What does a food technology engineer earn?

The average salary is 52,300 SEK per month, but it varies depending on experience and employer.

What education is required to become a food technology engineer?

A five-year master’s degree in engineering with specialization in food technology, chemistry, or a similar field is required.

Are there significant gender differences in salary within the profession?

Yes, women earn on average 92% of what men do in the profession.

What is the job market like for food technology engineers?

Demand is generally high within the profession, although no exact forecast exists for this specific title.

What tasks does a food technology engineer perform?

Tasks include product development, quality control, and optimization of food production processes.

What influences the salary of a food technology engineer?

Factors such as experience, education level, sector, and employer size greatly influence the salary.

How wide is the salary range within the profession?

The lowest salary is 48,500 SEK and the highest is 56,800 SEK per month, depending on gender, sector, and education.

Master of Science in Engineering, Food Engineering salary

53 900 SEK

Civil engineering professions in chemistry and chemical engineering

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

50 400 - 61 300 SEK / month

Women earn 92% of what men do.

Tekniskt arbete

Average salary 53 900 SEK/month Monthly gross salary

Salary range 50 400 - 61 300 SEK Latest available range Data year 2025 Latest published dataset

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Salary trend About the role What does a food technology engineer do? – Tasks and work environment Salary development over time Food technology engineer salary – comprehensive overview Open jobs Related occupations About the data FAQ

Salary progression Master of Science in Engineering, Food Engineering

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What does a food technology engineer do? – Tasks and work environment

A food technology engineer works on developing, improving, and ensuring processes for the production of food and beverages. The role often includes responsibility for quality control, product development, and optimization of manufacturing processes to achieve maximum safety and efficiency. The work environment can vary between laboratories, offices, and production facilities, where collaboration with other engineers, production staff, and researchers is common. Project management, problem-solving, and implementing new technical solutions are central parts of daily life for a professional in this field.

Salary development over time

The salary for a food technology engineer has shown stable and positive growth over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 49200 SEK per month, increasing to 52 300 SEK in 2023 and further to 53 900 SEK in 2024. This corresponds to a total increase of approximately 6.3% over the three-year period. The salary increase can be explained by increased demand for qualified expertise in the food sector, technological advances, and a growing focus on sustainability and safety in food production. Despite a competitive job market, the shortage of specialized labor has led employers to offer more competitive salaries to attract and retain the right skills.

Food technology engineer salary – comprehensive overview

Average salary: 53 900 SEK/month
Lowest salary: 48,500 SEK/month (women), 48,700 SEK/month (men)
Highest salary: 55,800 SEK/month (women), 56,800 SEK/month (men)
Hourly wage: 315 SEK
Gender differences: Women earn 92% of what men do (51 500 SEK vs 55 700 SEK)
Regional differences: No detailed statistics available

Education and qualifications

To work as a food technology engineer, a master’s degree in engineering with specialization in chemistry, chemical engineering, or food technology is required, typically involving five years of university studies. The education combines theoretical knowledge in chemistry, biology, and engineering with practical training in laboratory environments and often internships in industry. Advanced courses and doctoral studies can be advantageous for those aiming to work in advanced product development or research.

Master’s degree: 5 years (300 hp) in food technology or chemistry
Internships: Recommended during studies, often through summer jobs or thesis projects at food companies
Specialized courses: Examples include food microbiology, process engineering, and quality management
Research education: Meritorious, especially for roles in research or leadership
Prerequisites: Basic eligibility plus specific requirements in mathematics, chemistry, and physics

Food technology engineers often work in interdisciplinary teams where collaboration between chemistry, biology, and engineering is crucial. The ability to communicate complex technical solutions to both colleagues and non-technical stakeholders is a valuable skill and opens opportunities in project management and product development.

– statsskuld.se

Common benefits and compensations

Food technology engineers are often offered competitive benefits such as occupational pension, wellness allowance, flexible working hours, and the possibility of remote work. Some employers may also offer extra vacation days, professional development, and bonus programs linked to company performance. The extent of benefits varies depending on sector and employer.

Competition and challenges

The job market for food technology engineers is characterized by specialization and technological changes, which demand continuous skills development. Competition for the most attractive positions can be fierce, especially within larger companies and research-intensive sectors. A limited number of study places and a growing need for sustainable solutions mean high demand for qualified engineers, but employers often require experience and specialized knowledge. Additional challenges include regulatory requirements and rapid changes within the food industry.

