How much does a Diet cook make

  1. Salary statistics
  2. Diet cook
Image that illustrates Diet cook

Diet cook

31 400 kr

Chefs and cold buffet managers

27 100 - 44 700 kr / month

Women earn 97% of what men do.

Hotell, restaurang

What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression Diet cook

Average salary 31 400 kr
Males 31 900 kr
Females 30 900 kr
1 Likes 0 Comments 256 Vacant jobs ->

What does a diet cook do? – Tasks and work environment

A diet cook is responsible for planning, preparing, and serving food tailored to specific dietary needs, for example for individuals with allergies, intolerances, or medical conditions. Tasks include close collaboration with dietitians and other healthcare staff to ensure meals meet both nutritional and medical requirements. Diet cooks often work in large kitchens, schools, elderly care homes, or hospitals where special dietary needs are common. The work environment is characterized by a fast pace and a high level of responsibility, where accuracy and hygiene are central parts of daily work.

Salary development over time

The salary for diet cooks has shown a positive trend over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 29,000 SEK per month, increasing to 30 700 SEK in 2023 and further to 31 400 SEK in 2024. The total increase during this period is approximately 8.3%, a noticeable rise compared to several other professions within the restaurant and large kitchen sectors. The increase can partly be explained by a growing demand for specialized dietary staff in the public sector, as well as the increasing value of expertise in nutrition and allergy-friendly diets. Salary development also follows the general trend in the healthcare and social care sectors, where specialization is often rewarded.

Diet Cook salary – comprehensive overview

  • Average salary: 31 400 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 27,100 SEK/month (woman, pre-secondary education)
  • Highest salary: 44,700 SEK/month (man, public sector, post-secondary education less than three years)
  • Average salary men: 31 900 SEK/month
  • Average salary women: 30 900 SEK/month
  • Women’s salary as a percentage of men’s: 97%
  • Hourly wage (average): 189 SEK

Diet cooks often play a key role in promoting food enjoyment and nutritious choices for individuals with special dietary needs. Close collaboration with both guests and healthcare staff makes the profession both social and rewarding – many diet cooks feel they make a tangible difference in people's everyday lives.

– statsskuld.se

Education and qualifications

To work as a diet cook, a high school education in restaurant and food studies is usually required, supplemented with specialization in diet and special diets. Many employers also seek practical experience from large kitchens or healthcare environments, and further education in nutrition or allergy diets is often requested. Certifications and short courses can be advantageous to broaden competence further.

  • High school education: Restaurant and Food Program (3 years)
  • Further education: Courses in special diets, nutrition, and food hygiene
  • Practical experience: Experience from large kitchens, hospitals, or elderly care
  • Certifications: Food hygiene, allergy diets, special diets
  • Prerequisites: Usually completed high school education

Common benefits and compensations

Diet cooks are often offered benefits such as extra vacation days, wellness allowances, and opportunities for professional development through courses or training. Many employers in the public sector also provide favorable pension schemes and subsidized lunches. Shift work may occur, but working hours are often more regular compared to the broader restaurant industry.

Competition and challenges

The competition for positions as a diet cook is relatively moderate, but the availability of qualified personnel varies across the country. There is a paradoxical recruitment situation where some employers struggle to find the right competence, while the proportion of part-time workers and those leaving the profession is high. Challenges include high demands for specialized knowledge in diet and nutrition, as well as the ability to adapt menus to individual needs. The profession also requires good knowledge of food hygiene and the ability to handle stressful situations, especially in large kitchens with high tempo.

Tips for those who want to become a diet cook

To succeed as a diet cook, it is beneficial to combine an interest in cooking with a strong sense of responsibility and precision. Good collaboration skills facilitate teamwork with dietitians and colleagues, while flexibility and initiative make it easier to adapt menus to various needs. Being attentive and service-oriented is also advantageous, as contact with guests and patients is often close. Keeping up-to-date with new research in nutrition and special diets increases opportunities for development within the profession. Finally, a structured work approach is crucial to maintaining high quality and safety in kitchen work.

Key facts about Diet Cook

  • Education level: High school education with specialization in nutrition
  • Work environment: Large kitchens, schools, hospitals, and elderly care homes
  • Demand: Great opportunities for employment nationwide
  • Specialized knowledge: Nutrition science, special diets, food hygiene
  • Available jobs: 123 advertised positions within the profession

Career paths and future prospects

After three to five years in the profession, a diet cook can advance to supervisory roles within kitchens, such as head chef or responsible for special diets in larger operations. There are also opportunities to further specialize in nutrition and work as a dietary advisor or in education. Forecasts from the Employment Service indicate that demand for diet cooks and related roles is expected to remain unchanged over the next five years, with continued good job prospects, especially in the public sector. There is also potential to specialize further in specific diet areas, such as child or elderly care, thereby broadening career opportunities.

Frequently asked questions about Diet Cook

  • What does a Diet Cook earn?
    - A diet cook has an average salary of 31 400 SEK per month, with variation depending on experience, education, and workplace.
  • How does one become a diet cook?
    - The most common path is to attend the restaurant and food program at high school and then specialize in special diets or nutrition science.
  • Are there many jobs for diet cooks?
    - Yes, there are 123 available jobs in the profession, and demand is considered high nationwide.
  • Which workplaces employ diet cooks?
    - Diet cooks mainly work in large kitchens, schools, hospitals, and elderly care homes.
  • Are there salary differences between men and women?
    - Yes, women earn on average 97% of men's salaries within the profession.
  • What is the highest salary for a diet cook?
    - The highest salary is 44,700 SEK per month and belongs to a man in the public sector with post-secondary education shorter than three years.
  • What education is required to become a diet cook?
    - High school education in restaurant and food studies, supplemented with specialization in diet and special diets, is recommended.

Richard Andersson

Richard Andersson - 2025-07-10 06:55:11

Occupation
Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Diet cook is 44700 kr. This salary belongs to a man working in the Public sector with a post-secondary education, less than 3 years. The highest salary for a woman in this profession is 34800 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Diet cook is 27100 kr. This salary belongs to a woman also working in the Multiple sectors. The lowest salary for a man in this profession is 29000 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
18-24 96% 27800 kr 29600 kr
25-34 96% 30500 kr 32000 kr
35-44 94% 30800 kr 31800 kr
45-54 97% 30200 kr 30900 kr
55-64 99% 30900 kr 31500 kr
65-68 95% 31400 kr 31900 kr
Snitt 97% 30400 kr 31400 kr
* Empty columns indicate that the statistical data was insufficient to allow for a statistically significant conclusion.
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 Diet cook has the SSYK code 5120, 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
Show more
Similar occupations
Latest posts
  • Public Opinion - Opinion Poll Status Novus: Unchanged Support – Social Democrats Largest

    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

    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

Explore more topics