Image that illustrates Home care assistant

Home care assistant

28 700 kr

Care assistants

26 900 - 30 200 kr / month

Women earn 100% of what men do.

Hälso- & sjukvård

What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression Home care assistant

Average salary 28 700 kr
Males 28 700 kr
Females 28 700 kr

What does a home care assistant do? – Tasks and work environment

A home care assistant works to provide support and care to elderly or disabled individuals in their homes. Tasks include assistance with personal care, cooking, cleaning, shopping, and accompanying to medical appointments. The profession involves close contact with clients and requires the ability to treat people with respect and sensitivity. The work is often performed independently, but collaboration with colleagues and other healthcare professionals is common. The work environment can be physically demanding and varies depending on the clients' needs and housing conditions.

Salary development over time

The salary for home care assistants has shown a stable and positive trend in recent years. In 2022, the average salary was 26,700 SEK, which increased to 27 900 SEK in 2023 and further to 28 700 SEK in 2024. The total increase over the period is approximately 7.5%, reflecting a combination of increased wage agreements, high demand, and inflationary pressures. Salary development has been even between genders, which is uncommon in the healthcare sector and can be explained by industry efforts toward gender equality. The demand for labor has also led employers to offer more competitive conditions to attract new employees.

Home care assistant salary – comprehensive overview

  • Average salary: 28 700 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 26,900 SEK (men, municipal sector), 27,000 SEK (women)
  • Highest salary: 30,200 SEK (both men and women, private sector employee)
  • Hourly wage: 172 SEK/hour (based on 166 working hours/month)
  • Gender differences: None; men and women have the same average and top levels
  • Regional differences: Data not available

Education and qualifications

To work as a home care assistant, usually no formal university education is required, but a secondary school healthcare and social care program is meritorious and preferred by employers. Practical skills, proficiency in Swedish, and a genuine interest in people are important qualities. Many employers also offer internal orientation programs and opportunities for further training.

  • Secondary school healthcare and social care program: 3 years
  • Internal orientation courses: Varies, often 1–4 weeks
  • Training during education: Included in secondary school programs
  • Prerequisites: Good Swedish language skills, spoken and written
  • Further training: Possibility to specialize in dementia or palliative care

Home care assistants often work independently and encounter many different life stories, providing a unique insight into society’s diversity and challenges. A typical day can include both practical and emotional challenges – the variation makes the profession both rewarding and meaningful.

– statsskuld.se

Common benefits and allowances

Among the most common benefits for home care assistants are on-call allowances for evening and weekend work, wellness contributions, work clothing, and sometimes further paid training. Occupational pension and insurance schemes are often included via collective agreements, and some employers offer subsidized meals or staff discounts. Flexible working hours are common, especially with hourly employment.

Competition and challenges

The profession as a home care assistant is characterized by high demand for labor but also challenges. Recruitment difficulties are common, partly due to the physical and mental demands of the job and its lower status compared to other healthcare roles. Many work part-time, which can offer flexibility but also insecurity. The workload can be high, especially during staff shortages, and requires good stress management and the ability to handle unexpected situations. At the same time, job opportunities are very good, with increasing needs due to an aging population.

Tips for those wanting to become a home care assistant

To succeed as a home care assistant, it is good to be attentive and empathetic, as the job involves meeting people in various life situations and adapting help to their individual needs. Patience and the ability to work independently are important, as the workday often involves many decisions and varied tasks. Good physical condition facilitates, as the profession can be physically demanding and requires helping out practically in homes. Being flexible and solution-oriented helps handle unexpected situations and adapt quickly to changing plans. Finally, good communication skills and the ability to collaborate with colleagues and relatives are advantages for creating security and continuity in care.

Key facts about home care assistants

  • Educational level: Secondary school healthcare and social care education recommended
  • Work environment: Independent work in clients’ homes
  • Work form: Commonly full-time and part-time, often hourly employment
  • Demand: Very high and increasing according to the Swedish Employment Agency
  • Job vacancies: 375 current positions within the profession

Career paths and future prospects

After 3–5 years as a home care assistant, there are opportunities to further qualify as an assistant nurse or specialize in areas such as dementia care, palliative care, or work management. Some choose to continue studies to become a registered nurse or work in training and mentoring new colleagues. Forecasts from the Swedish Employment Agency indicate that the job market for home care assistants is very good and expected to improve further over the next five years. The demand is driven by an aging population and increased needs for home-based services, making the profession a secure choice for those seeking stability and development opportunities.

Frequently asked questions about home care assistants

  • What does a home care assistant earn?
    - The average salary is 28 700 SEK per month, for both men and women.
  • Are there salary differences between men and women?
    - No, men and women earn the same within this profession.
  • What education is required to become a home care assistant?
    - A secondary school healthcare and social care program is recommended, but some employers offer internal training.
  • What is the job market like for home care assistants?
    - Job opportunities are very good, and demand is expected to increase in the coming years.
  • How has salary development looked over the last few years?
    - Salary development has been stable and positive, with an increase of about 7.5% over the past three years.
  • What are common job tasks?
    - Personal care, cleaning, cooking, shopping, and social support in the client's home.
  • What benefits are common in the profession?
    - On-call allowances, wellness contributions, work clothing, and sometimes further training are often included.

Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Home care assistant is 30200 kr. Both men and women in this profession have the same highest salary and work in the Privately employed officials.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Home care assistant is 26900 kr. This salary belongs to a man working in the Municipal sector. The lowest salary for a woman in this profession is 27000 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
18-24 98% 23100 kr 27300 kr
25-34 98% 24600 kr 28300 kr
35-44 99% 25300 kr 28800 kr
45-54 100% 26200 kr 29700 kr
55-64 101% 27500 kr 30800 kr
65-68 106% 28500 kr 32400 kr
Snitt 100% 25000 kr 28700 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 Home care assistant has the SSYK code 5330, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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