What does a machine bark handler earn in sawmills?

A machine bark handler in sawmills has an average salary of 36,800 SEK per month.

What are the gender differences within the profession?

Women earn an average of 35,400 SEK while men earn 37,000 SEK, meaning women earn 96% of men's salaries.

What education is required to become a machine bark handler?

High school education with a focus on industrial technology is most common, often combined with internships and safety training.

What are the future prospects for machine bark handlers in sawmills?

There is no exact forecast, but 1,437 job openings within the profession indicate strong demand.

Are there regional salary differences?

Yes, for example, the highest salary (37,400 SEK) is within the regional sector.

What are the most common job tasks?

Monitoring and operating bark removal machines, material handling, and quality control.

What qualities are important for the profession?

Technical interest, precision, teamwork skills, and physical endurance.

Machine barkers, sawmills salary

38 300 SEK

Operators in sawmills, planing mills and plywood etc.

Latest available salary statistics are for 2025. Compare average pay, salary range and related job listings.

36 700 - 39 200 SEK / month

Women earn 95% of what men do.

Industriell tillverkning

Average salary 38 300 SEK/month Monthly gross salary

Salary range 36 700 - 39 200 SEK Latest available range Data year 2025 Latest published dataset

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Salary trend About the role What does a machine bark handler do in sawmills? – Tasks and work environment Salary development over time Machine bark handler, sawmill salary – comprehensive overview Open jobs Related occupations About the data FAQ

Salary progression Machine barkers, sawmills

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What does a machine bark handler do in sawmills? – Tasks and work environment

A machine bark handler in sawmills is responsible for operating and monitoring machines that remove bark from logs before further processing. Tasks include starting, stopping, and adjusting bark removal machines, controlling material flow, and ensuring machines operate efficiently and safely. The work often takes place in industrial environments with noise, dust, and high safety standards. Good physical endurance and the ability to quickly identify and fix machine problems are essential to keep production running smoothly.

Salary development over time

The salary for machine bark handlers in sawmills has shown stable and positive growth in recent years. In 2022, the average salary was 33,600 SEK per month, rising to 36 800 SEK in 2023 and continuing up to 38 300 SEK in 2024. The total increase over three years amounts to approximately 9.5%, which is higher than inflation during the same period. The salary increase can partly be explained by increased demand for experienced operators in the sawmill industry, as well as a focus on technical skills and safety knowledge. The profession has also been influenced by regional differences and employers’ efforts to retain qualified personnel.

Machine bark handler, sawmill salary – comprehensive overview

Average salary: 38 300 SEK/month
Lowest salary: 35,400 SEK/month
Highest salary: 37,400 SEK/month
Hourly wage (average): 221 SEK
Gender differences: Women earn 95% of men's salary (women: 35,400 SEK, men: 38 600 SEK)
Regional differences: The highest salary (37,400 SEK) is within the regional sector

Education and qualifications

The path to becoming a machine bark handler in sawmills usually goes through high school industrial technology programs or similar technical education. Employers value practical experience and technical understanding, and there are often opportunities to learn the profession through internships or directly on the job. Some employers offer internal training to ensure staff meet safety and quality standards.

High school education: Industrial technology program, 3 years
Internships: Usually during education or as trainees at sawmills
Certifications: Safety training and forklift licenses may be required
Prerequisites: Good physical condition, technical interest
Tips for choosing: Visits to sawmills provide insight and contacts

Machine bark handlers in sawmills often work in teams and collaborate closely with other operators to ensure a smooth production flow. Communication and teamwork are therefore as important as technical skills for effective and safe work.

– statsskuld.se

Common benefits and compensations

Many machine bark handlers in sawmills are offered benefits such as overtime pay, shift and overtime allowances, and wellness contributions. Other common benefits include work clothing, subsidized lunches, and sometimes opportunities for further training within the company. Occupational pensions and insurance are often included in collective agreements.

Competition and challenges

The labor market for machine bark handlers in sawmills is characterized by some competition, especially in regions with many sawmills or where the industry is a major employer. The availability of labor can vary depending on economic conditions and geographic location. Challenges in the profession include physical strain, monotonous tasks, and high safety requirements. Industry shifts, such as increased automation, require continuous skills development. Additionally, the work environment can be demanding with noise, dust, and shift work, necessitating good health and stamina.

