Image that illustrates Farmers, livestock farming

Farmers, livestock farming

28 400 kr

Breeders and caretakers of farm animals

27 000 - 32 500 kr / month

Women earn 94% of what men do.

Naturbruk

What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression Farmers, livestock farming

Average salary 28 400 kr
Males 29 700 kr
Females 27 800 kr

What does a livestock farmer in animal husbandry do? – Tasks and work environment

Livestock farmers in animal husbandry are responsible for breeding, caring for, and managing farm animals such as cows, sheep, pigs, or poultry. Tasks include feeding and health checks, documentation, machinery maintenance, and often also breeding work and preparations for slaughter or sale. The work generally takes place outdoors or in animal barns and involves physically demanding tasks and high responsibility for animal welfare. The work environment varies with the seasons and can involve long days, especially during calving or lambing periods.

Salary development over time

Over the past three years, salary development for livestock farmers in animal husbandry has been relatively stable. In 2022, the average salary was 27,200 SEK per month, while in 2023 and 2024 it amounted to 28 400. This corresponds to an increase of about 4.4% between 2022 and 2023, but thereafter the salary has plateaued and remained unchanged over the past year. This trend reflects an industry where wage growth is closely linked to the economic conditions of agriculture and the price development of agricultural products. The demand for workers remains stable, helping to keep salaries at a consistent level, although further increases have been absent in the recent year.

Livestock farmer in animal husbandry salary – complete overview

  • Average salary: 28 400 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary (female): 27,000 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary (male): 29,700 SEK/month
  • Highest salary (female): 32,500 SEK/month
  • Highest salary (male): 31,900 SEK/month
  • Hourly wage (average): 171 SEK/hour
  • Gender pay gap: Women earn 94 % of what men do

Education and qualifications

To work as a livestock farmer in animal husbandry, a high school education with a focus on natural resource management is generally required, but many also supplement with further training and practical experience. Knowledge of animal husbandry, machinery handling, and work environment is essential, and it is common to combine formal education with on-the-job learning. Specializations, such as breeding or organic production, are available through courses and certifications.

  • High school education: Natural resource management program, 3 years
  • Further training: Courses in animal husbandry, breeding, and environmental management
  • Practical training: Often mandatory during education
  • Certifications: Possible in organic production and animal welfare
  • Prerequisites: Basic eligibility for high school

Livestock farmers often develop a deep understanding of animal behavior and well-being, making the profession both demanding and personally rewarding. Many workdays are characterized by variety and unexpected challenges, where problem-solving skills and flexibility are important traits.

– statsskuld.se

Common benefits and compensations

In animal husbandry, it is common to receive supplements for unsocial hours, especially during weekends and nights when animals require supervision. Other benefits may include work clothing, wellness allowances, and opportunities for further training. Some employers also offer housing on the farm or favorable conditions for keeping animals privately.

Competition and challenges

The profession is characterized by low competition for available positions, but at the same time, there is a paradoxical recruitment situation where many work part-time and employers find it difficult to find the right skills. Physically demanding work environments and seasonal workload variations are significant challenges. Profitability in agriculture is influenced by global market prices and political decisions, which can create uncertainty. Digitalization and sustainability demands increase the need for knowledge and adaptability. Despite these challenges, the demand for livestock farmers in animal husbandry remains stable according to the Employment Service's forecasts.

Tips for those who want to become livestock farmers in animal husbandry

To succeed as a livestock farmer, it is good to have a genuine interest in animals and nature, as the work requires patience and commitment. Being flexible and adaptable is important since tasks can vary greatly between seasons and situations. Good problem-solving skills facilitate handling unexpected challenges in animal care. It is recommended to gain broad practical experience through internships or summer jobs, and to regularly update knowledge through courses or industry meetings. Initiative and independence are valuable traits, especially for those wishing to run their own business. Building a network within the industry can open opportunities for collaboration and facilitate recruitment or purchasing animals and feed. Finally, perseverance is essential, as the work often involves long days and periods of high workload.

Key facts about livestock farmers in animal husbandry

  • Education level: High school (natural resource management), often supplemented with courses
  • Work environment: Varies, often outdoors or in barns, physically demanding
  • Typical employment form: Full-time, but many work part-time
  • Demand: Large opportunities nationwide
  • Number of available jobs: 360 (May 2024, nationwide)

Career paths and future prospects

After three to five years in the profession, opportunities exist to advance to supervisory roles, specialize in breeding or organic production, or start your own farm. According to the Employment Service's forecast, employment opportunities remain strong, and demand is expected to stay unchanged over five years. Digitalization and increased focus on sustainability may create new roles within technology, animal welfare, and environmental certification. The profession has good future prospects, especially for those who develop broad skills and adapt to industry requirements.

Frequently asked questions about livestock farmers in animal husbandry

  • What does a livestock farmer in animal husbandry earn?
    - The average salary is 28 400 SEK per month.
  • What are the gender differences in salary?
    - Women earn 94% of what men do in the profession.
  • What education is required?
    - High school education in natural resource management is most common, often supplemented with courses and practical training.
  • What are the future prospects?
    - The Employment Service assesses the employment opportunities as high, and demand is expected to remain unchanged over the next five years.
  • What are the most common job tasks?
    - Feeding, animal care, breeding, documentation, and machinery maintenance.
  • Are there regional salary differences?
    - Salary levels may vary depending on region and employer, but exact figures are not available.
  • What is the work environment like?
    - The work is often physically demanding and takes place outdoors or in animal barns, with varying workload throughout the year.

Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Farmers, livestock farming is 32500 kr. This salary belongs to a woman working in the Public sector with a upper secondary education, maximum 2 years. The highest salary for a man in this profession is 31900 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Farmers, livestock farming is 27000 kr. This salary belongs to a woman also working in the Privately employed officials. The lowest salary for a man in this profession is 29700 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
18-24 25500 kr 27200 kr
25-34 26600 kr 28000 kr
35-44 29600 kr 30300 kr
45-54 27600 kr 27900 kr
55-64 30600 kr 31300 kr
Snitt 94% 27400 kr 28400 kr
Salary per sector
Salary based on education
Register an account before you can comment

To write a comment you need to create an account.


Default Avatar

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 Farmers, livestock farming has the SSYK code 6121, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

Search salary statistics for occupation
8000 kr
<-|->
90000 kr
Vacant jobs
Similar occupations
Latest posts
  • Public Opinion - Opinion Poll Status Novus: Unchanged Support – Social Democrats Largest
    Wed, 19 Nov 2025 - 08:35
  • National Debt - The National Debt – Level, Development, and Significance for Sweden
    Wed, 8 Oct 2025 - 08:00
Salary, Taxes, and Fees
Net salary 31 377
Net salary
31 377
Taxes
11 738
Fees
12 129

With our Swedish tax calculator, you can easily calculate your after-tax income (net salary).

Swedish Church Member

* Updated with 2025 taxes