Image that illustrates Cafe owner

Cafe owner

37 800 kr

Sales-oriented store managers and department managers in stores

34 600 - 41 000 kr / month

Women earn 101% of what men do.

Försäljning & inköp

What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression Cafe owner

Average salary 37 800 kr
Males 37 500 kr
Females 38 000 kr

What does a café owner do? – Tasks and work environment

A café owner is responsible for running and developing a café business, which includes everything from purchasing raw materials and staff management to customer service and marketing. The tasks vary depending on the size and focus of the café, but often include scheduling, budgeting, ordering, and quality control. A significant part of the work is performed on-site in the café environment, where the pace can be fast and workload varies throughout the day. Café owners often have a hands-on role in daily operations and regularly meet both customers and suppliers, requiring good organizational skills and a service-oriented attitude.

Salary development over time

Over the past three years, café owners' salaries have steadily increased. In 2022, the average salary was 35,500 SEK per month, which increased to 36 800 SEK in 2023 and further to 37 800 SEK in 2024. This represents a total salary increase of approximately 6.5% during the period. The trend shows that the profession follows a positive salary development, which can partly be explained by increased demand for qualified café managers and a growing interest in the café industry. Salary increases also reflect higher demands on leadership, business understanding, and adaptability in a competitive and rapidly changing market.

Owning and operating a café often involves long working days and many different roles – from barista to financial manager. Many café owners appreciate the creative freedom and the opportunity to create a unique meeting place for both regulars and new visitors.

– statsskuld.se

Café owner salary – complete overview

  • Average salary: 37 800 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 34,600 SEK/month
  • Highest salary: 41,000 SEK/month
  • Hourly wage (average): 227 SEK
  • Women: 38 000 SEK/month
  • Men: 37,500 SEK/month
  • Women earn: 101% of what men do

Education and qualifications

Becoming a café owner does not require any specific formal education, but experience from the restaurant industry and knowledge of business economics are highly valuable. Many choose to supplement with courses in leadership, food hygiene, and barista techniques to increase their chances of success. Practical skills and an understanding of business operations are essential for success.

  • High school education: Hotel and tourism or restaurant and food
  • Courses: Food hygiene, economics, personnel management
  • Certifications: Industry-specific, e.g., barista training
  • Internship: Experience from café or restaurant environment is recommended
  • Prerequisites: No formal requirements, but experience is advantageous

Common benefits and compensations

Café owners often have the opportunity for flexible working hours and to influence their own work environment. Additional benefits can include staff discounts, wellness allowances, and potential bonuses based on results. Entrepreneurship also offers the possibility of profit sharing depending on the profitability of the business.

Competition and challenges

The café industry is characterized by tough competition, especially in larger cities where the range of cafés is extensive and customer expectations are high. Standing out with concepts, quality, and service is crucial to attract and retain customers. Economic fluctuations and changing consumption habits can affect profitability, and good marketing skills and the ability to adapt quickly to new trends are required. At the same time, the role of café owner often involves extensive work responsibilities and a high pace, demanding endurance and leadership.

Tips for those who want to become café owners

To succeed as a café owner, it is important to combine creativity with business acumen and a strong sense of service. A good first step is to work within the industry to build experience and understand customer needs, and it is important to be attentive to trends and wishes. Structured planning and careful budgeting make it easier as the business grows, and good organizational skills help manage staff and procurement. Being resilient and flexible is crucial in an industry where the pace is often fast and tasks varied. Personal presence and engagement in daily work strengthen relationships with both customers and employees, and clear leadership contributes to a positive work environment.

Key facts about Café Owners

  • Education level: High school diploma, often supplemented with short courses
  • Work environment: Café environment with high pace and lots of customer contact
  • Work form: Self-employed or privately employed
  • Demand: 550 available jobs in 2024
  • Special skills: Service, economics, leadership, and food hygiene

Career paths and future prospects

A café owner can, after a few years of experience, develop their business by opening more units, specializing their offerings, or advancing to other leadership roles within the café and restaurant industry. Further education in business management or marketing is also common to strengthen market position. Forecasts from the Swedish Public Employment Service show continued good demand within the profession, with 550 available jobs registered in 2024. The future outlook is considered stable, especially for those combining business thinking with the ability to create unique customer experiences. Regional differences exist, with higher competition in large cities and increased opportunities for niche concepts in smaller towns.

Frequently asked questions about Café Owners

  • What does a café owner earn?
    - The average salary for a café owner is 37 800 SEK per month.
  • Are there salary differences between men and women?
    - Yes, women earn an average of 38 000 SEK while men earn 37,500 SEK per month, which means women earn 101% of men's salaries.
  • What education is required to become a café owner?
    - High school education in hotel, tourism, or restaurant management is recommended, often supplemented with courses in economics and food hygiene.
  • What is the work environment like for café owners?
    - The work environment is often busy and varied, with lots of customer contact and responsibility for operations and staff.
  • Are there regional salary differences?
    - Salary differences may occur between regions, especially between major cities and smaller towns, but the average salary is 37 800 SEK nationally.
  • What are the most common career paths?
    - Many develop their business, start more cafés or move into leadership roles within the café and restaurant industry.
  • What are the future prospects for café owners?
    - Demand is considered stable with 550 available jobs in 2024, according to the Swedish Public Employment Service.

Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Cafe owner is 41000 kr. This salary belongs to a woman working in the Privately employed officials with a upper secondary education, maximum 2 years. The highest salary for a man in this profession is 37500 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Cafe owner is 34600 kr. This salary belongs to a woman also working in the Privately employed officials. The lowest salary for a man in this profession is 37500 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
18-24 32000 kr 32700 kr
25-34 91% 38100 kr 39300 kr
35-44 93% 35800 kr 36100 kr
45-54 89% 36400 kr 36800 kr
55-64 37600 kr 0 kr
Snitt 101% 37000 kr 37800 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 Cafe owner has the SSYK code 5221, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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