Image that illustrates Canned food

Canned food

30 800 kr

Machine operators, meat and fish processing industry

28 500 - 33 300 kr / month

Women earn 106% of what men do.

Industriell tillverkning

What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression Canned food

Average salary 30 800 kr
Males 30 400 kr
Females 32 300 kr

What does a Conservator Cook do? – Tasks and Work Environment

A Conservator Cook primarily works within the food industry, manufacturing canned products, often meat, fish, or vegetables. The profession involves responsibility for monitoring and controlling machines that cook, seal, and sterilize canned goods. Work is often performed in a production environment where hygiene standards and safety procedures are very important. It also includes performing quality checks, ensuring machinery functions correctly, and documenting production results. The work environment is characterized by shift work, noise, and sometimes heavy lifting, but modern industry often has automated processes that facilitate daily tasks.

Salary Development Over Time

The profession of Conservator Cook has experienced steady salary growth in recent years. In 2022, the average salary was 28,500 SEK per month. In 2023, the average increased to 29 800 SEK, representing an increase of approximately 4.6%. In the latest year, 2024, the salary continued to rise to 30 800 SEK, a further increase of about 3.4%. This positive trend can partly be explained by increased demand for food safety and efficiency in production, as well as general wage adjustments within the industry. At the same time, technological development and automation have impacted the profession, which may lead to a plateau in wage increases if competition for jobs increases.

Conservator Cook Salary – Complete Overview

  • Average salary: 30 800 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 28,500 SEK/month (male), 31,400 SEK/month (female)
  • Highest salary: 33,300 SEK/month (male), 32,700 SEK/month (female)
  • Hourly wage: 185 SEK
  • Gender pay gap: Women earn 106% of what men do (men: 30 400 SEK, women: 32 300 SEK)

Education and Qualifications

To work as a Conservator Cook, a high school education with a focus on food production or industrial manufacturing is usually required. Many employers also seek experience from similar industrial work, especially in machinery handling and food safety. Practical training during education can be advantageous, and further training in machine safety and hygiene is often a requirement for independent work.

  • Education: High school, preferably with a focus on food or industry (3 years)
  • Certifications: Courses in food safety and machine safety
  • Practical training: Workplace-based learning during education is recommended
  • Prerequisites: Basic mathematics and technical interest
  • Tips for choosing: Interest in production, quality, and precision facilitates the profession

Many Conservator Cooks develop over time a unique sense for raw material quality and process nuances, which is highly appreciated by employers and colleagues. Practical experience often becomes a valuable asset when introducing new products or improving production flows. Combining technical knowledge with an eye for detail is a trait that often distinguishes the most successful Conservator Cooks from others.

– statsskuld.se

Common Benefits and Compensation

Conservator Cooks are often offered collective agreement benefits such as occupational pension, insurance, and wellness contributions. Other common compensations include shift work premiums, meal allowances, and sometimes bonuses linked to production targets. Some employers also offer training and skill development in food safety and machinery technology.

Competition and Challenges

The labor market for Conservator Cooks is characterized by stability, but competition can vary between regions and workplaces. Nationally, opportunities are considered moderate, and the recruitment situation is described as balanced. In the long term, demand is expected to decrease somewhat, partly due to technological development and increased automation in the food industry. This means that job tasks may change and require higher technical skills and flexibility. The profession also demands the ability to work carefully and follow safety routines, which can be challenging in a fast-paced environment with shift work.

Tips for Aspiring Conservator Cooks

To succeed as a Conservator Cook, it is good to have a strong sense of quality and accuracy, as product safety is always a priority. An interest in technology makes it easier to understand and handle machinery and processes, so deepening knowledge in technical subjects during education is advisable. Being flexible and able to adapt to changing tasks is also an advantage, especially in an industry where automation is transforming daily work. Teamwork skills are important, as work often occurs in teams, and communication between colleagues is crucial for maintaining a safe production environment. Finally, responsibility and initiative are valuable, especially when it comes to detecting and fixing potential issues in production.

Key Facts About Conservator Cooks

  • Education level: High school (3 years, industry or food)
  • Work environment: Industrial production, often shift work
  • Demand: Moderate opportunities, but decreasing in the long term
  • Special skills: Machinery handling and food safety
  • Job openings: 1,437 as of May 2024

Career Paths and Future Outlook

After a few years of experience, a Conservator Cook can advance to more senior roles within production, such as team leader, supervisor, or process operator. There are also opportunities to specialize in quality control or further educate as a production planner. Forecasts from the Employment Service show that job opportunities are currently good but are expected to decline slightly within five years due to increased automation and rationalization. Therefore, the profession is particularly suitable for those willing to develop their technical skills and adapt to new working methods.

Frequently Asked Questions about Conservator Cooks

  • What does a Conservator Cook earn?
    - The average salary is 30 800 SEK per month. Women earn on average 32 300 SEK and men 30 400 SEK.
  • What education is required to become a Conservator Cook?
    - High school education with a focus on industry or food is recommended, preferably combined with practical training.
  • What is the work environment like?
    - Work takes place in an industrial environment, often with shift work and requirements for good hygiene and safety.
  • Are there differences between men's and women's salaries?
    - Yes, women earn on average 106% of what men do within the profession.
  • What are the future prospects for a Conservator Cook?
    - Job opportunities are moderate today, but demand is expected to decrease in the long term.
  • What is the highest and lowest salary for a Conservator Cook?
    - The highest salary is 33,300 SEK (men) and 32,700 SEK (women), the lowest salary is 28,500 SEK (men) and 31,400 SEK (women).
  • How many job openings are available?
    - A total of 1437 job openings are available within the occupational group of food machine operators.

Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Canned food is 33300 kr. This salary belongs to a man working in the Regional sector with a upper secondary education, maximum 2 years. The highest salary for a woman in this profession is 32700 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Canned food is 28500 kr. This salary belongs to a man working in the Regional sector. The lowest salary for a woman in this profession is 31400 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
18-24 28100 kr 31500 kr
25-34 117% 27200 kr 29400 kr
35-44 108% 28200 kr 30200 kr
45-54 103% 29400 kr 31100 kr
55-64 92% 32300 kr 34100 kr
Snitt 106% 28700 kr 30800 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 Canned food has the SSYK code 8161, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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