How much does a Original retoucher make

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Original retoucher

34 700 kr

Prepress technicians

31 800 - 37 800 kr / month

Women earn 85% of what men do.

Industriell tillverkning

What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression Original retoucher

Average salary 34 700 kr
Males 37 700 kr
Females 31 900 kr
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What does an Original Retoucher do? – Tasks and Work Environment

An Original Retoucher primarily works with processing, correcting, and enhancing digital images for printing or publication. Tasks include advanced retouching, color correction, background removal, and adapting image material for various media. The role often involves close collaboration with original image creators, graphic designers, and printing companies to ensure the final result meets high quality standards and client requirements. The work environment is usually office-based and technologically advanced, with daily use of digital tools and industry-specific software. The pace can be fast, especially around deadlines and larger productions.

Salary Development Over Time

The salary of an Original Retoucher has developed relatively steadily in recent years. In 2022, the average salary was 33,000 SEK per month, increasing the following year to 34 800 SEK – a rise of about 5%. In 2024, the salary has stabilized somewhat at 34 700 SEK, indicating a slight decrease compared to the previous year. The trend shows that the profession experienced some upward salary adjustments, likely due to increased demand for digital skills and technical expertise in image editing. The recent stagnation may be due to a more competitive job market, where digitalization and automation influence salary levels. Despite this, the salary level remains stable and competitive within the graphic industry.

Original Retoucher Salary – Complete Overview

  • Average salary: 34 700 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 31,800 SEK/month (female, private sector employee)
  • Highest salary: 37,800 SEK/month (male, private sector employee)
  • Hourly wage: 209 SEK/hour (calculated on 166 hours/month)
  • Gender differences: Women earn 31 900 SEK (85% of men's 37 700 SEK)
  • Regional differences: Data missing or minimal variation

Education and Qualifications

The path to becoming an Original Retoucher often involves vocational training at a college or equivalent, focusing on image processing, prepress, and digital production. Practical skills in industry-standard software are essential, and employers value experience from internships or trainee positions. Success requires both technical skill and an eye for detail.

  • Vocational college education: Graphic production, 2 years
  • Courses/certifications: Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, color management
  • Internships: Usually 1–2 semesters during education
  • Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of image editing and digital technology
  • Self-study: Online courses and continued education recommended

Many Original Retouchers have the opportunity to work with well-known brands and major advertising agencies, providing a unique insight into visual storytelling and high-level marketing.

– statsskuld.se

Common Benefits and Compensation

Original Retouchers often receive benefits such as wellness allowances, flexitime, options for remote work, and pension plans. Other common compensations include extra vacation days, professional development opportunities, and access to modern technical equipment and software.

Competitions and Challenges

The competition in this profession is intense, especially as digitalization and automation increase requirements for technical competence and ongoing training. Demand for Original Retouchers is also affected by the economic cycle in advertising and media industries, where project-based and freelance work are common. Since the profession often demands high precision and quick turnarounds, workload can be intense at times. Standing out in the job market requires not only technical skills but also creativity and the ability to collaborate under pressure.

Tips for Aspiring Original Retouchers

To succeed as an Original Retoucher, it’s important to combine technical precision with a creative eye. Developing advanced knowledge of industry-leading software like Photoshop and InDesign is crucial and should be achieved through formal education and regular self-study. Good collaboration skills are vital, as work often involves teamwork with designers and project managers, while flexibility helps when deadlines are tight. Problem-solving skills and patience are needed to handle complex image challenges and rapidly changing customer demands. Actively seeking internships and networking within the industry increases chances of employment, and building a strong portfolio makes it easier to showcase your skills to potential employers.

Key Facts About Original Retouchers

  • Education level: Vocational college (2 years) or equivalent experience
  • Work environment: Office-based, often in teams within advertising or publishing
  • Occupational group: Prepress technician
  • Work form: Permanent employment or project-based/freelance
  • Demand: 1,437 available jobs in the occupational group as of latest measurement

Career Paths and Future Outlook

After three to five years in the profession, an Original Retoucher can advance to roles such as senior retoucher, image supervisor, or production manager within graphic production. It’s also common to specialize further in color management or image editing for larger brands and agencies. According to the latest forecast from the Employment Service, detailed job prospects are not available for this specific profession, as it is part of a broader occupational group. The number of available positions remains high, indicating good demand, but competition for attractive workplaces is fierce. Continued technological development and increased digitalization mean that job tasks are evolving, and ongoing education offers long-term career benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions About Original Retouchers

  • What is the average salary of an Original Retoucher?
    - The average salary is 34 700 SEK per month.
  • How large is the salary difference between men and women?
    - Men earn an average of 37 700 SEK and women 31 900 SEK, which means women earn approximately 85% of men's salary.
  • What education is required to become an Original Retoucher?
    - Typically, vocational college education in graphic production, image editing, or equivalent experience.
  • Are there many job openings in this profession?
    - There are 1,437 available jobs within the occupational group Prepress technicians that includes Original Retouchers.
  • What are the future prospects for this profession?
    - The forecast is uncertain according to the Employment Service, but demand remains stable thanks to digitalization and technological development.
  • What are the job responsibilities of an Original Retoucher?
    - Main tasks include image retouching, color correction, and adapting digital images for printing or publishing.
  • What is the salary range for Original Retouchers?
    - The lowest salary is 31,800 SEK and the highest is 37,800 SEK per month.

Richard Andersson

Richard Andersson - 2025-07-11 16:38:20

Occupation
Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Original retoucher is 37800 kr. This salary belongs to a man working in the Privately employed officials with a unspecified education. The highest salary for a woman in this profession is 37300 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Original retoucher is 31800 kr. This salary belongs to a woman also working in the Privately employed officials. The lowest salary for a man in this profession is 34900 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
55-64 35900 kr 36300 kr
Snitt 85% 34400 kr 34700 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 Original retoucher has the SSYK code 7321, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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