Image that illustrates Fillet cutter

Fillet cutter

30 800 kr

Machine operators, meat and fish processing industry

28 500 - 33 300 kr / month

Women earn 106% of what men do.

Industriell tillverkning

What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression Fillet cutter

Average salary 30 800 kr
Males 30 400 kr
Females 32 300 kr

What does a fillet cutter do? – Tasks and work environment

A fillet cutter specializes in processing and portioning meat or fish into high-quality fillets. The work mainly takes place within the food industry, where the fillet cutter uses both manual tools and machines to ensure raw materials are handled hygienically and efficiently. The work environment is often characterized by cool, damp premises with high hygiene and safety standards. The fillet cutter usually works in teams, where precision, speed, and good physical condition are crucial qualities to handle the often repetitive and physically demanding work.

Salary development over time

Over the past three years, salary development for fillet cutters has been steadily upward. In 2022, the average salary was 28,500 SEK per month, increasing to 29 800 SEK in 2023 and further to 30 800 SEK in 2024. This corresponds to an increase of just over 8% during the period. The salary increase can largely be explained by an increased focus on food safety, higher quality standards, and a certain shortage of experienced fillet cutters in some regions. At the same time, automation and efficiency improvements in production lines impact the demand for manual labor, which may dampen salary growth in the long run. Despite this, the trend shows that the profession’s value and skills are still appreciated in the job market.

Fillet cutter salary – complete overview

  • Average salary: 30 800 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 28,500 SEK/month (male), 31,400 SEK/month (female)
  • Highest salary: 33,300 SEK/month (male), 32,700 SEK/month (female)
  • Hourly wage: 185 SEK
  • Gender differences: Women earn 106% of what men do (men 30 400 SEK, women 32 300 SEK)
  • Regional differences: Highest and lowest salaries are found within the regional sector

Education and qualifications

To work as a fillet cutter, a high school education with specialization in food, meat, or fish handling is generally required. Many employers also offer in-house training to ensure new employees reach the required technical level and knowledge regarding hygiene standards. Practical experience and an interest in food handling are important merits, and sometimes specific certifications for machine use are required.

  • High school education: Food program, specialization in meat or fish handling (3 years)
  • Certifications: Food hygiene and machine safety (internal/external)
  • Internship: Common during education or as a trainee
  • Prerequisites: Good physical condition, accuracy, and interest in food handling
  • Tips for choosing: Site visits and internships provide good insight into the profession

A skilled fillet cutter develops over time an exceptional sense of the raw material's quality and texture – something that is often reflected in the appearance and taste of the final product. For many, the profession also involves pride in preserving craft traditions within a modern industry. Those who enjoy working with their hands and have an eye for detail can find great satisfaction in the role.

– statsskuld.se

Common benefits and compensation

Fillet cutters are often offered benefits such as overtime pay for work during inconvenient hours, wellness allowances, and opportunities for further training within the company. Many employers also provide work clothing, protective equipment, and sometimes subsidized meals. Occupational pensions and insurance are usually included in employment terms.

Challenges and competition

The profession of fillet cutter faces several challenges, notably due to technological development and automation within the food industry. Although job opportunities are assessed as moderate, demand is expected to decrease over the next five years. This is mainly because more tasks are automated, and companies are streamlining their production processes. At the same time, there remains a need for skilled fillet cutters for more advanced and specialized tasks. The job market is balanced, but competition may increase as the number of available positions decreases.

Tips for those wanting to become a fillet cutter

To succeed as a fillet cutter, it is good to have a genuine interest in food and a willingness to learn the craft from the ground up. Precision is crucial, especially when handling knives and machines, to ensure both quality and safety. Good physical condition makes the work easier, as it often requires strength and endurance during long shifts. Flexibility and the ability to quickly adapt to new tasks are valuable qualities, especially in larger production environments. Being cooperative and able to work in a team is also important for contributing to an efficient workflow. Those who are proactive and take responsibility for their own development can quickly advance and take on more specialized tasks. Finally, stress tolerance is an advantage, as the pace can sometimes be high and tasks repetitive.

Key facts about fillet cutters

  • Education level: High school, food program (3 years)
  • Work environment: Cool and damp premises, often in teams
  • Typical employment form: Full-time, shift work is common
  • Demand: Moderate opportunities, 1,437 job openings nationwide
  • Special skills: Food hygiene and machine handling

Career paths and future outlook

After three to five years of experience, a fillet cutter can move into more specialized roles, such as supervisor, trainer within the company, or production planner. There are also opportunities to further education in food technology, quality control, or machine operation to broaden skills. Forecasts from the Employment Service show that the job market for machine operators within food is expected to be balanced in the coming years, but demand may decrease in the long term due to increased automation. For those wishing to develop, there are still good opportunities, especially within larger companies and corporations where internal mobility is encouraged.

Frequently asked questions about fillet cutters

  • What is the average salary of a fillet cutter?
    - A fillet cutter has an average monthly salary of 30 800 SEK.
  • What are the gender differences within the fillet cutting profession?
    - Women earn on average 32 300 SEK, which is 106% of what men earn (men 30 400 SEK).
  • What education is required to become a fillet cutter?
    - High school education within the food program with specialization in meat or fish handling is most common.
  • Are there regional salary differences for fillet cutters?
    - Yes, both the highest and lowest salaries are found within the regional sector.
  • What are the future prospects for fillet cutters?
    - The Employment Service assesses that job opportunities are moderate, but demand is expected to decrease in the long term.
  • What personal qualities are important for a fillet cutter?
    - Accuracy, good physical condition, teamwork skills, and stress tolerance are particularly important.
  • What are the highest and lowest salaries for a fillet cutter?
    - The highest salary is 33,300 SEK (male), 32,700 SEK (female), and the lowest is 28,500 SEK (male), 31,400 SEK (female).

Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Fillet cutter is 33300 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 32700 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Fillet cutter is 28500 kr. This salary belongs to a man working in the Regional sector. The lowest salary for a woman in this profession is 31400 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
18-24 28100 kr 31500 kr
25-34 117% 27200 kr 29400 kr
35-44 108% 28200 kr 30200 kr
45-54 103% 29400 kr 31100 kr
55-64 92% 32300 kr 34100 kr
Snitt 106% 28700 kr 30800 kr
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 Fillet cutter has the SSYK code 8161, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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