Image that illustrates Authors

Authors

34 700 kr

Prepress technicians

31 800 - 37 800 kr / month

Women earn 85% of what men do.

Industriell tillverkning

What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression Authors

Average salary 34 700 kr
Males 37 700 kr
Females 31 900 kr
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What does a Handsättare do? – Tasks and Work Environment

A handsättare primarily works within the printing and prepress industry and is responsible for manually setting text and images for printing. Tasks include preparing print originals and ensuring that the layout meets customer specifications and technical requirements. The job often involves handling advanced tools and machines, but also requires a high level of craftsmanship and precision. The work environment is usually workshop- or production-based, where collaboration with other technicians and printers is a natural part of daily work. The environment can be noisy and the pace sometimes hectic, especially before deadlines or large productions.

Salary Development Over Time

The salary for a handsättare has shown a relatively stable development over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 33,000 SEK per month, which increased to 34 800 SEK in 2023, corresponding to an increase of about 5.5%. In 2024, the average salary has been slightly adjusted downward to 34 700 SEK. This minor decrease may be due to changes in demand, employment forms, or an influx of recent graduates with slightly lower starting salaries. The profession is also influenced by technological development and digitalization, which may have dampened wage growth. Overall, the salary trend for handsättare has been stable with small variations, influenced by market needs and technological changes.

Handsättare Salary – Complete Overview

  • Average salary: 34 700 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 31,800 SEK/month
  • Highest salary: 37,800 SEK/month
  • Hourly wage (average): 209 SEK
  • Women: 31 900 SEK/month (85 % of men's salary)
  • Men: 37 700 SEK/month
  • Regional differences: No specific data available

Education and Qualifications

To work as a handsättare, a background in graphic technology or prepress is common, often through vocational high school programs or adult education. Many employers also value practical experience as an important complement to formal education. Specialized courses in typography, layout, and machine handling are advantageous, and on-the-job training is often provided. Self-study and digital courses can also be valuable to stay updated on technical developments in the profession.

  • Vocational high school: Graphic technology, 3 years
  • Higher vocational education: Prepress or printing technology, 1–2 years
  • Internship: Common during education
  • Certifications: Courses in typography, layout, and machine handling
  • Prerequisites: Interest in graphic production and technical problem-solving

Many handsättare develop a unique sense for details and typography, making them especially sought after for the production of exclusive printed materials and art books. This specialized skill set helps the profession maintain its importance despite the digitalization trend.

– statsskuld.se

Common Benefits and Compensation

The profession often offers benefits such as flexible working hours, wellness allowances, and collective pension schemes. Employers typically provide work clothing, subsidized lunches, or staff discounts. Some workplaces offer professional development and opportunities for further education in graphic technology and digital tools.

Competition and Challenges

Competition for positions as a handsättare varies depending on region and labor market needs. Ongoing digitalization and automation have led to some traditional tasks disappearing or changing, requiring continuous skills development. The number of job openings remains relatively high, with 1,437 reported vacancies. Challenges include adapting to new technology, maintaining high quality under time pressure, and managing physical strain during monotonous tasks. Overall, flexibility and a willingness to develop with the profession are essential to remain competitive.

Tips for Aspiring Handsättare

To succeed as a handsättare, it’s beneficial to combine technical understanding with an eye for detail. Being precise and quality-conscious facilitates producing perfect printed materials, while good teamwork skills are important as the work often involves collaboration. Showing initiative and openness to new methods provides an advantage in a rapidly changing industry. Creativity is an asset, especially when solving production problems. Finally, patience and stress resistance are crucial to handle deadlines and periods of high tempo – qualities appreciated by employers and colleagues alike.

Key Facts about Handsättare

  • Occupational group: Prepress technician
  • Average salary: 34 700 SEK/month
  • Hourly wage (average): 209 SEK
  • Education level: Vocational high school or YH education
  • Number of job openings in the profession: 1,437

Career Paths and Future Outlook

After three to five years in the profession, there are opportunities to advance to roles such as production manager, printing technician, or specialized prepress operator. Some choose to further their education in digital printing technology or graphic design to broaden their skills. The employment services do not provide a specific forecast for handsättare, but the large number of vacancies within the profession group of prepress technicians and printers indicates good employment prospects. The industry's technological development creates demand for individuals with broad skills and a willingness to learn new things. There are also opportunities for self-employment or consulting for those wishing to shape their own career path.

Frequently Asked Questions about Handsättare

  • What does a Handsättare earn?
    - A handsättare has an average salary of 34 700 SEK per month.
  • What are the salary differences between men and women?
    - Men earn an average of 37 700 SEK while women earn 31 900 SEK, which corresponds to 85 % of men's salary.
  • What education is required to become a Handsättare?
    - Most commonly, vocational high school education in graphic technology or YH education in prepress or printing technology.
  • Are there many job openings for Handsättare?
    - There are 1,437 available positions within the profession group of prepress technicians and printers.
  • What is the work environment like for Handsättare?
    - The work environment is often workshop- or production-based, sometimes noisy and periodically stressful before deadlines.
  • How has the salary for Handsättare developed over recent years?
    - Salaries have increased from 33,000 SEK (2022) to 34 700 SEK (2024), with a peak of 34 800 SEK (2023).
  • What are the highest and lowest salaries for a Handsättare?
    - The highest salary is 37,800 SEK and the lowest is 31,800 SEK per month.

Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Authors is 37800 kr. This salary belongs to a man working in the Privately employed officials with a unspecified education. The highest salary for a woman in this profession is 37300 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Authors is 31800 kr. This salary belongs to a woman also working in the Privately employed officials. The lowest salary for a man in this profession is 34900 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
55-64 35900 kr 36300 kr
Snitt 85% 34400 kr 34700 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 Authors has the SSYK code 7321, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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Net salary 31 377
Net salary
31 377
Taxes
11 738
Fees
12 129

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* Updated with 2025 taxes