Image that illustrates Bread pickers

Bread pickers

31 400 kr

Hand packers and other factory workers

30 100 - 35 800 kr / month

Women earn 95% of what men do.

Industriell tillverkning

What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression Bread pickers

Average salary 31 400 kr
Males 31 900 kr
Females 30 500 kr

What does a bread packer do? – Tasks and work environment

A bread packer is responsible for picking, sorting, and packaging bread products within industrial bakery and food production. Tasks include monitoring production lines, checking bread quality, and ensuring the correct products are placed in the right packaging for distribution. The work often occurs at a fast pace and may involve both manual and machine-assisted tasks. The work environment is characterized by industrial premises where it can be noisy, hot, and occasionally dusty, requiring attention to detail and endurance. Shift work is common, meaning shifts can be early mornings, late evenings, or nights depending on production needs.

Wage development over time

The salary for bread packers has steadily increased in recent years. In 2022, the average monthly salary was 28,200 SEK, rising to 30 300 SEK in 2023 and further to 31 400 SEK in 2024. This represents an approximate 11% increase over the period, slightly above the average for industrial workers. Factors driving this development may include higher quality demands, efficiency improvements in bread production, and general wage adjustments in the food industry. Despite relatively unchanged demand according to the Employment Service forecast, competition for more experienced bread packers may exert some upward pressure on wages. The wage distribution between genders has not changed significantly, with women still earning around 95% of men's wages.

Bread packer salary – complete overview

  • Average salary: 31 400 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 30,100 SEK/month (female, regional sector, high school education up to 2 years)
  • Highest salary: 35,800 SEK/month (male, public sector, 3-year high school education)
  • Hourly wage: 189 SEK (based on 166 hours/month)
  • Gender differences: Men 31 900 SEK, women 30 500 SEK (women earn 95% of men's salary)
  • Regional differences: Salary variations occur, especially between public and regional sectors

Education and qualifications

To work as a bread packer, no formal higher education is typically required, but high school education in food or industry is often advantageous. Practical experience from bakery, food production, or other industrial activities is highly valued by employers. Many employers offer internal training and introductory programs for new hires. Success in the profession also requires good physical condition, teamwork skills, and understanding of hygiene and safety standards.

  • High school education: Food or industrial programs, 2–3 years
  • Introductory training: Often provided on-site upon employment
  • Practical experience: Meritorious but not mandatory
  • Hygiene training: Basic knowledge of food handling
  • Pre-requisites: Good physical condition and teamwork ability

Many bread packers quickly develop impressive dexterity and pace, which are crucial for keeping up with the production line. Working closely with both machines and colleagues often fosters a strong team spirit at the workplace.

– statsskuld.se

Common benefits and compensations

Bread packers are often covered by collective agreements that provide rights to overtime pay for unsocial hours, holiday pay, and occupational pension. Many employers also offer work clothing, wellness allowances, and sometimes subsidized meals. Other benefits may include paid hygiene and safety training and additional days off during shift work.

Competition and challenges

The competition in the profession is high, partly due to an oversupply of labor according to the Employment Service's assessment. Bread packers are part of the job group of hand packers and other factory workers, where national forecasts indicate limited job opportunities expected to remain unchanged over the next five years. This high competition means employers may set higher demands for efficiency and accuracy. Challenges include monotonous tasks, high pace, and risk of musculoskeletal injuries. Gaining experience in similar work and good teamwork skills can be advantageous, as the work environment often relies on teamwork.

Tips for those wanting to become a bread packer

To succeed as a bread packer, it is good to have a strong work ethic and endurance, as the work often involves long shifts and physically demanding tasks. Attention to detail is important, especially to ensure quality and hygiene when handling food. Flexibility and adaptability facilitate shift work and varied tasks. Teamwork skills are crucial since much of the work is done in teams and requires effective communication. Good organizational skills increase the chances of quickly settling into routines and minimizing errors. Showing initiative and willingness to learn new tasks can also open opportunities for more responsibility or further training within the company.

Key facts about Bread Packers

  • Education level: High school education (2–3 years) recommended
  • Work environment: Industrial production, often shift work
  • Demand: Limited job opportunities, oversupply of labor
  • Job openings: 1,437 within the job group of hand packers
  • Gender differences: Women 95% of men's salary

Career paths and future prospects

After three to five years as a bread packer, there are opportunities to advance to team leader, production manager, or specialize in quality control and logistics. Many also choose to further their education in food production or machinery handling to broaden their career options. According to the Employment Service forecast for hand packers and similar factory workers, demand is expected to remain unchanged over the next five years, with a continued surplus of labor. Therefore, combining experience in bread packing with additional skills in industry or logistics can strengthen future employment opportunities.

Frequently asked questions about Bread Packers

  • What is the average salary of a bread packer?
    - A bread packer has an average monthly salary of 31 400 SEK.
  • What is the hourly wage for a bread packer?
    - The hourly wage for a bread packer is 189 SEK based on 166 hours per month.
  • Are there differences in salary between women and men?
    - Yes, women earn 30 500 SEK on average, which corresponds to 95% of men's average salary of 31 900 SEK.
  • What education is required to become a bread packer?
    - High school education in food or industry is recommended, but there are no formal higher education requirements.
  • What are the future prospects for bread packers?
    - Job opportunities are limited and competition is high, with demand remaining unchanged according to the Employment Service.
  • What is the highest and lowest salary for a bread packer?
    - The highest salary is 35,800 SEK (male, public sector), the lowest is 30,100 SEK (female, regional sector).
  • How many job openings are available in the profession?
    - There are 1,437 job openings within the job group of hand packers and factory workers.

Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Bread pickers is 35800 kr. This salary belongs to a man working in the Public sector with a high school education, 3 years. The highest salary for a woman in this profession is 33300 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Bread pickers is 30100 kr. This salary belongs to a woman also working in the Regional sector. The lowest salary for a man in this profession is 30900 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
18-24 98% 28100 kr 30300 kr
25-34 95% 29800 kr 32200 kr
35-44 97% 30400 kr 32000 kr
45-54 94% 29800 kr 31200 kr
55-64 94% 30200 kr 31100 kr
Snitt 95% 29700 kr 31400 kr
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 Bread pickers has the SSYK code 9320, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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