- Salary statistics
- Orthopedist salary
Orthopedist salary
Latest available salary statistics are for 2025. Compare average pay, salary range and related job listings.
89 800 - 117 800 SEK / month
Women earn 99% of what men do.
Hälso- & sjukvård
Related tools
Salary progression Orthopedist
What does an orthopedist do? – Tasks and work environment
An orthopedist is a specialist doctor focusing on diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries and diseases of the musculoskeletal system – that is, bones, joints, muscles, and tendons. Tasks include everything from patient consultations and clinical examinations to advanced surgical procedures and follow-up care. Orthopedists often work at hospital orthopedic clinics, in operating rooms, outpatient clinics, and sometimes within primary care or private specialist clinics. The work environment is characterized by a fast pace, many urgent cases, and close collaboration with other medical professionals such as physiotherapists, anesthesiologists, and nurses.
Salary development over time
The salary for orthopedists has steadily increased over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 86,400 SEK per month. In 2023, it rose to 93 600 SEK, corresponding to an increase of about 6.7 %. In 2024, the average salary continues upward and is now 98 000 SEK, a growth of an additional 1.5 % compared to the previous year. This development is driven by high demand for specialists, increased requirements for competence, and a general push within healthcare to retain and recruit qualified orthopedists. Notably, differences between regions and employers are evident, where competition for skilled orthopedists sometimes results in better conditions and higher salaries.
Orthopedist salary – comprehensive overview
- Average salary: 98 000 SEK/month
- Lowest salary: 84,600 SEK/month (men), 91,200 SEK/month (women)
- Highest salary: 110,600 SEK/month (men), 101,500 SEK/month (women)
- Hourly wage: 563 SEK
- Gender pay gap: Women earn 99 % of what men do (97 300 SEK vs 98 700 SEK)
- Regional differences: Salaries vary depending on region and employer
Education and qualifications
The path to becoming an orthopedist is long and requires both theoretical education and practical experience. The basic education is a medical degree followed by internship (AT) and then specialist training (ST) in orthopedics. In addition to formal degrees, continuous professional development and certain certifications are often required to work as a specialist.
- Medical degree: 5.5 years at university
- Internship (AT): approximately 18–24 months
- Specialist training (ST) in orthopedics: about 5 years
- Certification as a specialist doctor: after approved ST
- Ongoing professional development: courses, seminars, and conferences
- Prerequisites: Good grades and high admission scores for medical programs
Many orthopedists combine clinical work with research or teaching, which can contribute to the development of new treatment methods and techniques within the field. The academic connection is often strong, especially at larger hospitals and university clinics.
Common benefits and compensations
Orthopedists often have access to a wide range of benefits, such as extra vacation days, favorable pension solutions, professional development, wellness allowances, and sometimes opportunities for bonuses or extra compensation for on-call duties. Company cars, flexible working hours, and subsidized lunches may also be available depending on the employer and region.
Competition and challenges
The competition for orthopedist positions varies between regions, but generally, there is a high demand for specialist competence in orthopedics. At the same time, the training pathway is long and demanding, meaning it often takes many years before new orthopedists are fully qualified. The recruitment situation is described as a combination of difficulties in finding the right skills and high turnover within the profession, with some choosing to work part-time or leave the field. Workload can be high, especially in emergency departments and during on-call shifts, and the work environment requires both physical and mental resilience.
Tips for those who want to become an orthopedist
To succeed as an orthopedist, it’s good to combine an interest in medicine and technology with perseverance and problem-solving skills. Being meticulous and analytical is crucial, especially when diagnosing complex cases and performing surgeries. Good communication skills facilitate collaboration with patients and colleagues, and empathy is important for building trust in interactions with people in difficult situations. Flexibility and stress tolerance are helpful during emergencies and unpredictable situations that often occur in the profession. Early internships and involvement in medical student associations can provide valuable experiences and contacts within orthopedics. Finally, staying updated on new research and techniques is beneficial for professional development.
