What does a Lieutenant Colonel earn in the defense forces?

The average salary is 51,300 SEK per month, with variations depending on experience and education.

How does one become a Lieutenant Colonel?

The path involves officer training, several years of service, and further education at higher levels.

Are there salary differences between men and women?

Yes, women earn on average 87% of what men do in the profession.

What are the duties of a Lieutenant Colonel?

Leading units, strategic planning, personnel responsibility, and collaboration within and outside the Armed Forces.

What education is required?

A university degree, officer training, and higher officer programs are mandatory.

What are the future prospects?

Demand is stable, with many opportunities for career advancement within the defense or international missions.

Are there regional salary differences?

No significant regional differences have been reported for this profession.

Lieutenant Colonel, the defense salary

56 200 SEK

Officers

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

40 500 - 75 300 SEK / month

Women earn 89% of what men do.

Militärt arbete

Average salary 56 200 SEK/month Monthly gross salary

Salary range 40 500 - 75 300 SEK Latest available range Data year 2025 Latest published dataset

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Salary trend About the role What does a Lieutenant Colonel do in the defense forces? – Tasks and work environment Salary development over time Lieutenant Colonel in the defense forces – comprehensive overview Open jobs Related occupations About the data

Salary progression Lieutenant Colonel, the defense

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What does a Lieutenant Colonel do in the defense forces? – Tasks and work environment

A Lieutenant Colonel in the defense forces holds a leadership position and is usually responsible for a larger unit, staff, or specialist function. Tasks include operational management, strategic planning, personnel responsibility, and overall training and development of subordinate officers. The work also involves extensive collaboration with other units within and outside the Armed Forces, often in complex and security-classified environments. The role can involve administrative duties, participation in exercises, and international missions.

Salary development over time

The salary of a Lieutenant Colonel in the defense forces has shown a stable and positive trend in recent years. In 2022, the average salary was 47,500 SEK, increasing to 51 300 SEK in 2023. In 2024, the average salary has reached 56 200 SEK per month. This represents an approximate 8% increase over three years, surpassing inflation for the same period. The salary growth can largely be explained by increased demand for experienced officers due to changing security conditions and increased defense investments. Other factors include higher educational requirements and greater responsibilities, which further drive up salary levels.

Lieutenant Colonel in the defense forces – comprehensive overview

Average salary: 56 200 SEK/month
Lowest salary: 36,300 SEK/month (female, private sector, high school education)
Highest salary: 53,900 SEK/month (female, private sector, doctoral education)
Hourly wage: 309 SEK
Men's average salary: 56 900 SEK/month
Women's average salary: 50 700 SEK/month (89% of men's salary)
Regional differences: No significant differences reported

Education and qualifications

Becoming a Lieutenant Colonel requires a long and targeted educational path within the Armed Forces. The formal route typically begins with officer training, followed by several years of practical service and further education at higher levels. Advanced training to become a Lieutenant Colonel often occurs through the Swedish Defence University’s higher officer programs, supplemented with specific courses and leadership training. The role also requires documented experience leading larger units and the ability to handle complex security issues.

Basic officer training: 3-4 years (Swedish Defence University)
Higher officer programs: 1-2 years
Several years of practical service: At least 10 years as an officer
Special leadership courses: Mandatory for promotion
Approved security clearance: Required for higher positions

Many Lieutenant Colonels have experience from international missions, which not only broadens professional competence but also develops leadership under pressure. This experience is often advantageous for promotion and can open doors to specialized roles within the Armed Forces.

– statsskuld.se

Common benefits and compensations

Lieutenant Colonels in the defense forces often enjoy favorable pension conditions, extra vacation days, and access to wellness allowances. Additionally, compensation for training days, on-call duty, and international deployments is often provided. When serving abroad, special allowances and insurance coverage may apply, along with opportunities for skills development and leadership training.

Competition and challenges

The market for Lieutenant Colonels is characterized by moderate competition, as the number of available positions is limited and requirements for experience and education are high. Major challenges include meeting changing security needs, managing complex personnel issues, and leading under high pressure. The role also requires continuous further training and adaptation to new technologies and methods. Since promotion is often time- and merit-based, the path to the position can be long, and competition for top roles is especially intense among experienced officers.

