Image that illustrates Distiller

Distiller

40 500 kr

Process supervisors, chemical industry

37 500 - 42 200 kr / month

Women earn 92% of what men do.

Installation & drift/underhåll

What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression Distiller

Average salary 40 500 kr
Males 41 100 kr
Females 37 700 kr

What does a Distiller do? – Tasks and work environment

A Distiller works with monitoring and controlling processes involved in the production of distilled products, primarily within the chemical industry. Tasks include machine and plant control, sampling, quality checks, and parameter adjustments to ensure products meet desired standards. The role often involves overseeing the entire production chain, from raw materials to finished products, as well as documenting process data. The work environment is characterized by industrial settings with high demands on safety, precision, and collaboration with other production teams.

Salary development over time

The salary for a Distiller has developed steadily over recent years. In 2022, the average salary was 37,500 SEK per month, which increased to 39 900 in 2023 and continued upward to 40 500 in 2024. This represents a total increase of approximately 8% over three years, with a particularly clear rise between 2022 and 2023. This trend reflects increased demand for skilled personnel in the process industry, alongside more specialized skill requirements. Gender pay gaps remain, with women earning on average 92% of what men do. Larger investments in the chemical industry and more advanced production facilities have also contributed to rising salary levels for experienced Distillers.

Distiller salary – comprehensive overview

  • Average salary: 40 500 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 37,500 SEK/month (female, private sector employee, education shorter than 3 years)
  • Highest salary: 42,200 SEK/month (male, private sector employee, post-secondary education of 3 years or more)
  • Hourly wage: 243 SEK/hour (average)
  • Gender differences: Women earn 37 700 SEK/month, men 41 100 SEK/month (women 92% of men's salary)
  • Regional differences: Data on regional variations is not available in accessible statistics

Many Distillers develop a unique ability over time to recognize quality deviations by smell and sight alone, making experience invaluable in the industry. Beyond technical knowledge, this intuition is highly valued by employers.

– statsskuld.se

Education and qualifications

To work as a Distiller, a post-secondary education in chemistry, process engineering, or a related field is usually required. Many employers also value practical experience from process industries or food production. Certifications and further training in safety and quality control are often advantageous, and some employers offer internal trainee programs. Self-study and online courses can provide a solid foundation, especially when combined with practical experience.

  • Post-secondary education: Chemistry, process engineering, or similar (2–3 years)
  • Certifications: Focused on process and safety work
  • Practical experience: Common during education or via trainee programs
  • Prerequisites: Science or technical high school education
  • Online courses: Possible for basic theory and industry-specific knowledge

Common benefits and compensations

Distillers are often offered benefits such as wellness allowances, subsidized lunches, reduced working hours, and opportunities for further education. Shift work may be compensated with overtime pay and extra vacation days. Occupational pensions and insurance are standard, especially within larger industrial companies.

Competition and challenges

The competition for positions as a Distiller is moderate, but the role requires both technical competence and experience from the process industry. A clear challenge is staying updated on increasingly advanced technology and digital monitoring, while quality and safety standards continue to rise. Since the job is often physically demanding and involves shift work, high demands are placed on endurance and accuracy. For those seeking advancement, further education and specialization are often necessary, such as in quality management or automation. The availability of job openings varies regionally and is influenced by the economic situation in the chemical industry.

Tips for aspiring Distillers

To succeed as a Distiller, it is beneficial to combine analytical skills with precision and a willingness to continuously develop your knowledge. Technical interest facilitates understanding complex process systems and machinery, while good teamwork skills make it easier to collaborate and solve problems. A high sense of responsibility is important, as the work often involves handling chemicals and monitoring safety-critical moments. Practical experience through internships or summer jobs in industry provides a strong foundation and increases chances of permanent employment. Demonstrating initiative and a desire to learn new methods is appreciated by employers and can lead to career progression.

Key facts about the Distiller profession

  • Education level: Post-secondary (2–3 years, chemistry/process engineering)
  • Work environment: Industrial with shift work and safety requirements
  • Typical employment form: Full-time, often shift work
  • Demand: 481 job openings within the profession (May 2024)
  • Special skills: Process monitoring, quality control, safety

Career paths and future prospects

After a few years of experience, Distillers have opportunities to advance to roles such as process leader, quality manager, or production manager in the chemical industry. Some choose to further their education in automation or process engineering to become specialists in advanced control systems. According to the Swedish Public Employment Service’s forecast, there is no specific assessment for the Distiller role, but within the process supervision group, 481 job openings are reported in May 2024, indicating continued demand. However, future prospects are influenced by economic cycles and technological development in the industry. Those who are flexible and continuously pursue further education have good opportunities for career advancement.

Common questions about the Distiller profession

  • What does a Distiller earn?
    - A Distiller has an average salary of 40 500 SEK per month.
  • What education is required to become a Distiller?
    - Typically, post-secondary education in chemistry or process engineering, often 2–3 years.
  • Are there salary differences between men and women?
    - Yes, women earn on average 92% of what men do in the profession.
  • What is the work environment like for a Distiller?
    - The work environment is industrial, with shift work and high safety standards.
  • What career paths are available after a few years as a Distiller?
    - Process leader, quality manager, or automation specialist are common further roles.
  • How many job openings are there in the profession?
    - There are a total of 481 job openings within chemical process supervision (May 2024).

Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Distiller is 42200 kr. This salary belongs to a man working in the Privately employed officials with a post-secondary education, 3 years or more. The highest salary for a woman in this profession is 38600 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Distiller is 37500 kr. This salary belongs to a woman also working in the Privately employed officials. The lowest salary for a man in this profession is 39300 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
18-24 102% 30700 kr 36000 kr
25-34 92% 33200 kr 39500 kr
35-44 90% 34500 kr 40700 kr
45-54 92% 35600 kr 41900 kr
55-64 91% 35900 kr 42300 kr
Snitt 92% 34300 kr 40500 kr
Salary per sector
Salary based on education
Register an account before you can comment

To write a comment you need to create an account.


Default Avatar

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 Distiller has the SSYK code 8192, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

Search salary statistics for occupation
8000 kr
<-|->
90000 kr
Vacant jobs
Similar occupations
Latest posts
  • Public Opinion - Opinion Poll Status Novus: Unchanged Support – Social Democrats Largest
    Wed, 19 Nov 2025 - 08:35
  • National Debt - The National Debt – Level, Development, and Significance for Sweden
    Wed, 8 Oct 2025 - 08:00
Salary, Taxes, and Fees
Net salary 31 377
Net salary
31 377
Taxes
11 738
Fees
12 129

With our Swedish tax calculator, you can easily calculate your after-tax income (net salary).

Swedish Church Member

* Updated with 2025 taxes