- Salary statistics
- Doctoral student, college / university
Doctoral student, college / university salary
29 600 - 37 400 kr / month
Women earn 98% of what men do.
Pedagogiskt arbete
Salary progression Doctoral student, college / university

Salary and Work as a PhD Candidate at a College or University
Working as a PhD candidate at a college or university means being in an intense and educational environment where research and studies go hand in hand. As a PhD candidate, you are not just a student but also an employee contributing to the development of knowledge in your field. Here we explore what it means to be a PhD candidate, as well as the salary conditions and working conditions that apply.
What does a PhD candidate earn at a college or university?
The average salary for a PhD candidate at a college/university is 32 000 SEK per month. However, there is a certain wage gap between genders; men earn an average of 32 300 SEK while women earn 31 700 SEK, which means that women earn 98% of what men do. As an interesting note, the average salary has increased from 31 400 to 32 000 SEK since the last measurement.
For those working on an hourly basis, the average salary is 192 SEK per hour, based on 166 working hours per month. The highest salary for a PhD candidate is 37,400 SEK, belonging to a man working as a privately employed officer with a doctoral education. On the other hand, the highest salary for a woman is 35,700 SEK. The lowest salary for a PhD candidate is 29,600 SEK for a woman working as a privately employed worker with a pre-secondary education, while the lowest salary for a man is 31,500 SEK.
Job Responsibilities and Duties
As a PhD candidate, you work on conducting research projects, writing scientific articles and dissertations, and participating in various academic conferences. In addition to your research tasks, you are also expected to participate in teaching and supervising students at both undergraduate and advanced levels. It is a role that requires both discipline and creativity, as well as the ability to work independently and in teams.
Requirements for Working as a PhD Candidate
To be admitted as a PhD candidate, it is usually required that you have a master's degree or equivalent in a relevant field. You also need to have a clear research idea and often go through an admission process that includes interviews and assessment of your academic qualifications. A strong motivation and interest in research are crucial for success in this profession.
Benefits and Working Conditions
The work as a PhD candidate often offers some benefits such as the possibility of flexible working hours and the option to work from home. In many cases, PhD candidates can also receive funding to participate in national and international conferences, which can be a significant advantage for those looking to build a broad academic network. However, it is important to note that these benefits can vary between different institutions and depending on funding and agreements.
Future Prospects and Career Opportunities
After completing a PhD position, there are several paths to choose from. Many continue in academia as postdocs or researchers, while others turn to the private sector where their analytical and research-based skills are highly sought after. Future prospects may vary depending on the field, but generally, PhD candidates are well-equipped for a variety of roles in both the public and private sectors.
Challenges and Competition
One of the biggest challenges for PhD candidates is balancing research and personal commitments, as well as managing the uncertainty that can come with uncertain future prospects in academia. The competition for PhD positions is often fierce, which places high demands on academic excellence and networking.
Working as a PhD candidate at a college or university is a unique opportunity to delve into a subject you are passionate about while contributing to scientific development. Despite challenges and competition, the role offers a valuable start to a career in research and academia or in the private sector.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
---|---|---|---|
18-24 | 99% | 30700 kr | 30700 kr |
25-34 | 98% | 32000 kr | 32000 kr |
35-44 | 98% | 31900 kr | 32000 kr |
45-54 | 96% | 32600 kr | 32700 kr |
Snitt | 98% | 32000 kr | 32000 kr |
Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
---|---|---|---|
18-24 | 99% | 30400 kr | 30400 kr |
25-34 | 98% | 31700 kr | 31800 kr |
35-44 | 98% | 31900 kr | 31900 kr |
45-54 | 95% | 32600 kr | 32700 kr |
55-64 | 99% | 32600 kr | 32600 kr |
Snitt | 98% | 31800 kr | 31800 kr |
Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
---|---|---|---|
18-24 | 99% | 30400 kr | 30400 kr |
25-34 | 98% | 31700 kr | 31800 kr |
35-44 | 98% | 31900 kr | 31900 kr |
45-54 | 95% | 32600 kr | 32700 kr |
55-64 | 99% | 32600 kr | 32600 kr |
Snitt | 98% | 31800 kr | 31800 kr |
Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
---|---|---|---|
25-34 | 99% | 33800 kr | 33800 kr |
Snitt | 98% | 33600 kr | 33600 kr |
Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
---|---|---|---|
25-34 | 99% | 33800 kr | 33800 kr |
Snitt | 98% | 33600 kr | 33600 kr |
Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
---|---|---|---|
18-24 | 99% | 30800 kr | 30800 kr |
25-34 | 98% | 32300 kr | 32300 kr |
35-44 | 98% | 32300 kr | 32300 kr |
45-54 | 96% | 33600 kr | 33700 kr |
Snitt | 98% | 32300 kr | 32300 kr |
Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
---|---|---|---|
18-24 | 99% | 30500 kr | 30600 kr |
25-34 | 98% | 32000 kr | 32100 kr |
35-44 | 98% | 32200 kr | 32200 kr |
45-54 | 95% | 33700 kr | 33800 kr |
55-64 | 99% | 32900 kr | 32900 kr |
Snitt | 98% | 32000 kr | 32100 kr |
Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
---|---|---|---|
18-24 | 99% | 30500 kr | 30600 kr |
25-34 | 98% | 32000 kr | 32100 kr |
35-44 | 98% | 32200 kr | 32200 kr |
45-54 | 95% | 33700 kr | 33800 kr |
55-64 | 99% | 32900 kr | 32900 kr |
Snitt | 98% | 32000 kr | 32100 kr |
Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
---|---|---|---|
25-34 | 99% | 34000 kr | 34000 kr |
Snitt | 98% | 33800 kr | 33900 kr |
Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
---|---|---|---|
25-34 | 99% | 34000 kr | 34000 kr |
Snitt | 98% | 33800 kr | 33900 kr |
Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
---|---|---|---|
18-24 | 99% | 30500 kr | 30600 kr |
25-34 | 98% | 31700 kr | 31700 kr |
35-44 | 98% | 31700 kr | 31800 kr |
45-54 | 96% | 32200 kr | 32200 kr |
Snitt | 98% | 31700 kr | 31700 kr |
Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
---|---|---|---|
18-24 | 99% | 30100 kr | 30300 kr |
25-34 | 98% | 31400 kr | 31500 kr |
35-44 | 98% | 31600 kr | 31600 kr |
45-54 | 95% | 32000 kr | 32100 kr |
55-64 | 99% | 32500 kr | 32500 kr |
Snitt | 98% | 31500 kr | 31500 kr |
Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
---|---|---|---|
18-24 | 99% | 30100 kr | 30300 kr |
25-34 | 98% | 31400 kr | 31500 kr |
35-44 | 98% | 31600 kr | 31600 kr |
45-54 | 95% | 32000 kr | 32100 kr |
55-64 | 99% | 32500 kr | 32500 kr |
Snitt | 98% | 31500 kr | 31500 kr |
Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
---|---|---|---|
25-34 | 99% | 33500 kr | 33600 kr |
Snitt | 98% | 33300 kr | 33300 kr |
Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
---|---|---|---|
25-34 | 99% | 33500 kr | 33600 kr |
Snitt | 98% | 33300 kr | 33300 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 Doctoral student, college / university has the SSYK code 2314, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.
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