- Salary statistics
- Cheese worker salary
Cheese worker salary
Latest available salary statistics are for 2025. Compare average pay, salary range and related job listings.
34 700 - 38 900 SEK / month
Women earn 104% of what men do.
Industriell tillverkning
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Salary progression Cheese worker
What does a cheese worker do? – Tasks and working environment
A cheese worker primarily works within the dairy industry and is responsible for producing, processing, and packaging cheese products. Tasks include monitoring and controlling dairy machines, quality control of raw materials and finished products. Cheese workers also handle hygiene routines, documentation, and sometimes basic maintenance of equipment. The work often takes place in a production environment with high food safety standards, involving both manual tasks and automated processes. Shift work is common, and the work environment is characterized by cool temperatures and periods of high pace.
Salary development over time
Salaries for cheese workers have shown a clear positive trend over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 31,900 SEK per month. In 2023, this increased to 36 900 SEK, which is approximately a 9.7% increase from the previous year. This level has remained stable in 2024, with the average salary still at 36 900 SEK. The salary increase can largely be linked to increased demand for skilled labor in the dairy industry, as well as general wage developments within the food sector. Education level and experience also influence the possibility of earning higher wages, especially for those with more responsibilities or specialized skills in certain production processes.
Cheese worker salary – complete overview
- Average salary: 36 900 SEK/month
- Lowest salary: 34,700 SEK/month
- Highest salary: 38,600 SEK/month
- Hourly wage (average): 210 SEK
- Women: 36,000 SEK/month
- Men: 34,700 SEK/month
- Women earn: 104% of what men do
- Regional differences: Data unavailable
Education and qualifications
To work as a cheese worker, a high school education with a focus on food, dairy, or industry is generally required. Some employers offer internal training, but experience from similar production environments is often advantageous. Practical understanding of machinery and hygiene requirements is essential, and sometimes specific certifications or courses in food safety are requested.
- High school education: Food program, dairy, or industry (3 years)
- Internal training: Often provided by the employer
- Certifications: Food hygiene and safety
- Practical experience: Experience from food production is advantageous
- Prerequisites: Basic Swedish and mathematics skills
Cheese workers often have the opportunity to work with the entire process from milk to finished cheese, providing a unique insight into the craftsmanship behind Swedish dairy products. For those interested in food and technology, the profession offers an exciting combination of tradition and modern automation.
Common benefits and compensations
Many cheese workers are covered by collective agreements that grant rights to holiday pay, overtime premiums for evening and weekend work, and occupational pension. Wellness contributions, work clothing, and sometimes subsidized lunches or employee discounts on company products are also common.
Competition and challenges
The job market for cheese workers is relatively stable, with a continuous demand thanks to Sweden's strong dairy industry. Competition for jobs varies by region, but education and experience provide clear advantages in recruitment. Challenges in the profession include physically demanding work in cool environments, monotonous tasks, and the need for precision to ensure food safety. Automation of production lines can also influence work content and require increased technical skills. Changing consumption habits and increased imports may affect demand for certain cheese varieties, making flexibility and willingness to further educate oneself advantageous.
Tips for aspiring cheese workers
To succeed as a cheese worker, it is good to have an interest in food and production and to be meticulous in your work. Showing responsibility and following safety routines are crucial for ensuring high quality and a safe working environment. Practical skills and technical understanding facilitate handling machinery and equipment. Flexibility is important as working hours may vary, and teamwork skills help in collaborative production environments. Endurance and the ability to handle physical work are also beneficial, especially during busy periods. Those willing to further their education and take on new responsibilities have good opportunities for development within the profession. Finally, a positive attitude and willingness to contribute to the team are valued.
Key facts about cheese workers
- Education level: High school, food or industry
- Work environment: Production facilities with cold temperatures and high pace
- Work type: Shift work common
- Demand: 1,437 job openings in Sweden
- Special skills: Food hygiene and machine operation
Career paths and future prospects
After three to five years as a cheese worker, there are opportunities to advance to roles such as team leader, process operator, or quality manager within dairy production. For those seeking further development, specialization in product development, machinery maintenance, or work leadership may be relevant. According to the Swedish Public Employment Service, the future outlook is good, with a continual need for trained personnel in the dairy and food industry. Automation and technological development are expected to increase demand for technically skilled cheese workers, especially in larger production facilities.
Frequently asked questions about cheese workers
- What is the average salary of a cheese worker?
- The average salary for a cheese worker is 36 900 SEK per month. - Are there salary differences between men and women?
- Yes, women earn on average 36,000 SEK while men earn 34,700 SEK. - What education is required to become a cheese worker?
- Usually, a high school education with a focus on food or industry is required. - What is the working environment like for cheese workers?
- The environment is often cool, with shift work and high hygiene standards. - What are the most common benefits?
- Collective agreements, overtime pay, occupational pension, wellness contributions, and employee discounts are common benefits. - What are the future prospects for the profession?
- The outlook is good, with over 1,400 job openings in Sweden. - What is the highest and lowest salary for cheese workers?
- The highest salary is 38,600 SEK and the lowest is 34,700 SEK.
Salary distributed by age and sector
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 33200 kr | 36600 kr | |
| 35-44 | 34000 kr | 38200 kr | |
| 55-64 | 32200 kr | 35700 kr | |
| Snitt | 104% | 32800 kr | 36900 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 33200 kr | 36600 kr | |
| 35-44 | 34000 kr | 38200 kr | |
| 55-64 | 32200 kr | 35700 kr | |
| Snitt | 104% | 32800 kr | 36900 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 33200 kr | 36600 kr | |
| 35-44 | 34000 kr | 38200 kr | |
| 55-64 | 32200 kr | 35700 kr | |
| Snitt | 104% | 32800 kr | 36900 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 32200 kr | 36700 kr | |
| 55-64 | 32000 kr | 35300 kr | |
| Snitt | 104% | 32400 kr | 36500 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 32200 kr | 36700 kr | |
| 55-64 | 32000 kr | 35300 kr | |
| Snitt | 104% | 32400 kr | 36500 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 32200 kr | 36700 kr | |
| 55-64 | 32000 kr | 35300 kr | |
| Snitt | 104% | 32400 kr | 36500 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 104% | 33700 kr | 37800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 104% | 33700 kr | 37800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 104% | 33700 kr | 37800 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 Cheese worker has the SSYK code 8162, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.
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