Tips for aspiring food technology engineers

To succeed as a food technology engineer, it’s good to combine analytical skills with curiosity and good teamwork abilities. Early internships or summer jobs in the industry provide valuable experience and networks, while accuracy and problem-solving skills facilitate laboratory work and process development. Keeping up with new technologies and industry trends demonstrates engagement and increases chances for advanced roles. Communication skills are important for explaining technical solutions to different audiences, and flexibility helps adapt to rapid changes in projects or organizations. Identifying a specific interest area early, such as sustainable production or quality management, can pave the way for specialization and faster career growth.

Key facts about food technology engineers

Education level: Master’s degree (5 years)
Work environment: Laboratory, office, and production facility
Work form: Full-time, often project-based
Demand: High within large food companies and research
Job openings: 564 in related professions (May 2024)

Career paths and future prospects

After three to five years of experience, a food technology engineer can advance to roles such as project manager, quality manager, or product development specialist. Opportunities also exist to work internationally or focus on research and innovation, especially for those with doctoral studies. According to the Swedish Public Employment Service’s forecasts, no specific assessment is made for this title due to limited data, but within the broader group of chemical engineers, demand remains high. With 564 job openings in May 2024, there are good prospects for employment, especially for those with specialized skills or industry experience.

Frequently asked questions about food technology engineers

What does a food technology engineer earn?
- The average salary is 53 900 SEK per month, but it varies depending on experience and employer.
What education is required to become a food technology engineer?
- A five-year master’s degree in food technology, chemistry, or a related field is required.
Are there significant gender differences in salary?
- Yes, women earn on average 92% of what men do in the profession.
What is the job market outlook for food technology engineers?
- Demand is generally high within the profession, although no exact forecast exists for this specific title.
What tasks does a food technology engineer perform?
- Tasks include product development, quality control, and optimization of food production.
What affects the salary of a food technology engineer?
- Factors such as experience, education level, sector, and employer size have a significant impact on salary.
How wide is the salary distribution within the profession?
- The lowest salary is 48,500 SEK and the highest is 56,800 SEK per month, depending on gender, sector, and education.

Richard Andersson - 2025-07-10 20:58:33

Occupation

Salary distributed by age and sector

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
25-34	97%	44100 kr	44700 kr
35-44	90%	51800 kr	52900 kr
45-54	103%	58500 kr	59300 kr
55-64	90%	59200 kr	60000 kr
Snitt	92%	53100 kr	53900 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
25-34	97%	44100 kr	44700 kr
35-44	90%	51800 kr	52900 kr
45-54	103%	58500 kr	59300 kr
55-64	90%	59200 kr	60000 kr
Snitt	92%	53100 kr	53900 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
25-34	97%	44100 kr	44700 kr
35-44	90%	51800 kr	52900 kr
45-54	103%	58500 kr	59300 kr
55-64	90%	59200 kr	60000 kr
Snitt	92%	53100 kr	53900 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
25-34	97%	44600 kr	45400 kr
35-44	90%	53500 kr	55000 kr
45-54	103%	57700 kr	58700 kr
55-64	90%	61300 kr	62300 kr
Snitt	92%	54600 kr	55700 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
25-34	97%	44600 kr	45400 kr
35-44	90%	53500 kr	55000 kr
45-54	103%	57700 kr	58700 kr
55-64	90%	61300 kr	62300 kr
Snitt	92%	54600 kr	55700 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
25-34	97%	44600 kr	45400 kr
35-44	90%	53500 kr	55000 kr
45-54	103%	57700 kr	58700 kr
55-64	90%	61300 kr	62300 kr
Snitt	92%	54600 kr	55700 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
25-34	97%	43800 kr	44100 kr
35-44	90%	49200 kr	49600 kr
45-54	103%	59500 kr	60200 kr
55-64	90%	55700 kr	56200 kr
Snitt	92%	51100 kr	51500 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
25-34	97%	43800 kr	44100 kr
35-44	90%	49200 kr	49600 kr
45-54	103%	59500 kr	60200 kr
55-64	90%	55700 kr	56200 kr
Snitt	92%	51100 kr	51500 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
25-34	97%	43800 kr	44100 kr
35-44	90%	49200 kr	49600 kr
45-54	103%	59500 kr	60200 kr
55-64	90%	55700 kr	56200 kr
Snitt	92%	51100 kr	51500 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 Master of Science in Engineering, Food Engineering has the SSYK code 2145, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.