- Salary statistics
- Dietitian
Dietitian
36 400 - 45 400 kr / month
Hotell, restaurang
Salary progression Dietitian
What does a Head of Catering do? – Tasks and work environment
A Head of Catering is responsible for leading and developing operations within large-scale kitchens and public meal environments, such as schools, healthcare, or larger companies. Tasks include menu planning, purchasing raw materials, budget management, and staff leadership. The role also involves ensuring that nutritious and sustainable meals are served while keeping costs within budget. The work environment is often dynamic and can be both administrative and operational, as a Head of Catering often moves between office work and kitchen activities.
Salary development over time
The salary development for Head of Catering has been relatively stable in recent years, with a clear increase between 2023 and 2024. In 2022, the average salary was 40,000 SEK, followed by a slight decrease to 39 900 SEK in 2023. Subsequently, the salary increased significantly to 41 600 SEK in 2024, which corresponds to an increase of about 4.3% from the previous year. This trend can partly be explained by increased demand for qualified Head of Catering professionals in the public sector, as well as rising emphasis on sustainability, special diets, and leadership. The market is also influenced by the education level of practitioners, where post-secondary education often leads to higher salaries and more career opportunities.
Head of Catering salary – comprehensive overview
- Average salary: 41 600 SEK/month
- Lowest salary: 36,400 SEK/month (men), 36,600 SEK/month (women)
- Highest salary: 45,400 SEK/month (men), 43,200 SEK/month (women)
- Hourly wage: 250 SEK
- Gender differences: Women earn an average of 42 400 SEK/month
- Regional differences: Data varies, but higher salaries are often found in metropolitan regions
Education and qualifications
To work as a Head of Catering, a post-secondary education in food science, dietetics, or similar fields is typically required, often at university level. In addition to formal education, experience from large-scale kitchens, leadership, and financial management is valued. Industry-specific courses and certifications in food hygiene and special diets are also advantageous. Internships and trainee programs can provide valuable insight into the role and facilitate the transition into working life.
- Post-secondary education: At least 3 years in food science, dietetics, or similar
- Certifications: Courses in food hygiene, special diets, and nutrition
- Internships: Recommended during studies
- Leadership experience: Meritorious for managing larger teams
- Industry-specific courses: Provide an advantage in recruitment
Head of Catering plays an important role in promoting sustainable eating habits within organizations and communities. By working strategically with menus and ingredient choices, they can influence both public health and the environment. Being a Head of Catering often means being a change leader in issues related to food waste, nutritional quality, and sustainable development.
Common benefits and compensations
Head of Catering is often offered benefits such as wellness allowances, subsidized meals, professional development, and flexible working hours. In the public sector, attractive pension agreements and opportunities for further education are also common. Company cars and extra vacation days may be included depending on the employer and employment type.
Challenges and competition
The competition for positions as Head of Catering is moderate, with a stable number of available jobs in the profession. Challenges in the role often involve balancing high demands for nutritional quality and special diets with limited budgets. Changing eating habits and increased demands for sustainability mean that the role is constantly evolving. Digitalization and new technological tools also require ongoing skills development. Workload can be high, especially during organizational changes or periods of staff shortages.
Tips for aspiring Head of Catering
To succeed as a Head of Catering, it is good to combine leadership skills with a genuine interest in food and health. Being organized facilitates daily work with planning and budgeting, while strong communication skills are essential for leading teams and collaborating with other departments. Flexibility helps handle rapid changes in operations, and analytical ability makes it easier to optimize procurement and resources. A strong commitment to sustainable development and a desire for continuous learning also provide competitive advantages in the job market.
Key facts about Head of Catering
- Educational level: Post-secondary education (at least 3 years)
- Typical work environment: Public sector, large kitchens, and school cafeterias
- Demand: 123 registered jobs in Sweden
- Special skills: Leadership, meal planning, nutrition science
Career paths and future prospects
After 3–5 years as a Head of Catering, opportunities exist to advance to senior management roles within meal services, such as operations manager or regional manager within larger organizations. It is also common for experienced Head of Catering professionals to move into consultancy or pursue further education in areas like food economics or leadership. According to the Swedish Public Employment Service, the outlook is good, mainly due to increased focus on sustainability and special diets, as well as retirements within the profession. The demand for qualified Head of Catering professionals is expected to remain stable in the coming years, especially in the public sector and larger private companies.
