How much does a Pharmaceutical workers make

  1. Salary statistics
  2. Pharmaceutical workers
Image that illustrates Pharmaceutical workers

Pharmaceutical workers

36 500 kr

Machine operators, pharmaceutical products

35 600 - 38 600 kr / month

Women earn 100% of what men do.

Industriell tillverkning

What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression Pharmaceutical workers

Average salary 36 500 kr
Males 36 500 kr
Females 36 600 kr
2 Likes 0 Comments 40 Vacant jobs ->

What does a Pharmaceutical Worker do? – Tasks and Work Environment

A pharmaceutical worker, or machine operator in pharmaceutical products, is responsible for monitoring and managing the manufacturing of medicines and medical products on an industrial scale. Tasks include starting, adjusting, and supervising machinery, performing quality checks, and documenting production data according to strict routines and regulations. The environment is often high-tech and requires precision, as work takes place in clean zones where hygiene and safety are critical. Collaboration with colleagues and technical staff is common, while the pace may vary depending on the production stage.

Salary development over time

Pharmaceutical workers have experienced salary development reflecting both industry stability and market fluctuations. In 2022, the average salary was 35100 SEK per month. The following year, 2023, the average salary increased to 37100 SEK, corresponding to approximately 5.7% growth. In 2024, the salary has been slightly adjusted downward to 36 500 SEK. This minor decrease can be explained by temporary adjustments in collective bargaining and changes in demand for labor within the pharmaceutical industry. Overall, the profession has seen positive salary growth, but wages are influenced by factors such as production volumes, technological development, and competition for specialized labor. Despite some fluctuations, the profession continues to offer attractive salary conditions compared to other industrial roles.

Pharmaceutical Worker Salary – Complete Overview

  • Average salary: 36 500 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 35,600 SEK/month (men), 35,800 SEK/month (women)
  • Highest salary: 38,600 SEK/month (men), 38,300 SEK/month (women)
  • Hourly wage: 219 SEK (based on 166 working hours/month)
  • Gender differences: Women and men earn equally within the profession
  • Regional differences: Specific regional salary differences are not available

Education and Qualifications

The path to becoming a pharmaceutical worker primarily involves technical high school education or equivalent adult education with a focus on process and production technology. Employers value experience from industrial environments, especially within pharmaceutical manufacturing or similarly regulated fields. Further training in quality assurance, GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice), and machinery handling is often advantageous.

  • High school education: Industrial Technology program, 3 years
  • Vocational college: Production technology or pharmaceutical technology, 1–2 years
  • Certifications: GMP courses and internal training
  • Internship: Usually includes internships in pharmaceutical or food industries
  • Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of technology and natural sciences

Working as a pharmaceutical worker often means being part of a team that produces medicines that save lives or improve people's health. The high degree of automation and digitalization in the industry makes technical understanding and willingness to learn new systems especially valuable qualities.

– statsskuld.se

Common Benefits and Compensation

Pharmaceutical workers often have access to benefits such as wellness allowances, subsidized lunches, reduced working hours, and flexible working arrangements. Other common compensations include shift bonuses for night shifts, collective pension schemes, and various insurance solutions. Training support and further education within the company are also frequently offered.

Competition and Challenges

The competition for positions as a pharmaceutical worker varies by region and economic climate, but overall demand remains stable thanks to the growing pharmaceutical industry. Challenges include high demands for precision, constant changes in production technology, and the need to quickly adapt to new regulations and quality standards. Digitalization and automation increase the need for technical skills and the ability to work with advanced machinery. The work environment is often strictly regulated, requiring good adherence to routines and safety protocols.

Tips for Aspiring Pharmaceutical Workers

To succeed as a pharmaceutical worker, it is beneficial to combine technical interest with great accuracy and responsibility. Being organized provides advantages in working under strictly regulated conditions, while flexibility helps adapt to new routines and technological changes. Curiosity and willingness to learn help quickly acquire new knowledge about machines and processes. Good teamwork skills are important, as the work often occurs in teams, and communication skills facilitate information exchange and problem-solving. Finally, patience and the ability to handle monotonous tasks are assets, as production can sometimes be repetitive.

Key Facts about Pharmaceutical Workers

  • Educational level: High school or vocational college
  • Work environment: High-tech and strictly regulated
  • Work pattern: Shift work is common
  • Demand: 1,433 available jobs in 2024
  • Gender distribution: Equal wages between women and men

Career Paths and Future Outlook

After three to five years as a pharmaceutical worker, there are opportunities to advance to roles such as production technician, team leader, or process developer within the pharmaceutical industry. Some choose to further their education in quality assurance or production technology to move into specialist roles. Forecasts from the Employment Service indicate that it is difficult to provide an exact outlook for the profession due to limited data, but the large number of available positions suggests continued strong demand. The industry is influenced by technological development and increased automation, opening new career paths in digital production and process control.

Frequently Asked Questions about Pharmaceutical Workers

  • What does a Pharmaceutical Worker earn?
    - A pharmaceutical worker has an average salary of 36 500 SEK per month.
  • What education is required to become a pharmaceutical worker?
    - Typically, high school education with a technical focus or vocational college education.
  • Are there salary differences between women and men?
    - No, women and men earn equally within the profession.
  • What does the job market look like for pharmaceutical workers?
    - There is good availability of jobs, with 1433 vacant positions in 2024.
  • What are the duties of a pharmaceutical worker?
    - Tasks include machine monitoring, quality control, and documentation in pharmaceutical production.
  • How has the salary developed?
    - Salaries increased from 35100 SEK (2022) to 37100 SEK (2023) and are at 36 500 SEK (2024).
  • Can one advance within the profession?
    - Yes, experienced pharmaceutical workers can become team leaders, production technicians, or process developers.

Richard Andersson

Richard Andersson - 2025-08-09 15:56:27

Occupation
Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Pharmaceutical workers is 38600 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 38300 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Pharmaceutical workers is 35600 kr. This salary belongs to a man working in the Privately employed officials. The lowest salary for a woman in this profession is 35800 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
18-24 103% 25700 kr 32700 kr
25-34 100% 29600 kr 35800 kr
35-44 99% 31700 kr 37400 kr
45-54 97% 32800 kr 38400 kr
55-64 98% 33800 kr 39000 kr
Snitt 100% 30500 kr 36500 kr
* Empty columns indicate that the statistical data was insufficient to allow for a statistically significant conclusion.
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 Pharmaceutical workers has the SSYK code 8131, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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