Image that illustrates Dragons

Dragons

36 500 kr

Machine operators, pharmaceutical products

35 600 - 38 600 kr / month

Women earn 100% of what men do.

Industriell tillverkning

What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression Dragons

Average salary 36 500 kr
Males 36 500 kr
Females 36 600 kr

What does a dragerare do? – Tasks and work environment

A dragerare mainly works within the pharmaceutical industry and is responsible for monitoring and controlling processes where tablets are coated with a protective or functional layer. Tasks include handling advanced machinery, overseeing the coating process, and ensuring that production meets quality standards. The work environment is often cleanroom-based, demanding high precision, hygiene, and compliance with safety routines. Dragerare work closely with other machine operators, technicians, and quality inspectors to ensure smooth and efficient production.

Salary development over time

Over the past three years, dragerare have experienced a relatively stable salary development. In 2022, the average salary was 35100 SEK per month, increasing to 37100 SEK in 2023. In 2024, the average salary has been adjusted to 36 500 SEK. This represents a total increase of about 4% over the three-year period, with a slight decrease in the past year. This trend may be due to high demand for machine operators in the pharmaceutical sector, but market conditions and efficiency improvements have influenced salary levels. Salaries are also equal between genders, which is uncommon in the industry and can be explained by structured salary setting and clear collective agreements.

Dragerare salary – complete overview

  • Average salary: 36 500 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 35,600 SEK/month (men), 35,800 SEK/month (women)
  • Highest salary: 38,600 SEK/month (men), 38,300 SEK/month (women)
  • Hourly wage: 219 SEK
  • Gender differences: Women earn the same as men
  • Regional differences: Highest salaries are found in the regional sector

Education and qualifications

To work as a dragerare, a high school education in industry, technology, or science is usually required. Many employers prefer candidates with experience in process industries or pharmaceutical manufacturing. Internal training and on-the-job learning are common, emphasizing practical skills and safety routines.

  • High school education: Technology or industrial programs (3 years)
  • Certifications: Hygiene and safety training for the pharmaceutical industry
  • Internship: Often internship or trainee periods at the workplace
  • Prerequisites: Good understanding of machinery and processes
  • Further education: Opportunities for internal courses and skill development

Working as a dragerare often requires good teamwork skills and the ability to quickly solve technical problems. As the pharmaceutical industry digitalizes, the need for digital competence and familiarity with automated systems increases.

– statsskuld.se

Common benefits and compensations

Dragerare often have access to benefits such as shift allowances, wellness contributions, subsidized lunch, and extra vacation. Other common compensations include collective agreement-based occupational pension, health insurance, and work clothing. Some employers also offer bonuses linked to production targets and opportunities for skills development.

Challenges and competition

The demand for dragerare is stable, but competition can vary depending on region and economic conditions. A challenge is that the tasks require both technical skills and high accuracy, which demands education and experience. Automation within the pharmaceutical industry may change the nature of the work over time, making further training and adaptability increasingly important. Since the number of positions is limited to larger pharmaceutical companies and production facilities, job availability can vary across the country. The work environment is often strictly regulated, contributing to high safety but also routine-driven tasks.

Tips for aspiring dragerare

To succeed as a dragerare, it is good to have a technical interest and be precise in your work. Quickly understanding machine functions and following detailed instructions are crucial, especially when quality and safety are prioritized. Analytical thinking helps with troubleshooting and process optimization, while good teamwork skills facilitate daily collaboration. Flexibility is also important, as tasks may vary depending on production needs. Patience and perseverance are valuable, especially during monotonous moments or shift work. Finally, curiosity about new technology is an advantage, as the pharmaceutical industry is rapidly evolving and digital systems are playing an increasingly larger role.

Key facts about dragerare

  • Education level: High school education in technology or industry
  • Work environment: Cleanroom, process industry, shift work common
  • Demand: 1,437 available jobs within the profession
  • Gender distribution: Equal pay between women and men
  • Special skills: Machinery handling and hygiene routines

Career paths and future prospects

After 3–5 years as a dragerare, there may be opportunities to advance to supervisory roles, such as team leader or production coordinator. Further education can also lead to specialist roles within quality control or process technology. Forecasts from the Swedish Public Employment Service indicate a large number of available jobs for machine operators in the pharmaceutical industry, but due to limited data, no precise outlook for dragerare is provided. However, digitalization and automation are expected to increase the need for technically skilled workers in the future.

Frequently asked questions about dragerare

  • What does a dragerare earn?
    - A dragerare has an average salary of 36 500 SEK per month.
  • How has the salary development for dragerare looked?
    - The salary development has been stable with an increase of about 4% over the past three years.
  • Are there salary differences between women and men?
    - No, women and men have essentially identical salaries within the profession.
  • What education is required to become a dragerare?
    - Usually, a high school education in technology or industry along with internal training is required.
  • What does the job market look like for dragerare?
    - Currently, there are 1,437 available jobs according to the latest statistics.
  • What tasks does a dragerare perform?
    - The main task is to monitor and control the coating process of pharmaceutical tablets.
  • What benefits are common for dragerare?
    - Common benefits include shift allowances, wellness contributions, occupational pension, and work clothing.

Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Dragons is 38600 kr. This salary belongs to a man working in the Regional sector with a upper secondary education, maximum 2 years. The highest salary for a woman in this profession is 38300 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Dragons is 35600 kr. This salary belongs to a man working in the Privately employed officials. The lowest salary for a woman in this profession is 35800 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
18-24 103% 25700 kr 32700 kr
25-34 100% 29600 kr 35800 kr
35-44 99% 31700 kr 37400 kr
45-54 97% 32800 kr 38400 kr
55-64 98% 33800 kr 39000 kr
Snitt 100% 30500 kr 36500 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 Dragons has the SSYK code 8131, 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