Frequently asked questions about Head of Catering
- What does a Head of Catering earn?
- The average salary is 41 600 SEK per month, but it varies based on experience, education, and sector. - What education is required to become a Head of Catering?
- A post-secondary education in food science, dietetics, or similar is required, often at least 3 years. - Are there salary differences between men and women?
- Yes, women earn an average of 42 400 SEK, but specific data on men is not available for the average. - What does the job market look like for Head of Catering?
- There is a stable number of available positions, with 123 jobs registered in Sweden. - What are the responsibilities of a Head of Catering?
- Responsible for staff management, menu planning, procurement, budgeting, and quality assurance of meals. - What personal qualities are important?
- Leadership, organization, flexibility, communication, and interest in sustainable development are key.
Salary distributed by age and sector
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 41400 kr | 41600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 38400 kr | 38400 kr | |
| 35-44 | 102% | 40700 kr | 40700 kr |
| 45-54 | 105% | 40900 kr | 41100 kr |
| 55-64 | 108% | 39400 kr | 39600 kr |
| 65-68 | 36300 kr | 36500 kr | |
| Snitt | 104% | 40200 kr | 40300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 100% | 38400 kr | 38400 kr |
| 45-54 | 100% | 38500 kr | 38800 kr |
| 55-64 | 98% | 36500 kr | 36800 kr |
| 65-68 | 37300 kr | 37500 kr | |
| Snitt | 98% | 37700 kr | 37900 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 38600 kr | 38700 kr | |
| 35-44 | 98% | 42100 kr | 42100 kr |
| 45-54 | 103% | 42800 kr | 42800 kr |
| 55-64 | 43200 kr | 43200 kr | |
| Snitt | 101% | 41900 kr | 41900 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 40000 kr | 40000 kr | |
| 45-54 | 105% | 43600 kr | 43700 kr |
| Snitt | 100% | 41700 kr | 41700 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 102% | 40100 kr | 40100 kr |
| 45-54 | 105% | 39500 kr | 39800 kr |
| 55-64 | 108% | 37200 kr | 37200 kr |
| Snitt | 104% | 39100 kr | 39300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 100% | 38400 kr | 38400 kr |
| 45-54 | 100% | 38400 kr | 38800 kr |
| 55-64 | 98% | 37200 kr | 37200 kr |
| Snitt | 98% | 38000 kr | 38200 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 98% | 42700 kr | 42700 kr |
| 45-54 | 103% | 41900 kr | 41900 kr |
| Snitt | 101% | 41500 kr | 41500 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45-54 | 105% | 42400 kr | 42500 kr |
| Snitt | 100% | 41700 kr | 41700 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 42200 kr | 42400 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 38200 kr | 38300 kr | |
| 35-44 | 102% | 41000 kr | 41000 kr |
| 45-54 | 105% | 41800 kr | 41800 kr |
| 55-64 | 108% | 40000 kr | 40300 kr |
| 65-68 | 35900 kr | 35900 kr | |
| Snitt | 104% | 40600 kr | 40700 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 100% | 38400 kr | 38400 kr |
| 45-54 | 100% | 38600 kr | 38700 kr |
| 55-64 | 98% | 36100 kr | 36600 kr |
| Snitt | 98% | 37300 kr | 37600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 38500 kr | 38600 kr | |
| 35-44 | 98% | 42000 kr | 42000 kr |
| 45-54 | 103% | 43000 kr | 43000 kr |
| 55-64 | 43500 kr | 43500 kr | |
| Snitt | 101% | 42000 kr | 42000 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 40000 kr | 40000 kr | |
| 45-54 | 105% | 44500 kr | 44600 kr |
| Snitt | 100% | 41700 kr | 41800 kr |
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 Dietitian has the SSYK code 3452, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.
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