Image that illustrates Purchasing engineer

Purchasing engineer

46 800 kr

Engineers and technicians, industry and production planning

40 700 - 52 600 kr / month

Women earn 94% of what men do.

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Salary progression Purchasing engineer

Average salary 46 800 kr
Males 47 400 kr
Females 44 500 kr

What does a Purchasing Engineer do? – Tasks and Work Environment

A purchasing engineer is responsible for ensuring that the company's material and component flow operates efficiently and cost-effectively. The work includes analyzing needs, conducting procurement, evaluating suppliers, and negotiating contracts. The purchasing engineer often collaborates closely with production, logistics, and development departments, requiring both technical understanding and strong business relationship skills. The work environment is mainly office-based but can also involve travel to suppliers and factories, both nationally and internationally.

Salary Development Over Time

Salaries for purchasing engineers have steadily increased over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 42,700 SEK per month. In 2023, it increased to 44 200 SEK, representing an approximate 3.5% rise. In 2024, the average salary continued to grow to 46 800 SEK, a further increase of 5.9% from the previous year. This positive trend reflects increasing demand for technical procurement skills and a greater focus on strategic purchasing within the industry. Higher education requirements, digitalization, and an increased need for supply security have also contributed to salary development.

Purchasing Engineer Salary – Complete Overview

  • Average salary: 46 800 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 40,700 SEK (female, high school education)
  • Highest salary: 52,600 SEK (male, private sector, post-secondary education 3+ years)
  • Hourly wage: 281 SEK/hour
  • Women: 44 500 SEK/month (94% of men's salary)
  • Men: 47 400 SEK/month
  • Regional differences: Minor variations, but higher salaries in metropolitan areas and within the private sector

Education and Qualifications

To work as a purchasing engineer, a post-secondary education in engineering, industrial economics, or logistics is generally required. Many also supplement their education with courses in purchasing, negotiation, and business law. Practical experience, such as through trainee programs or internships, is often advantageous and can give an edge in employment. Certifications and ongoing training in procurement and project management are common.

  • Post-secondary education: University engineer or civil engineer, 3–5 years
  • Courses and certifications: Purchasing, logistics, negotiation, business law
  • Internship/Trainee: Common in larger companies
  • Prerequisites: Basic technical understanding and mathematics
  • Tips for choosing: Combine technical education with courses in economics and project management

Many purchasing engineers work closely with both production and development, providing a unique opportunity to influence the entire product lifecycle – from idea to delivery. The role requires both technical curiosity and a holistic perspective, offering good opportunities to build a broad network within the industry.

– statsskuld.se

Common Benefits and Compensation

Purchasing engineers are often offered benefits such as occupational pension, wellness allowance, flexible working hours, and opportunities for remote work. Bonuses, employee discounts, and extra vacation days are also common, especially in larger companies and international corporations.

Competition and Challenges

The market for purchasing engineers is characterized by some competition, especially for attractive employers in technology-intensive industries and in metropolitan areas. Challenges mainly include managing complex supply chains, working with sustainability requirements, and quickly adapting to external changes. Digitalization, automation, and increased documentation demands have made the profession more complex. However, there are good opportunities for proactive individuals willing to develop their skills.

Tips for Aspiring Purchasing Engineers

To succeed as a purchasing engineer, it is beneficial to combine analytical skills with good communication abilities, as the work involves both technical analysis and negotiations with suppliers. Being solution-oriented and flexible is a great advantage when unexpected delivery issues arise. Accuracy and a structured approach help keep track of contracts and delivery times. Strong collaboration skills facilitate contact with various departments, while an interest in environmental scanning makes it easier to identify new opportunities and risks. A continuous desire to learn and develop creates long-term success in the role.

Key Facts about Purchasing Engineers

  • Education level: Post-secondary (university or civil engineering, 3–5 years)
  • Work environment: Office-based, close to production and development
  • Work form: Full-time, often permanent employment
  • Demand: 564 job openings in 2024
  • Gender differences: Women earn 94% of men's salaries

Career Paths and Future Outlook

After three to five years as a purchasing engineer, there are good opportunities to advance to roles such as strategic buyer, purchasing manager, or project leader within supply chain. Many also choose to specialize in areas like sustainable procurement, international trade, or logistics optimization. The Employment Service's forecasts show that engineers and technicians within industry, logistics, and production planning have a stable job market, although no exact assessment can be made for purchasing engineers due to limited data. In total, 564 job openings were available in the profession in 2024, indicating continued strong demand.

Common Questions about Purchasing Engineers

  • What does a purchasing engineer earn?
    - The average salary for a purchasing engineer is 46 800 SEK per month, with variation depending on experience and education level.
  • What education is required to become a purchasing engineer?
    - A post-secondary education such as a university engineer or civil engineer, often supplemented with courses in purchasing and logistics, is most common.
  • Are there gender differences in salaries for purchasing engineers?
    - Yes, women earn on average 94% of what men do within the profession.
  • What are the career opportunities?
    - Opportunities exist to advance to roles such as strategic buyer, purchasing manager, or project leader within supply chain.
  • What personal qualities are important?
    - Analytical ability, communication skills, accuracy, and teamwork are especially valuable in the profession.
  • What is the job market like for purchasing engineers?
    - The job market is stable with 564 job openings in 2024, but no precise forecast exists due to limited data.
  • What are the highest and lowest salaries for purchasing engineers?
    - The highest salary is 52,600 SEK (male, private sector, post-secondary education), while the lowest is 40,700 SEK (female, high school education).

Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Purchasing engineer is 52600 kr. This salary belongs to a man working in the Privately employed officials with a post-secondary education, 3 years or more. The highest salary for a woman in this profession is 47100 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Purchasing engineer is 40700 kr. This salary belongs to a woman also working in the Multiple sectors. The lowest salary for a man in this profession is 43800 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
18-24 98% 32800 kr 35300 kr
25-34 99% 41800 kr 42700 kr
35-44 96% 47400 kr 48400 kr
45-54 95% 47700 kr 49200 kr
55-64 91% 46800 kr 48000 kr
Snitt 94% 45600 kr 46800 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 Purchasing engineer has the SSYK code 3111, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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