Image that illustrates Perfusionist

Perfusionist

34 000 kr

Technicians, imaging diagnostics and medical technology equipment

30 000 - 59 300 kr / month

Women earn 96% of what men do.

Tekniskt arbete

What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression Perfusionist

Average salary 34 000 kr
Males 34 600 kr
Females 33 300 kr

What does a Perfusionist do? – Tasks and Work Environment

A Perfusionist is responsible for advanced medical-technical equipment used during heart and lung surgeries, where maintaining circulation and oxygenation is crucial when the heart is non-functional. Tasks include managing heart-lung machines, monitoring vital signs, and working closely with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and operating room nurses. The profession is primarily practiced within hospital surgical departments, often under high-pressure and technically demanding conditions, where precision and responsibility are key qualities.

Salary development over time

The salary for Perfusionists has varied over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 35,500 SEK per month, but decreased to 32 700 SEK in 2023, representing a decline of approximately 7.6%. In 2024, the salary recovered to 34 000 SEK, indicating an increase of just over 4% from the previous year. Fluctuations in salary can partly be explained by changes in demand for the profession, variations in educational levels among practitioners, and some uncertainty in the job market for specialized medical technicians. The long-term trend indicates that competence and experience are rewarded, but salary levels are also influenced by organizational and regional factors.

Perfusionist Salary – Complete Overview

  • Average salary: 34 000 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 30,000 SEK/month (female, private sector, pre-high school education)
  • Highest salary: 59,300 SEK/month (male, private sector, doctoral degree)
  • Hourly wage: 204 SEK
  • Women: 33 300 SEK/month (96% of men)
  • Men: 34 600 SEK/month
  • Regional differences: No specific statistics available

Education and Qualifications

To work as a Perfusionist, a basic education in biomedical engineering, healthcare, or science is usually required, followed by specialized training in perfusion technology. Many employers also require practical experience in an operating environment and certification in the field. The educational path is demanding and often includes both theoretical and practical components.

  • Formal education: Degree as a biomedical analyst or equivalent (3 years)
  • Further training: Specialization in perfusion technology (1–2 years)
  • Practical experience: Clinical practice in an operating room is mandatory
  • Certification: Often a requirement for national or international certification
  • Prerequisites: Science education at high school level

Perfusionists often work in teams where communication and collaboration are as important as technical skills. During an operation, decisions may need to be made quickly, and the role requires readiness to handle unexpected situations with high professionalism.

– statsskuld.se

Common Benefits and Compensation

In addition to base salary, Perfusionists are often offered shift allowances for evening and weekend work, occupational pension, wellness contributions, and access to further training. Many employers within the public sector also offer extra vacation days and opportunities for skill development through courses and conferences.

Challenges and Competition

The profession of Perfusionist is highly specialized, and competition for positions is limited due to the low number of trained practitioners. Challenges mainly include staying updated with rapid technological developments in medical technology and working efficiently under high pressure in the operating environment. The job market is also influenced by hospital budgets and investments in new equipment, which can affect demand for expertise. The lack of national statistics makes it difficult to precisely assess future recruitment needs, but the demand for specialists is expected to remain. The role also requires continuous professional development and strong problem-solving skills.

Tips for Aspiring Perfusionists

To succeed as a Perfusionist, it is beneficial to combine technical interest with a strong sense of responsibility and meticulousness. Gaining practical experience in healthcare environments early on helps develop stress tolerance, as the work often occurs under pressurized conditions. Being analytical and having good problem-solving skills are crucial, since quick decisions must be made during unexpected changes in operations. Flexibility and teamwork skills are important, as the work is performed in teams with various professions. A strong commitment to patient safety and well-being is essential, as well as the ability to stay continuously updated on new technology and methods. Lastly, an interest in lifelong learning and further education facilitates growth within the profession.

Key Facts about Perfusionist

  • Education level: Degree as biomedical analyst + specialization
  • Work environment: Operating room at hospital
  • Work form: Teamwork under high-pressure conditions
  • Demand: Limited number of vacancies, specialized competence
  • Special skills: Advanced medical technology and monitoring

Career Paths and Future Outlook

After three to five years in the profession, a Perfusionist can take on more qualified roles, such as lead Perfusionist responsible for training and mentoring new colleagues. There are also opportunities for further development into research, product development within the medical technology industry, or specialized roles in heart and lung transplants. The employment forecast from the Swedish Public Employment Service for technicians in medical imaging and medical technology shows 564 available jobs, but due to limited data, no precise future prediction for Perfusionists as a standalone profession is provided. However, the job market is considered stable for highly specialized medical technicians, especially those with several years of experience and further training.

Frequently Asked Questions about Perfusionist

  • What does a Perfusionist earn?
    - A Perfusionist has an average salary of 34 000 SEK per month.
  • How do salary differences between men and women look?
    - Men earn an average of 34 600 SEK and women 33 300 SEK, which means women earn 96% of men's salaries.
  • What education is required to become a Perfusionist?
    - The profession requires a biomedical analyst degree and further training in perfusion technology along with clinical practice.
  • What are the job responsibilities of a Perfusionist?
    - Tasks include managing heart-lung machines, monitoring vital signs, and collaborating in the operating room.
  • Are there many job openings for Perfusionists?
    - There are 564 available jobs within the broader occupational group, but the exact number for Perfusionists is unknown.
  • What are the future prospects for the profession?
    - Due to limited data, no specific forecast exists, but demand for specialists is expected to remain.
  • What personal qualities are important?
    - Precision, teamwork, stress resilience, and technical interest are key qualities.

Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Perfusionist is 59300 kr. This salary belongs to a man working in the Privately employed workers with a postgraduate education. The highest salary for a woman in this profession is 43800 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Perfusionist is 30000 kr. This salary belongs to a woman also working in the Privately employed workers. The lowest salary for a man in this profession is 31300 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
25-34 99% 30700 kr 31300 kr
35-44 90% 33200 kr 34200 kr
45-54 97% 33800 kr 34500 kr
55-64 100% 35200 kr 35800 kr
Snitt 96% 33300 kr 34000 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 Perfusionist has the SSYK code 3211, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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