- Salary statistics
- Mycologist salary
Mycologist salary
Latest available salary statistics are for 2025. Compare average pay, salary range and related job listings.
39 600 - 43 700 SEK / month
Women earn 97% of what men do.
Naturvetenskapligt arbete
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Salary progression Mycologist
What does a mycologist do? – Tasks and work environment
A mycologist is a biology specialist who studies fungi, their ecology, biology, and impact on ecosystems and society. Tasks often include fieldwork with collecting and identifying fungi species, laboratory analyses, and documenting and reporting findings. Many mycologists also conduct research on fungi's role in nature, their potential in medicine, food production, or environmental technology. The work environment varies between laboratories, universities, nature reserves, and sometimes industrial settings where fungi are used in various processes.
Salary development over time
Over the past three years, mycologists' salaries have shown stable and positive growth. In 2022, the average salary was 37,500 SEK per month, increasing to 39 200 SEK in 2023. In 2024, the average salary reached 42 600 SEK, representing an increase of approximately 4.5% over the period. This salary increase can be explained by an increased demand for specialized biological expertise, especially within environmental and biotech sectors, as well as general salary adjustments within academic and research-related professions. Despite a relatively small workforce, a competitive salary structure is maintained, reflecting the specialist skills and educational level required.
Mycologist salary – comprehensive overview
- Average salary: 42 600 SEK/month
- Lowest salary: 38,100 SEK/month
- Highest salary: 43,800 SEK/month
- Hourly wage (average): 236 SEK
- Women: 42 000 SEK/month (97% of men's salary)
- Men: 43 200 SEK/month
- Regional differences: No specific statistics available for the profession
Education and qualifications
The path to becoming a mycologist typically involves university studies in biology, with a focus on botany, microbiology, or ecology. A master's degree is often the minimum requirement, and many mycologists also have doctoral studies. Practical experience from laboratories and field studies is highly advantageous, as well as advanced knowledge in molecular biology and bioinformatics.
- Master's degree in biology or a related field (5 years)
- Research degree (doctoral level) is common, especially in academia
- Internships or field studies during education are recommended
- Courses in microbiology, ecology, and laboratory techniques
- Prerequisites: Science foundation year or equivalent high school qualifications
Mycologists often contribute to important discoveries in drug development, environmental monitoring, and food production. Several groundbreaking antibiotics and biotechnological innovations originate from fungi research.
Common benefits and compensations
Mycologists are often offered benefits such as flexible working hours, remote work options, extra vacation days, and professional development. Other common compensations include travel allowances for fieldwork, wellness contributions, and access to modern laboratory equipment.
Competition and challenges
The profession of mycology belongs to a narrow and specialized group, where competition for research and specialist positions can be intense, especially within academia. The number of available positions is limited, requiring high levels of education and practical experience. As demand fluctuates with research funding and societal investments in environment and biotech, it can sometimes be challenging to secure permanent employment. Many mycologists work on a project basis or within larger research groups, requiring collaboration skills and independence. Additionally, the field is evolving rapidly, so continuous skills development is essential to remain competitive.
Tips for aspiring mycologists
To succeed as a mycologist, a strong interest in science and analytical skills that enable interpretation of complex biological data are important. Precision is crucial during fieldwork and laboratory analyses, so developing a methodical working style during studies is wise. Patience and perseverance are also valuable, as research processes can be time-consuming. Building a network through internships or research projects can provide valuable contacts and insights into different career paths. Good communication skills are helpful when presenting research findings to colleagues and the public. Lastly, curiosity drives progress in the field and opens doors to new discoveries.
Key facts about mycologists
- Educational level: Master's degree or doctoral studies common
- Work environment: Laboratories, field, and universities
- Typical work form: Projects or research groups
- Number of job openings: 143
- Occupational group: Plant and animal biologists
Career paths and future prospects
After three to five years in the profession, many mycologists have built extensive experience in research, teaching, or applied biotechnology. Further career options include leading research projects, specializing in areas such as fungi genetics or environmental monitoring, or working as expert consultants for authorities and companies. The Swedish Public Employment Service indicates that, due to limited data, no specific assessment exists for the mycologist profession, but within the group of plant and animal biologists, there are 143 job openings, indicating some demand. Future outlooks are influenced by research funding, societal needs, and developments in environmental technology and medicine.
Frequently asked questions about mycology
- What is the average salary of a mycologist?
- A mycologist has an average salary of 42 600 SEK per month. - What is the highest salary for a mycologist?
- The highest salary is 43,800 SEK per month and is held by a man with a doctoral degree. - What is the lowest salary for a mycologist?
- The lowest salary is 38,100 SEK per month, regardless of gender, among private sector workers with shorter post-secondary education. - Are there salary differences between men and women?
- Women earn on average 42 000 SEK per month, which corresponds to 97% of men's salaries. - What education is required to become a mycologist?
- Usually, a master's degree in biology and often doctoral studies are required, especially for research positions. - How does the job market look for mycologists?
- Limited statistics are available, but currently there are 143 job openings in related fields. - What are the most common work environments?
- Mainly at universities, research institutes, laboratories, and in the field.
Salary distributed by age and sector
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 37000 kr | 37400 kr | |
| 35-44 | 42200 kr | 42300 kr | |
| 45-54 | 45000 kr | 45200 kr | |
| 55-64 | 46000 kr | 46600 kr | |
| Snitt | 97% | 42300 kr | 42600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 100% | 38000 kr | 38300 kr |
| 35-44 | 99% | 40300 kr | 40500 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 42000 kr | 42100 kr |
| 55-64 | 104% | 42900 kr | 42900 kr |
| 65-68 | 89% | 44100 kr | 44200 kr |
| Snitt | 100% | 41200 kr | 41300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 100% | 38000 kr | 38300 kr |
| 35-44 | 99% | 40300 kr | 40500 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 42000 kr | 42100 kr |
| 55-64 | 104% | 42900 kr | 42900 kr |
| 65-68 | 89% | 44100 kr | 44200 kr |
| Snitt | 100% | 41200 kr | 41300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 43200 kr | 43600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 43200 kr | 43600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 97% | 42900 kr | 43200 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 100% | 38100 kr | 38400 kr |
| 35-44 | 99% | 40600 kr | 40800 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 41800 kr | 41900 kr |
| 55-64 | 104% | 42100 kr | 42200 kr |
| 65-68 | 89% | 45700 kr | 45800 kr |
| Snitt | 100% | 41200 kr | 41400 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 100% | 38100 kr | 38400 kr |
| 35-44 | 99% | 40600 kr | 40800 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 41800 kr | 41900 kr |
| 55-64 | 104% | 42100 kr | 42200 kr |
| 65-68 | 89% | 45700 kr | 45800 kr |
| Snitt | 100% | 41200 kr | 41400 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 40700 kr | 40800 kr | |
| 45-54 | 45500 kr | 45800 kr | |
| Snitt | 97% | 41800 kr | 42000 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 100% | 38000 kr | 38300 kr |
| 35-44 | 99% | 40100 kr | 40300 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 42200 kr | 42300 kr |
| 55-64 | 104% | 43700 kr | 43700 kr |
| 65-68 | 89% | 40900 kr | 40900 kr |
| Snitt | 100% | 41100 kr | 41200 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 100% | 38000 kr | 38300 kr |
| 35-44 | 99% | 40100 kr | 40300 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 42200 kr | 42300 kr |
| 55-64 | 104% | 43700 kr | 43700 kr |
| 65-68 | 89% | 40900 kr | 40900 kr |
| Snitt | 100% | 41100 kr | 41200 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 Mycologist has the SSYK code 2132, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.
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