Tips for aspiring Lieutenant Colonels in the defense forces

To succeed as a Lieutenant Colonel, it is important to demonstrate perseverance and determination early in your officer career. Focusing on leadership development by taking responsibility in various roles and participating in training enhances promotion prospects. The ability to collaborate and communicate effectively is crucial, especially when multiple operational branches work together. Flexibility and quick adaptation to new circumstances are also vital, as the geopolitical situation can change rapidly. Commitment to continuous learning and openness to new methods provide competitive advantages, while high personal integrity and security awareness are highly valued at all levels. Building a broad network within and outside the Armed Forces can also be crucial for future career opportunities.

Key facts about Lieutenant Colonels in the defense forces

Educational level: University degree + higher officer training
Typical employment form: Permanent employment within government services
Work environment: Both office-based and field-based operations
Demand: 39 available jobs in Sweden (2024)
Salary range: 36,300–53,900 SEK/month

Career paths and future prospects

After three to five years as a Lieutenant Colonel, there are opportunities to advance to higher positions such as Colonel or Staff Officer, or to specialized roles within defense planning and security policy. Forecasts from the Swedish Employment Service indicate that demand for experienced officers is expected to remain stable, especially as the defense sector expands and new security challenges emerge. International assignments and overseas service can also open doors to work within international organizations or defense-related agencies.
Related professions include defense analyst, security manager, and training leader within the defense sector.

Common questions about Lieutenant Colonels in the defense forces

What does a Lieutenant Colonel earn in the defense forces?
- The average salary is 56 200 SEK per month, with variation depending on experience and education.
How does one become a Lieutenant Colonel?
- The path involves officer training, several years of service, and further education at higher levels.
Are there salary differences between men and women?
- Yes, women earn on average 89% of what men do in the profession.
What are the duties of a Lieutenant Colonel?
- Leading units, strategic planning, personnel responsibility, and collaboration within and outside the Armed Forces.
What education is required?
- A university degree, officer training, and higher officer programs are mandatory.
What are the future prospects?
- Demand is stable, with many opportunities for career advancement within the defense or international missions.
Are there regional salary differences?
- No significant differences have been reported for this profession.

Richard Andersson - 2025-07-10 12:22:44

Occupation

Salary distributed by age and sector

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
18-24		32400 kr	38800 kr
25-34		41000 kr	47100 kr
35-44		50900 kr	55000 kr
45-54		58000 kr	61100 kr
55-64		60100 kr	62100 kr
Snitt	89%	52600 kr	56200 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
18-24	102%	32400 kr	38800 kr
25-34	97%	41000 kr	47100 kr
35-44	96%	50900 kr	55000 kr
45-54	95%	58000 kr	61100 kr
55-64	106%	60100 kr	62100 kr
65-68		54200 kr	55100 kr
Snitt	89%	52600 kr	56200 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
18-24	102%	32400 kr	38800 kr
25-34	97%	41000 kr	47100 kr
35-44	96%	50900 kr	55000 kr
45-54	95%	58000 kr	61100 kr
55-64	106%	60100 kr	62100 kr
65-68		54200 kr	55100 kr
Snitt	89%	52600 kr	56200 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
25-34		41100 kr	47400 kr
35-44		51000 kr	55300 kr
45-54		58100 kr	61300 kr
55-64		60000 kr	62000 kr
Snitt	89%	53300 kr	56900 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
18-24	102%	32200 kr	38600 kr
25-34	97%	41100 kr	47400 kr
35-44	96%	51000 kr	55300 kr
45-54	95%	58100 kr	61300 kr
55-64	106%	60000 kr	62000 kr
65-68		54000 kr	54900 kr
Snitt	89%	53300 kr	56900 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
18-24	102%	32200 kr	38600 kr
25-34	97%	41100 kr	47400 kr
35-44	96%	51000 kr	55300 kr
45-54	95%	58100 kr	61300 kr
55-64	106%	60000 kr	62000 kr
65-68		54000 kr	54900 kr
Snitt	89%	53300 kr	56900 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
Snitt	89%	46800 kr	50700 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
18-24	102%	32800 kr	39200 kr
25-34	97%	40400 kr	45900 kr
35-44	96%	49800 kr	52900 kr
45-54	95%	57400 kr	58400 kr
55-64	106%	64600 kr	65800 kr
Snitt	89%	46800 kr	50700 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
18-24	102%	32800 kr	39200 kr
25-34	97%	40400 kr	45900 kr
35-44	96%	49800 kr	52900 kr
45-54	95%	57400 kr	58400 kr
55-64	106%	64600 kr	65800 kr
Snitt	89%	46800 kr	50700 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 Lieutenant Colonel, the defense has the SSYK code 110, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.