Image that illustrates Pillar drill

Pillar drill

35 200 kr

Machine setters and machine operators, metal work

31 400 - 36 100 kr / month

Women earn 96% of what men do.

Industriell tillverkning

What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression Pillar drill

Average salary 35 200 kr
Males 35 400 kr
Females 34 100 kr

What does a pile driller do? – Tasks and work environment

Pile drillers work with drilling holes in the ground to set piles for foundational stabilization in construction and civil engineering projects. Their tasks include operating drilling machines, assessing ground conditions, and ensuring that drilling is done according to technical and safety requirements. The work environment is often outdoors and can be physically demanding with exposure to noise and vibrations from machinery.

Pile driller salary – complete overview

  • Average salary: 35 200 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 31,400 SEK (female, private sector employee, pre-secondary education shorter than 9 years)
  • Highest salary: 36,100 SEK (male, various sectors, post-secondary education shorter than 3 years)
  • Hourly wage: 212 SEK (based on 166 working hours/month for hourly employees)
  • Gender differences: Women earn on average 34 100 SEK, which is 96 % of men's salary at 35 400 SEK
  • Regional differences: Data is lacking, but salaries may vary depending on the geographical location of the workplace

Pile drillers often need to collaborate closely with other professional groups on construction sites, which requires good communication skills and a willingness to cooperate to ensure efficient and safe work.

– statsskuld.se

Salary development over time

Over the past three years, the average salary for pile drillers has increased from 33,000 SEK in 2022 to 35 200 SEK in 2024, representing a total increase of about 6.7%. In 2023, the average salary was 34 000 SEK, which shows a stable but moderate salary increase each year. This positive salary development can be linked to a continued demand for professional skills in the construction and civil engineering sector, despite the fact that technological development and automation may affect the profession in the long run. Additionally, the shortage of qualified machine operators helps keep wages at a competitive level. It is likely that salary development will continue to follow the market's need for specialized labor in the field.

Education and qualifications

The educational path for pile drillers often requires vocational upper secondary education in construction and civil engineering or equivalent experience. Practical experience in machine operation and safety training are important qualifications.

  • Upper secondary education: Construction and civil engineering program with a focus on ground and civil engineering
  • Certifications/courses: Safety and machine operation, such as hot work and work environment training
  • Internship: Vocational internship or apprenticeship in the construction and civil engineering industry
  • Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of mechanical engineering and safety regulations
  • Tips for selection: Choose education focused on machine and ground work for the best preparation

Common benefits and compensations

Pile drillers are often offered benefits such as collectively bargained pension and insurance solutions, wellness grants, and compensation for inconvenient working hours. Many employers also provide training opportunities and work clothing. Compensation for overtime and travel expenses may occur depending on the form of employment and workplace.

Competition and challenges

The profession of pile driller is characterized by a national shortage of qualified labor, which creates good employment opportunities. At the same time, demand for the profession is expected to decrease over the next five years due to technological development and automation. This requires continuous skills development and adaptation to new working methods. Challenges may also arise in the form of physical strain and work in varying weather conditions. Safety and health are central aspects that require constant attention.

Tips for those who want to become pile drillers

To succeed as a pile driller, it is beneficial to have a strong technical understanding and practical ability to operate advanced machinery. Precision is crucial to ensure that drilling is done correctly and according to safety regulations, which reduces the risk of accidents. Being cooperative facilitates the work process as the profession often involves close collaboration with other professional groups on the construction site. Flexibility is also important as the work environment can vary and working hours may sometimes be irregular. Finally, it is valuable to have an interest in continuously developing one’s skills and keeping up with technological advancements in the industry.

Key facts about pile drillers

  • Average salary: 35 200 SEK/month
  • Salary range: 31,400–36,100 SEK/month
  • Education level: Vocational upper secondary education, often in construction and civil engineering
  • Work environment: Outdoors, physically demanding with exposure to noise and vibrations
  • Demand: High but expected to decrease over the next five years due to automation

Career paths and future prospects

After a few years of experience, pile drillers can advance to machine operators with specialization or supervisors within construction and civil engineering projects. There are also opportunities to further educate themselves to become technicians or project managers in ground and foundation work. Although the recruitment situation today is characterized by a shortage of qualified labor, demand is expected to decrease slightly in the long term due to automation and technological development according to the forecasts of the Employment Agency. The profession encompasses about 1,437 job openings, indicating continued good opportunities to find work.

Frequently asked questions about pile drillers

  • What does a pile driller earn per hour?
    - The hourly wage for a pile driller is on average around 212 SEK for hourly employees.
  • What education is required to become a pile driller?
    - A vocational upper secondary education in construction and civil engineering along with relevant practical experience is commonly required.
  • Are there gender differences in salaries within the profession?
    - Yes, women earn on average 96 % of what men earn in the pile driller profession.
  • What are the future prospects for pile drillers?
    - There is a high demand today, but over the next five years, demand is expected to decrease slightly due to automation.
  • What work environments do pile drillers work in?
    - They primarily work outdoors in construction and civil engineering environments with physically demanding tasks.
  • Can one advance within the profession?
    - Yes, with experience there are opportunities for specialization or leadership positions within the machinery and construction sector.

Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Pillar drill is 36100 kr. This salary belongs to a man working in the Multiple sectors with a post-secondary education, less than 3 years. The highest salary for a woman in this profession is 34500 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Pillar drill is 31400 kr. This salary belongs to a woman also working in the Privately employed officials. The lowest salary for a man in this profession is 31800 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
18-24 100% 30700 kr 32600 kr
25-34 98% 33400 kr 35300 kr
35-44 95% 33500 kr 35200 kr
45-54 97% 34300 kr 35900 kr
55-64 94% 34300 kr 35800 kr
65-68 33300 kr 34400 kr
Snitt 96% 33500 kr 35200 kr
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 Pillar drill has the SSYK code 7223, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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Net salary
31 377
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Fees
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* Updated with 2025 taxes