Key facts about orthopedists
- Education level: Specialist doctor degree (approximately 12 years total)
- Work environment: Hospitals, clinics, and outpatient services
- Demand: Very high, 375 job openings in 2024
- Typical employment: Full-time, sometimes on-call and standby
- Special skills: Clinical examinations, surgery, and rehabilitation
Career paths and future prospects
After a few years as an orthopedist, there are opportunities to develop within various subspecialties, such as pediatric orthopedics, sports medicine, or spine surgery. It is also common to take on leadership roles, conduct research, or teach new generations of doctors. According to the Swedish Public Employment Service’s forecast, the job market for specialist doctors, including orthopedists, is very favorable with continued increasing demand over the next five years. Despite recruitment challenges, there are good chances of employment across the country, especially in regions with the greatest need. The number of available positions is 375, reflecting the broad job market and opportunities for career development.
Frequently asked questions about orthopedists
- What does an orthopedist earn?
- The average salary for an orthopedist is 98 000 SEK per month, with variations depending on experience, region, and employer. - How long is the training to become an orthopedist?
- It takes approximately 12 years from starting medical school to becoming a certified specialist in orthopedics. - Are there salary differences between men and women?
- Yes, women earn 99 % of what men do within orthopedics. - What does the job market look like for orthopedists?
- The demand is very high, and there are 375 job openings within the profession in 2024. - What personal qualities are important for an orthopedist?
- Attention to detail, resilience under stress, empathy, and good communication skills are essential qualities. - In what work environments do orthopedists operate?
- Mainly in hospitals, clinics, and sometimes within the private sector. - What are the career options for orthopedists?
- Specializing further, conducting research, teaching, or taking leadership roles within orthopedics.
Salary distributed by age and sector
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 80100 kr | 84700 kr |
| 35-44 | 101% | 85700 kr | 90300 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 96600 kr | 101800 kr |
| 55-64 | 100% | 98300 kr | 102700 kr |
| 65-68 | 97% | 103100 kr | 105900 kr |
| Snitt | 99% | 93300 kr | 98000 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 80400 kr | 85800 kr |
| 35-44 | 97% | 85900 kr | 91400 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 94500 kr | 100700 kr |
| 55-64 | 96% | 99500 kr | 104800 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 103400 kr | 106700 kr |
| Snitt | 95% | 92900 kr | 98500 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 94% | 90400 kr | 91800 kr |
| 45-54 | 91% | 96300 kr | 97300 kr |
| 55-64 | 91% | 99500 kr | 103200 kr |
| 65-68 | 73% | 125700 kr | 128000 kr |
| Snitt | 87% | 97800 kr | 99800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 80400 kr | 85900 kr |
| 35-44 | 97% | 85800 kr | 91400 kr |
| 45-54 | 96% | 94500 kr | 100700 kr |
| 55-64 | 97% | 99500 kr | 104800 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 102900 kr | 106200 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 92900 kr | 98500 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 119% | 84900 kr | 85600 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 106600 kr | 107300 kr |
| 55-64 | 93200 kr | 94100 kr | |
| Snitt | 113% | 94900 kr | 95600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 119% | 84900 kr | 85600 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 106600 kr | 107300 kr |
| 55-64 | 93200 kr | 94100 kr | |
| Snitt | 113% | 94900 kr | 95600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 80600 kr | 85900 kr |
| 35-44 | 101% | 84600 kr | 89900 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 96700 kr | 103600 kr |
| 55-64 | 100% | 97500 kr | 102900 kr |
| 65-68 | 97% | 104200 kr | 107300 kr |
| Snitt | 99% | 93100 kr | 98700 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 80700 kr | 86900 kr |
| 35-44 | 97% | 86400 kr | 93200 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 95300 kr | 103200 kr |
| 55-64 | 96% | 100100 kr | 106600 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 105100 kr | 109100 kr |
