Image that illustrates Plastic boat builder

Plastic boat builder

33 200 kr

Machine operators, plastics industry

31 500 - 35 700 kr / month

Women earn 94% of what men do.

Industriell tillverkning

What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression Plastic boat builder

Average salary 33 200 kr
Males 33 900 kr
Females 31 800 kr

What does a plastic boat builder do? – Tasks and work environment

A plastic boat builder works with manufacturing and assembly of boats made from plastic materials, usually fiberglass-reinforced plastic. Tasks include mold casting, sanding, laminating, and assembling equipment and final finishing. The environment is often workshop-based with a mix of manual craftsmanship and machine processing. Work involves chemicals and dust, requiring careful protective routines and good ventilation. The profession demands both technical understanding and an eye for detail, as quality standards for the finished product are high.

Salary development over time

The salary for plastic boat builders has increased steadily over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 30,900 SEK per month, rising to 32 000 SEK in 2023 and further increasing to 33 200 SEK in 2024. This corresponds to a total increase of about 7.5% over the three-year period. The wage increase can partly be explained by an increased demand for skilled labor in the plastics industry and general wage adjustments within the industrial sector. Despite some future uncertainty due to automation and technological development, demand for skilled craftsmen and machine operators currently contributes to positive wage development for the profession.

Plastic boat builder salary – comprehensive overview

  • Average salary: 33 200 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 31,500 SEK/month (female, regional sector, vocational education)
  • Highest salary: 35,700 SEK/month (male, private sector, post-secondary education)
  • Hourly wage: 200 SEK/hour
  • Gender differences: Women earn 94% of men's salaries (31 800 SEK vs 33 900 SEK)
  • Regional differences: Lowest salaries are found in the regional sector, highest in the private sector

Education and qualifications

To work as a plastic boat builder, a vocational education in industrial technology is usually required, preferably with focus on plastics or composites. Employers often look favorably on production experience, but newly trained individuals also have opportunities through internships or trainee programs. Specialized courses and certifications in plastic processing can be advantageous and improve career prospects.

  • Vocational education: Industrial technology program, 3 years
  • Internships: Often a requirement during or after education
  • Certifications: Courses in plastics and composite handling, safety
  • Prerequisites: Technical interest and good physical condition
  • Tips for choosing: Select schools with focus on plastics industry or marine applications

Many plastic boat builders get the opportunity to work on unique special projects, such as custom-built boats or prototypes for competitions and research. This can involve close collaboration with designers and engineers, providing great variety in daily work.

– statsskuld.se

Common benefits and compensations

Plastic boat builders are often covered by collective agreements, which include occupational pensions, insurance, and sick pay. Other common benefits may include wellness allowances, work clothing, and sometimes bonuses for larger projects or overtime work. Working hours are usually daytime, but shift work may occur during high workload periods.

Competition and challenges

The competition for jobs as a plastic boat builder varies by region and economic cycle. Currently, there are recruitment difficulties in the profession, as many leave the industry and the number of trained workers is limited. At the same time, demand is expected to decline over five years mainly due to automation and technological advances. Challenges include exposure to chemicals, physically demanding tasks, and the need for continuous skills development to meet new materials and methods. For those who are flexible and willing to further educate themselves, the profession can still offer interesting opportunities.

Tips for those who want to become a plastic boat builder

To succeed as a plastic boat builder, it is good to have a genuine technical interest and be precise in your work, as small mistakes can affect the final product quality. Good teamwork skills are important, as larger boats are often built in teams with effective communication. Being solution-oriented and flexible helps in addressing unexpected problems, while physical endurance is needed for heavy and sometimes monotonous tasks. A willingness to learn new techniques and materials makes it easier to adapt to industry developments. Finally, safety awareness is crucial, as work often involves chemicals and machinery that require respect and caution.

Key facts about plastic boat builders

  • Average salary: 33 200 SEK/month
  • Salary range: 31,500–35,700 SEK/month
  • Education level: Vocational industrial education, possibly further training
  • Work environment: Workshop, chemical handling, physical work
  • Demand: Great opportunities today, decreasing over five years

Career paths and future outlook

After some years of experience, plastic boat builders can advance to team leaders, production technicians, or specialists in composite materials. Some choose further education in marine engineering or start their own business in boat service and repair. Forecasts from the Swedish Public Employment Service show that job opportunities are currently abundant, but demand is expected to decline within five years, mainly due to increased automation. Nonetheless, there are 1,437 job openings in the profession, indicating a continued need for skilled workers in the short term.

Common questions about plastic boat builders

  • What does a plastic boat builder earn?
    - The average salary is 33 200 SEK per month, but variations occur depending on experience, gender, and sector.
  • How does one become a plastic boat builder?
    - The most common route is a vocational education in industrial technology, preferably with internships in the plastics or boat industry.
  • Are there differences between men's and women's salaries?
    - Yes, women earn on average 94% of what men do within the profession.
  • What are the occupational health and safety risks?
    - The work involves contact with chemicals and dust, as well as physically demanding tasks and monotonous work.
  • What are the future prospects?
    - Today, job opportunities are good, but demand is expected to decrease over five years due to automation.
  • What benefits are usually included?
    - Collective agreements, occupational pension, wellness allowance, and sometimes bonuses or work clothing are common.

Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Plastic boat builder is 35700 kr. This salary belongs to a man working in the Privately employed officials with a post-secondary education, 3 years or more. The highest salary for a woman in this profession is 32200 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Plastic boat builder is 31500 kr. This salary belongs to a woman also working in the Regional sector. The lowest salary for a man in this profession is 33500 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
18-24 97% 27500 kr 30400 kr
25-34 95% 30900 kr 33900 kr
35-44 95% 31400 kr 34000 kr
45-54 91% 31000 kr 33400 kr
55-64 91% 31400 kr 33600 kr
Snitt 94% 30600 kr 33200 kr
Salary per sector
Salary based on education
Register an account before you can comment

To write a comment you need to create an account.


Default Avatar

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 Plastic boat builder has the SSYK code 8142, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

Search salary statistics for occupation
8000 kr
<-|->
90000 kr
Vacant jobs
Similar occupations
Latest posts
  • Public Opinion - Opinion Poll Status Novus: Unchanged Support – Social Democrats Largest
    Wed, 19 Nov 2025 - 08:35
  • National Debt - The National Debt – Level, Development, and Significance for Sweden
    Wed, 8 Oct 2025 - 08:00
Salary, Taxes, and Fees
Net salary 31 377
Net salary
31 377
Taxes
11 738
Fees
12 129

With our Swedish tax calculator, you can easily calculate your after-tax income (net salary).

Swedish Church Member

* Updated with 2025 taxes