- Salary statistics
- Pallet builder salary
Pallet builder salary
Latest available salary statistics are for 2025. Compare average pay, salary range and related job listings.
32 300 - 35 900 SEK / month
Women earn 96% of what men do.
Industriell tillverkning
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Salary progression Pallet builder
What does a pallet builder do? – Tasks and work environment
A pallet builder mainly works within the timber industry and is responsible for manufacturing, assembling, and sometimes repairing wooden pallets. The work often takes place in production environments involving both manual and machine-assisted tasks. Typical duties include handling wood components, nailing or screwing pallets, and quality control to ensure pallets meet current standards. The work environment is often physical and can be noisy, with requirements for good safety practices and awareness of machinery and tools.
Salary development over time
Over the past three years, the salary for pallet builders has shown a stable and slightly positive trend. In 2022, the average salary was 31,100 SEK, which increased to 33 000 SEK in 2023. In 2024, the average salary is 34 700 SEK. This increase corresponds to a total salary rise of approximately 6% over three years, with the largest increase between 2022 and 2023. The salary development has been influenced by increased demand for labor in the timber industry, generally higher cost levels, and union negotiations on wages and working conditions. The trend is that wages within the professions of machine carpenters and machine operators, which include pallet builders, follow market needs and industry cycles.
Pallet builder salary – comprehensive overview
- Average salary: 34 700 SEK/month
- Lowest salary: 32,200 SEK/month (female), 32,700 SEK/month (male)
- Highest salary: 33,600 SEK/month (female), 33,800 SEK/month (male)
- Hourly wage: 198 SEK/hour (average for hourly workers)
- Gender differences: Women earn 96% of what men do (women: 32,200 SEK, men: 34 900 SEK)
- Regional differences: Specific regional salary differences are not available, but variations may occur depending on industry location and demand
Education and qualifications
To work as a pallet builder, typically no extensive formal education is required, but high school education in wood technology or industrial production is a common pathway. Practical experience and familiarity with machinery and tools are highly meritorious, and many employers offer on-the-job training. Certifications for machine handling and safety training may also be relevant depending on the workplace.
- High school education: Industrial technology or construction and civil engineering programs (3 years)
- Internship: Workplace-based learning during education or as a trainee
- Certifications: Machinery safety, forklift licenses, and safety training
- Prerequisites: Good physical condition and basic tool skills
- Further education: Possible through the workplace or vocational training in the timber industry
The profession of a pallet builder offers opportunities to work in teams and develop a good sense of production flow. Many who enjoy the profession appreciate the practical work and immediate feedback when a pallet is completed. For those wishing to advance, there are often opportunities to take responsibility for quality control or lead smaller work teams.
Common benefits and compensation
Pallet builders often have access to collective agreement benefits such as occupational pension, insurance coverage, and wellness contributions. Other common compensations include overtime pay for shift work, work clothing, and sometimes subsidized meals. Some workplaces also offer training and opportunities for skill development within the company.
Challenges and competition
The job market for pallet builders is influenced by the economic cycle in the timber and manufacturing industries. A challenge is the physical strain involved, requiring good health and stamina. Automation and efficiency improvements may reduce the need for manual labor over time, but there remains a significant demand for experienced workers. The regional competition varies, but overall, there are 1,437 job openings in the profession. Since the job does not require university education, competition for positions is relatively low, but experience and specialized skills can be crucial for securing the most attractive jobs.
Tips for aspiring pallet builders
To succeed as a pallet builder, it is important to develop a careful and responsible attitude toward work, as quality and safety are prioritized. A practical person with good physical endurance has good prospects for enjoying and performing well in the role, especially since the work is often repetitive and requires repeated tasks. Flexibility and effective teamwork are also important, as production often occurs in teams. To increase your chances of employment, obtaining a forklift license or other machinery credentials can be beneficial. Showing engagement and willingness to learn new tasks is appreciated by employers, and taking extra responsibility – for example, in quality control – can open doors for advancement. Finally, an interest in wood and material knowledge provides additional confidence in the role.
Key facts about pallet builders
- Education level: High school education or equivalent
- Work environment: Physical, often noisy and machine-intensive
- Typical work arrangement: Shift work and team production
- Demand: 1,437 job openings in the profession
- Special skills: Machinery handling and quality control
Career paths and future prospects
After three to five years in the profession, pallet builders can progress to supervisory roles, such as team leader or quality manager within production. Some choose to further their education to become machine operators or specialists in maintenance of production equipment. Forecasts from the Employment Service indicate that it is difficult to precisely assess future prospects for this specific profession, but there is a stable demand for workers within the broader group of machine carpenters and machine operators in the timber industry. The number of job openings suggests ongoing needs for personnel, although technological developments may influence tasks over time.
Frequently asked questions about pallet builders
- What is the average salary of a pallet builder?
- The average salary for a pallet builder is 34 700 SEK per month. - Are there salary differences between men and women?
- Yes, women earn approximately 96% of what men do in the profession. - What education is required to become a pallet builder?
- High school education in wood technology or industrial production is most common, but many are trained on-site. - What is the work environment like for a pallet builder?
- The work environment is physical and often takes place in noisy production facilities with machinery. - What is the demand for pallet builders?
- There are 1,437 job openings in the profession, indicating good demand. - What is the highest salary for a pallet builder?
- The highest salary is 33,800 SEK for men and 33,600 SEK for women. - What is the hourly wage for a pallet builder?
- The average for hourly workers is 198 SEK per hour.
Salary distributed by age and sector
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 31100 kr | 32900 kr | |
| 25-34 | 33100 kr | 34700 kr | |
| 35-44 | 33700 kr | 35000 kr | |
| 45-54 | 33200 kr | 34400 kr | |
| 55-64 | 94% | 34100 kr | 35400 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 33300 kr | 34700 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 31100 kr | 32900 kr | |
| 25-34 | 33100 kr | 34700 kr | |
| 35-44 | 33700 kr | 35000 kr | |
| 45-54 | 33200 kr | 34400 kr | |
| 55-64 | 94% | 34100 kr | 35400 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 33300 kr | 34700 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 31100 kr | 32900 kr | |
| 25-34 | 33100 kr | 34700 kr | |
| 35-44 | 33700 kr | 35000 kr | |
| 45-54 | 33200 kr | 34400 kr | |
| 55-64 | 94% | 34100 kr | 35400 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 33300 kr | 34700 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 31100 kr | 32800 kr | |
| 25-34 | 33300 kr | 35000 kr | |
| 35-44 | 33800 kr | 35200 kr | |
| 45-54 | 33200 kr | 34400 kr | |
| 55-64 | 94% | 34500 kr | 35800 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 33500 kr | 34900 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 31100 kr | 32800 kr | |
| 25-34 | 33300 kr | 35000 kr | |
| 35-44 | 33800 kr | 35200 kr | |
| 45-54 | 33200 kr | 34400 kr | |
| 55-64 | 94% | 34500 kr | 35800 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 33500 kr | 34900 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 31100 kr | 32800 kr | |
| 25-34 | 33300 kr | 35000 kr | |
| 35-44 | 33800 kr | 35200 kr | |
| 45-54 | 33200 kr | 34400 kr | |
| 55-64 | 94% | 34500 kr | 35800 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 33500 kr | 34900 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55-64 | 94% | 32000 kr | 33600 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 31900 kr | 33400 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55-64 | 94% | 32000 kr | 33600 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 31900 kr | 33400 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55-64 | 94% | 32000 kr | 33600 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 31900 kr | 33400 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 Pallet builder has the SSYK code 7523, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.
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