 29300 kr | 32800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 99% | 24300 kr | 28700 kr |
| 25-34 | 97% | 27400 kr | 31900 kr |
| 35-44 | 99% | 29200 kr | 32800 kr |
| 45-54 | 100% | 30200 kr | 33500 kr |
| 55-64 | 101% | 30100 kr | 33500 kr |
| 65-68 | 103% | 29900 kr | 33100 kr |
| Snitt | 100% | 28400 kr | 32300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 99% | 24300 kr | 28700 kr |
| 25-34 | 99% | 26900 kr | 31100 kr |
| 35-44 | 100% | 28700 kr | 32400 kr |
| 45-54 | 100% | 29900 kr | 33300 kr |
| 55-64 | 101% | 30100 kr | 33500 kr |
| 65-68 | 103% | 29900 kr | 33400 kr |
| Snitt | 101% | 28100 kr | 31900 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 98% | 28400 kr | 31400 kr |
| 25-34 | 99% | 29100 kr | 32000 kr |
| 35-44 | 98% | 29600 kr | 32200 kr |
| 45-54 | 99% | 29900 kr | 32600 kr |
| 55-64 | 102% | 29600 kr | 32400 kr |
| 65-68 | 29400 kr | 32500 kr | |
| Snitt | 99% | 29400 kr | 32200 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 99% | 24200 kr | 28600 kr |
| 25-34 | 99% | 26800 kr | 31000 kr |
| 35-44 | 100% | 28700 kr | 32400 kr |
| 45-54 | 100% | 29900 kr | 33300 kr |
| 55-64 | 101% | 30100 kr | 33500 kr |
| 65-68 | 103% | 29900 kr | 33400 kr |
| Snitt | 101% | 28100 kr | 31900 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 94% | 27400 kr | 32600 kr |
| 35-44 | 100% | 29100 kr | 34600 kr |
| 45-54 | 92% | 31300 kr | 35400 kr |
| 55-64 | 103% | 28700 kr | 33300 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 28700 kr | 34000 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 101% | 24600 kr | 28800 kr |
| 25-34 | 93% | 28700 kr | 33700 kr |
| 35-44 | 98% | 30600 kr | 33800 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 31100 kr | 34000 kr |
| 55-64 | 100% | 30200 kr | 33600 kr |
| Snitt | 97% | 29400 kr | 33300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 101% | 24600 kr | 28800 kr |
| 25-34 | 93% | 28700 kr | 33700 kr |
| 35-44 | 98% | 30600 kr | 33800 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 31100 kr | 34000 kr |
| 55-64 | 100% | 30200 kr | 33600 kr |
| Snitt | 97% | 29400 kr | 33300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 99% | 24400 kr | 28500 kr |
| 25-34 | 97% | 27600 kr | 30900 kr |
| 35-44 | 99% | 29500 kr | 32400 kr |
| 45-54 | 100% | 30300 kr | 33300 kr |
| 55-64 | 101% | 30800 kr | 34000 kr |
| 65-68 | 103% | 30400 kr | 34200 kr |
| Snitt | 100% | 29100 kr | 32400 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 99% | 24300 kr | 28400 kr |
| 25-34 | 99% | 27500 kr | 30900 kr |
| 35-44 | 100% | 29400 kr | 32200 kr |
| 45-54 | 100% | 30400 kr | 33400 kr |
| 55-64 | 101% | 30900 kr | 34000 kr |
| 65-68 | 103% | 30700 kr | 34500 kr |
| Snitt | 101% | 29200 kr | 32400 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 98% | 28500 kr | 30700 kr |
| 25-34 | 99% | 29600 kr | 31800 kr |
| 35-44 | 98% | 29900 kr | 31700 kr |
| 45-54 | 99% | 30500 kr | 32400 kr |
| 55-64 | 102% | 31800 kr | 32900 kr |
| Snitt | 99% | 30100 kr | 32000 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 99% | 24200 kr | 28400 kr |
| 25-34 | 99% | 27500 kr | 30800 kr |
| 35-44 | 100% | 29400 kr | 32200 kr |
| 45-54 | 100% | 30400 kr | 33400 kr |
| 55-64 | 101% | 30900 kr | 34000 kr |
| 65-68 | 103% | 30700 kr | 34500 kr |
| Snitt | 101% | 29100 kr | 32400 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 24200 kr | 30000 kr | |
| 25-34 | 94% | 26900 kr | 30800 kr |
| 35-44 | 100% | 28900 kr | 34600 kr |
| 45-54 | 92% | 29800 kr | 32600 kr |
| 55-64 | 103% | 31400 kr | 34400 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 28700 kr | 32600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 101% | 25200 kr | 29100 kr |
| 25-34 | 93% | 28100 kr | 31400 kr |
| 35-44 | 98% | 30000 kr | 33000 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 29900 kr | 32900 kr |
| 55-64 | 100% | 30100 kr | 33600 kr |
| 65-68 | 28800 kr | 32700 kr | |
| Snitt | 97% | 29100 kr | 32400 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 101% | 25200 kr | 29100 kr |
| 25-34 | 93% | 28100 kr | 31400 kr |
| 35-44 | 98% | 30000 kr | 33000 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 29900 kr | 32900 kr |
| 55-64 | 100% | 30100 kr | 33600 kr |
| 65-68 | 28800 kr | 32700 kr | |
| Snitt | 97% | 29100 kr | 32400 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 Housing assistant has the SSYK code 5342, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.
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