Image that illustrates Button worker

Button worker

31 400 kr

Hand packers and other factory workers

30 100 - 35 800 kr / month

Women earn 95% of what men do.

Industriell tillverkning

What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression Button worker

Average salary 31 400 kr
Males 31 900 kr
Females 30 500 kr

What does a button worker do? – Tasks and work environment

A button worker primarily works on assembling, sewing, or inspecting buttons on various types of clothing and textiles within the industry. Tasks may also include quality control of finished products, simple inspection, as well as packaging and sorting for delivery. The work is usually performed in a factory environment, often on an assembly line or at workstations involving monotonous and repetitive tasks. The work environment is characterized by some background noise, clear production goals, and sometimes shift work, which requires precision and endurance from the employee.

Salary development over time

The salary for a button worker has shown steady growth over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 28,200 kronor per month. In 2023, it increased to 30 300 kronor, corresponding to an increase of about 7.4%. In 2024, the trend continued with a further rise to 31 400 kronor per month, an increase of just over 3.6% from the previous year. This positive salary development can be partly explained by general industry adjustments and an increased focus on retaining experienced personnel despite relatively stable demand for the profession. Meanwhile, salary differences between men and women remain prominent, with women earning 95% of what men do.

Button worker salary – complete overview

  • Average salary: 31 400 kr/month
  • Lowest salary: 30,100 kr/month (female, regional sector, high school education up to 2 years)
  • Highest salary: 35,800 kr/month (male, public sector, high school education 3 years)
  • Hourly wage: 189 kr
  • Women: 30 500 kr/month
  • Men: 31 900 kr/month
  • Gender pay gap: Women earn 95% of what men do

Education and qualifications

To work as a button worker, a high school education in textiles, sewing, or industry is generally required. Many employers also offer internal training, making the profession accessible to people with different backgrounds. Practical experience and good fine motor skills are valuable, especially when working with machines and detailed manual tasks. Some employers may require shorter courses in quality assurance or occupational safety, but formal certifications are rarely mandatory.

  • High school education: 2–3 years, preferably in textiles or industry
  • Internal training: Commonly provided by employers
  • Practical experience: Meritorious for applications
  • Prerequisites: Precision and good hand motor skills
  • Courses in quality assurance: Can be an advantage

Many button workers develop impressive finger dexterity and speed over time – qualities that can also open doors to more advanced roles in the textile industry, such as machine operator or quality inspector.

– statsskuld.se

Common benefits and compensations

Button workers are often offered basic benefit packages that can include occupational pension, wellness allowances, and subsidized meals at the workplace. In some cases, bonus programs linked to production targets and additional pay for unsocial hours during shift work are also available. Accident and health insurance are common within the industry.

Competition and challenges

The competition for jobs as a button worker is relatively high, as there is a national surplus of labor within the profession. Despite 1,437 available jobs currently, the Employment Service assesses that job opportunities are limited and that demand is expected to remain unchanged over the next five years. Challenges mainly involve increased automation and efficiency improvements within the industry, which could reduce the need for manual labor. For those seeking long-term security, it may be wise to broaden their skills in related areas or pursue further education to increase employability.

Tips for those who want to become a button worker

To succeed as a button worker, it is good to combine precision with a keen eye for detail, as the work often involves repetitive and precision-demanding tasks. Developing good finger dexterity and patience facilitates both training and daily tasks. Flexibility is a valuable asset, especially when tasks shift between different stations or machines. Demonstrating responsibility and punctuality is appreciated by employers and can lead to more internal opportunities. For those who are proactive and want to broaden their skills, taking shorter courses in quality assurance or machine handling can be beneficial. Social skills and teamwork ability facilitate collaboration with colleagues, contributing to a better work environment and more efficient workflow.

Key facts about Button Workers

  • Education level: High school education, 2–3 years
  • Work environment: Factory, often shift work and repetitive tasks
  • Demand: Limited job opportunities, surplus of labor
  • Available jobs: 1,437 within the profession
  • Gender distribution: Continued pay gap, women earn 95% of men's salary

Career paths and future prospects

After three to five years in the profession, a button worker can advance to more senior roles within production, such as machine operator, quality inspector, or supervisor at textile factories. Further education can open opportunities in planning or logistics roles within the industry. According to the Employment Service's forecast, demand for button workers is expected to remain unchanged over the next five years, and competition for jobs is likely to stay high. Automation and efficiency improvements may impact the number of positions, making skill diversification and experience increasingly important for maintaining job security.

Frequently asked questions about Button Workers

  • What is the average salary of a button worker?
    - A button worker has an average monthly salary of 31 400 kronor.
  • How does the salary difference between men and women look?
    - Women earn 95% of men's salaries. Men have an average of 31 900 kronor and women 30 500 kronor per month.
  • What education is required to become a button worker?
    - High school education in textiles, sewing, or industry is most common, supplemented with internal training.
  • What are the future prospects for button workers?
    - The Employment Service assesses that job opportunities are limited and demand is expected to remain unchanged over the next five years.
  • Are there regional salary differences?
    - Regional differences may occur depending on employer and sector, but variation is generally moderate within the profession.
  • What is the highest and lowest salary for a button worker?
    - The highest salary is 35,800 kronor (male, public sector, high school education 3 years) and the lowest 30,100 kronor (female, regional sector, high school education up to 2 years).
  • What personal qualities are important in the profession?
    - Precision, patience, dexterity, and teamwork are central qualities for a button worker.

Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Button worker is 35800 kr. This salary belongs to a man working in the Public sector with a high school education, 3 years. The highest salary for a woman in this profession is 33300 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Button worker is 30100 kr. This salary belongs to a woman also working in the Regional sector. The lowest salary for a man in this profession is 30900 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
18-24 98% 28100 kr 30300 kr
25-34 95% 29800 kr 32200 kr
35-44 97% 30400 kr 32000 kr
45-54 94% 29800 kr 31200 kr
55-64 94% 30200 kr 31100 kr
Snitt 95% 29700 kr 31400 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 Button worker has the SSYK code 9320, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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