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County Police Chief

115 200 kr

General, county and municipal directors etc.

94 800 - 175 300 kr / month

Women earn 99% of what men do.

Chefer & ledare

What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression County Police Chief

Average salary 115 200 kr
Males 115 800 kr
Females 114 700 kr

What does a County Police Chief do? – Tasks and Work Environment

A County Police Chief is responsible for leading and overseeing police operations within a county or region. Tasks include strategic leadership, resource allocation, collaboration with other authorities, and decision-making on both daily operations and long-term priorities. The role also entails ensuring that activities are conducted in accordance with laws, guidelines, and national goals. The work environment is often characterized by high pace, complex decisions, and a need for flexibility and teamwork, where dialogue with both internal and external stakeholders is essential for success.

Salary development over time

The salary of a County Police Chief has shown a clear upward trend in recent years. In 2022, the average salary was 102400 SEK per month, which increased to 109 000 SEK in 2023 and further to 115 200 SEK in 2024. This development corresponds to a total increase of approximately 12.5% over the three-year period. Behind this salary growth are factors such as increased focus on leadership in the public sector, higher requirements for formal competence and experience, and intensified competition for qualified managers. The salary level also reflects the significant responsibility and complexity of the role, where societal challenges and increased demands for efficiency influence compensation levels.

County Police Chief salary – comprehensive overview

  • Average salary: 115 200 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 94,800 SEK/month (men), 108,400 SEK/month (women)
  • Highest salary: 175,300 SEK/month (men), 166,900 SEK/month (women)
  • Hourly wage (average): 693 SEK
  • Gender differences: Women earn 99% of what men do (men: 115 800 SEK, women: 114 700 SEK)
  • Regional differences: No specific data available

Education and qualifications

To work as a County Police Chief, a combination of academic education, several years of experience within police or public administration, and documented leadership skills are required. The position is often held by individuals with a law or social sciences degree, complemented by leadership training and specialized courses in crisis management and organization.

  • Formal education: Post-secondary education, often law or social sciences (3–5 years)
  • Leadership training: Internal and external courses in leadership and organization
  • Practical experience: Extensive professional experience within police or public sector
  • Prerequisites: Documented managerial and leadership experience
  • Recruitment: Often through internal career paths and national selection processes

County Police Chiefs play a key role in major societal crises and police operations, where the ability to quickly make decisions and coordinate resources is often critical to the outcome. The role thus requires not only experience but also a pronounced strategic mindset.

– statsskuld.se

Common benefits and compensations

A County Police Chief is often offered comprehensive benefits beyond the base salary. These include pension contributions, company car, wellness allowance, extra vacation days, and access to further training. It is also common to have special compensations for on-call duty, overtime, and representation, reflecting the significant responsibility and availability required in the role.

Challenges and competition

The competition for positions as a County Police Chief is high, as the number of available roles is limited and selection is based on very strict requirements for experience and competence. Challenges in the profession include a large workload, constant societal changes and demands, and the need to quickly adapt operations to new threats and priorities. The ability to handle media and political pressures is also central, as is maintaining trust and a stable working environment within the organization.

Tips for aspiring County Police Chiefs

To succeed as a County Police Chief, it is beneficial to combine analytical skills with clear and inclusive leadership. Gaining extensive experience within police or public sector and continuously furthering education in leadership helps create the foundation for qualifying for the role. Good judgment and integrity are vital, especially in situations requiring quick and sometimes difficult decisions. Actively seeking mentorship and networks within the justice sector can provide valuable insights and support. The ability to communicate clearly and build trust internally and externally is another important trait often highlighted. Finally, resilience and stress tolerance are central qualities to handle the demands and challenges of the role.

Key facts about County Police Chiefs

  • Educational level: Post-secondary education (3–5 years), often law or social sciences
  • Work environment: High workload, strategic responsibility, leadership role
  • Typical employment: Permanent, office-based with travel
  • Demand: 175 available jobs within the profession in Sweden
  • Special skills: Leadership, crisis management, public administration

Career paths and future prospects

After three to five years in the role of County Police Chief, there are opportunities to advance to national leadership positions within the Police Authority, such as regional police chief or other strategic roles at the agency level. It is also common for experienced County Police Chiefs to be recruited into senior roles in other parts of the public sector or as security advisors. The employment agency forecasts indicate that demand for qualified leaders in the public sector is expected to remain stable, although the number of positions is limited. Specialization in areas such as crisis management or inter-agency collaboration can further enhance career opportunities.

Frequently asked questions about County Police Chiefs

  • What does a County Police Chief earn?
    - A County Police Chief has an average salary of 115 200 SEK per month.
  • How has the salary development for a County Police Chief progressed?
    - The salary level has increased from 102400 SEK in 2022 to 115 200 SEK in 2024.
  • What education is required to become a County Police Chief?
    - Post-secondary education, often law or social sciences, along with documented leadership experience.
  • Are there gender differences in salary for County Police Chiefs?
    - Women earn on average 114 700 SEK and men 115 800 SEK, which means women earn 99% of men's salary.
  • What are the highest and lowest salaries for a County Police Chief?
    - Highest salary is 175 300 SEK (men) and 166 900 SEK (women), lowest salary is 94 800 SEK (men) and 108 400 SEK (women).
  • What is the job market like for County Police Chiefs?
    - There are approximately 175 available jobs according to recent statistics.
  • What personal qualities are important for the profession?
    - Leadership ability, resilience under stress, communication skills, and integrity are essential.

Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a County Police Chief is 175300 kr. This salary belongs to a man working in the Municipal sector with a post-secondary education, 3 years or more. The highest salary for a woman in this profession is 166900 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a County Police Chief is 94800 kr. This salary belongs to a man working in the Government sector. The lowest salary for a woman in this profession is 108400 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
45-54 99% 107900 kr 109000 kr
55-64 100% 116900 kr 118300 kr
Snitt 99% 113800 kr 115200 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 County Police Chief has the SSYK code 1112, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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* Updated with 2025 taxes