| Snitt | 95% | 94000 kr | 100900 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 94% | 92700 kr | 95900 kr |
| 45-54 | 91% | 101600 kr | 104600 kr |
| 55-64 | 91% | 103700 kr | 108600 kr |
| 65-68 | 73% | 138500 kr | 141900 kr |
| Snitt | 87% | 105600 kr | 109300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 80700 kr | 86900 kr |
| 35-44 | 97% | 86300 kr | 93200 kr |
| 45-54 | 96% | 95200 kr | 103200 kr |
| 55-64 | 97% | 100000 kr | 106500 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 104400 kr | 108300 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 93900 kr | 100800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 119% | 79000 kr | 79400 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 105700 kr | 106400 kr |
| Snitt | 113% | 89200 kr | 89800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 119% | 79000 kr | 79400 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 105700 kr | 106400 kr |
| Snitt | 113% | 89200 kr | 89800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 79600 kr | 83400 kr |
| 35-44 | 101% | 86700 kr | 90600 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 96600 kr | 100400 kr |
| 55-64 | 100% | 99100 kr | 102500 kr |
| 65-68 | 97% | 101200 kr | 103600 kr |
| Snitt | 99% | 93500 kr | 97300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 80100 kr | 84600 kr |
| 35-44 | 97% | 85400 kr | 90000 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 93900 kr | 98500 kr |
| 55-64 | 96% | 98900 kr | 102800 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 100900 kr | 103100 kr |
| Snitt | 95% | 92000 kr | 96300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 94% | 89200 kr | 89800 kr |
| 45-54 | 91% | 94600 kr | 95000 kr |
| 55-64 | 91% | 96400 kr | 99300 kr |
| 65-68 | 73% | 103500 kr | 103900 kr |
| Snitt | 87% | 93800 kr | 94800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 80200 kr | 84700 kr |
| 35-44 | 97% | 85400 kr | 90000 kr |
| 45-54 | 96% | 93800 kr | 98600 kr |
| 55-64 | 97% | 99000 kr | 102900 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 100800 kr | 103100 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 91900 kr | 96300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 119% | 93100 kr | 94100 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 107100 kr | 107800 kr |
| 55-64 | 99900 kr | 101100 kr | |
| Snitt | 113% | 100600 kr | 101600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 119% | 93100 kr | 94100 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 107100 kr | 107800 kr |
| 55-64 | 99900 kr | 101100 kr | |
| Snitt | 113% | 100600 kr | 101600 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 Orthopedist has the SSYK code 2211, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.
-
Specialist Doctor at Medcura – Consultant or Permanent Position Autumn 2026
Specialist doctors
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 - 06:24 -
General Practitioner with Interest in Supervision at Varvet Health Centre, Hudiksvall
Specialist doctors
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 - 00:55 -
Specialist Doctor in General Medicine at Health Centre in Mellerud
Specialist doctors
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 - 00:51 -
Specialist Physician in General Practice at Nygatan Health Centre
Specialist doctors
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 - 00:28
Compare salary, work tasks and job outlook in adjacent occupations to find roles with similar skills or pay levels.
-
Average salary: 50 700 SEK/month • Hälso- & sjukvård
Anesthesia nurses
Compare with Orthopedist
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 - 05:58 -
Enrollment psychologist salary
Average salary: 48 600 SEK/month • Hälso- & sjukvård
Psychologists
Compare with Orthopedist
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 - 05:56 -
Assistant nurse, elderly care at an institution salary
Average salary: 33 800 SEK/month • Hälso- & sjukvård
Assistant nurses, home care, nursing homes etc.
Compare with Orthopedist
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 - 00:35 -
Average salary: 30 500 SEK/month • Hälso- & sjukvård
Other health and care staff
Compare with Orthopedist
Tue, 23 Jun 2026 - 07:32 -
Average salary: 98 000 SEK/month • Hälso- & sjukvård
Specialist doctors
Compare with Orthopedist
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 - 06:09 -
Drug manager, pharmacist salary
Average salary: 43 823 SEK/month • Hälso- & sjukvård
Pharmacists
Compare with Orthopedist
Tue, 23 Jun 2026 - 14:25