Tips for those wanting to become a machine bark handler in sawmills

To succeed as a machine bark handler in sawmills, it is good to have an interest in technology and a willingness to learn new machines and methods. Precision is crucial, as small errors can have significant consequences for production. Being resilient under pressure helps when the pace is high and unexpected problems need quick solutions. Good teamwork skills are valued since work often occurs in teams, and communication is key to a smooth workflow. Flexibility and adaptability are important in shift work or when tasks vary. Physical endurance is required to handle heavy lifts and long shifts. Showing engagement and safety awareness increases opportunities for growth and more responsibility at the workplace.

Key facts about Machine Bark Handlers, sawmills

Education level: High school education, industrial technology program
Work environment: Industrial, noisy, physically demanding
Work form: Shift work is common
Demand: 1,437 job openings within the profession
Special skills: Machine handling and safety routines

Career paths and future prospects

After three to five years as a machine bark handler in sawmills, there are opportunities to advance to more qualified roles such as machine operator, supervisor, or technical specialist within the wood industry. Some choose to further their education in production technology, maintenance, or occupational health and safety. The forecast from the Employment Service indicates no specific assessment for machine bark handlers, but within the group of sawmill, planing mill, and plywood operators, there were 1,437 job openings in spring 2024, signaling ongoing demand. Technological development and the need for experienced operators suggest good future prospects, though competition may vary between regions.

Frequently asked questions about Machine Bark Handlers, sawmills

What does a machine bark handler earn in sawmills?
- A machine bark handler in sawmills has an average salary of 38 300 SEK per month.
What are the gender differences within the profession?
- Women earn an average of 35,400 SEK while men earn 38 600 SEK, which means women earn 95% of men's salaries.
What education is required to become a machine bark handler?
- High school education with a focus on industrial technology is most common, often combined with internships and safety training.
What are the future prospects for machine bark handlers in sawmills?
- There is no exact forecast, but 1,437 job openings within the profession indicate strong demand.
Are there regional salary differences?
- Yes, for example, the highest salary (37,400 SEK) is within the regional sector.
What are the most common job tasks?
- Monitoring and operating bark removal machines, material handling, and quality control.
What qualities are important for the profession?
- Technical interest, precision, teamwork skills, and physical endurance.

Richard Andersson - 2025-07-15 00:16:24

Occupation

Salary distributed by age and sector

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
18-24	96%	32000 kr	36600 kr
25-34	97%	33700 kr	38400 kr
35-44	95%	33900 kr	38100 kr
45-54		34400 kr	38700 kr
55-64		34800 kr	39000 kr
Snitt	95%	33900 kr	38300 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
18-24	96%	32000 kr	36600 kr
25-34	97%	33700 kr	38400 kr
35-44	95%	33900 kr	38100 kr
45-54		34400 kr	38700 kr
55-64		34800 kr	39000 kr
Snitt	95%	33900 kr	38300 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
18-24	96%	32000 kr	36600 kr
25-34	97%	33700 kr	38400 kr
35-44	95%	33900 kr	38100 kr
45-54		34400 kr	38700 kr
55-64		34800 kr	39000 kr
Snitt	95%	33900 kr	38300 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
18-24	96%	32200 kr	37000 kr
25-34	97%	33800 kr	38600 kr
35-44	95%	34100 kr	38400 kr
45-54		34500 kr	38900 kr
55-64		34900 kr	39200 kr
Snitt	95%	34100 kr	38600 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
18-24	96%	32200 kr	37000 kr
25-34	97%	33800 kr	38600 kr
35-44	95%	34100 kr	38400 kr
45-54		34500 kr	38900 kr
55-64		34900 kr	39200 kr
Snitt	95%	34100 kr	38600 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
18-24	96%	32200 kr	37000 kr
25-34	97%	33800 kr	38600 kr
35-44	95%	34100 kr	38400 kr
45-54		34500 kr	38900 kr
55-64		34900 kr	39200 kr
Snitt	95%	34100 kr	38600 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
18-24	96%	31000 kr	35600 kr
25-34	97%	33100 kr	37300 kr
35-44	95%	33300 kr	36600 kr
Snitt	95%	32900 kr	36800 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
18-24	96%	31000 kr	35600 kr
25-34	97%	33100 kr	37300 kr
35-44	95%	33300 kr	36600 kr
Snitt	95%	32900 kr	36800 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
18-24	96%	31000 kr	35600 kr
25-34	97%	33100 kr	37300 kr
35-44	95%	33300 kr	36600 kr
Snitt	95%	32900 kr	36800 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 Machine barkers, sawmills has the SSYK code 8173, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.