How much does a Plastic press make

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  2. Plastic press
Image that illustrates Plastic press

Plastic press

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 press

Average salary 33 200 kr
Males 33 900 kr
Females 31 800 kr
1 Likes 0 Comments 25 Vacant jobs ->

What does a plastic press operator do? – tasks and work environment

A plastic press operator works with handling and controlling machines that shape plastic materials into finished products or components. Tasks include monitoring press machines, adjusting settings to ensure product quality, and performing routine maintenance and troubleshooting. Plastic press operators often work in production environments such as factories within the plastics industry where the work environment can be noisy and require careful safety management. It is common for work to be performed in shifts to meet production needs and efficiency.

Salary development over time

Plastic press operators' salaries have shown steady growth over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 30,900 SEK per month, which increased to 32 000 SEK in 2023 and further to 33 200 SEK in 2024. This corresponds to a salary increase of approximately 7.4 percent over the period. The salary development can be explained by increased demand for skilled machine operators within the plastics industry, although the profession is affected by automation and technological development. A stable job market and the need for skilled operators contribute to salary increases to attract and retain competent staff. This trend indicates a moderate but positive economic development for the profession.

Plastic press operators often need good technical understanding and the ability to quickly adapt to new machines and processes, making the profession both challenging and developmental.

– statsskuld.se

Plastic press operator salary – comprehensive overview

  • Average salary: 33 200 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 31,500 SEK (female, regional sector, secondary education)
  • Highest salary: 35,700 SEK (male, private sector employee, post-secondary education 3+ years)
  • Hourly wage: 200 SEK (based on 166 working hours/month)
  • Gender differences: Women earn on average 31 800 SEK, men 33 900 SEK, which means women earn 94 % of men's salaries
  • Regional differences: Lowest salaries are often found in the regional sector, while higher salaries occur in the private sector and with higher education

Education and qualifications

The educational path for plastic press operators is often vocational, focusing on machine handling and plastics technology. A secondary education within the industrial program is common, but supplementary courses and practical experience are important for career development.

  • Formal qualifications: Secondary education within the industrial program, often with specialization in plastics or mechanical engineering
  • Certifications/courses: Safety training and machine-specific certificates may be required
  • Internships/traineeships: Practical experience from industrial environments is highly meritorious
  • Prerequisites: Basic technical understanding and familiarity with working with machines
  • Tips for choosing: Select education with a focus on plastics industry machinery and processes for the best preparation

Common benefits and compensations

Plastic press operators are often offered collective agreement benefits such as occupational pension, holiday pay, and shift differentials. Overtime compensation, access to wellness allowances, and training opportunities for skills development are common.

Competition and challenges

The profession as a plastic press operator is characterized by a paradoxical recruitment situation where there are difficulties in recruiting, yet many leave the profession. Technological development and automation within the plastics industry are expected to reduce demand for machine operators in the long term. This requires plastic press operators to continuously develop their skills and adapt to new working methods. At the same time, competition for jobs is tougher in some regions where automation has taken a larger role.

Tips for those who want to become a plastic press operator

To succeed as a plastic press operator, it is good to have a meticulous and technically interested attitude towards the work. Being a problem solver facilitates quick adjustments or troubleshooting of machines. Good teamwork skills are important since plastic press operators often work in teams and need to communicate effectively with colleagues to ensure production quality. Flexibility and adaptability are also valuable qualities, especially considering shift work and changing production requirements. Finally, it is important to have a willingness to learn and develop in line with new technology and production methods.

Key facts about plastic press operators

  • Education level: Secondary education within the industrial program
  • Salary range: 31,500–35,700 SEK/month
  • Work environment: Industrial environment with machine handling and shift work
  • Work form: Machine operator within the plastics industry, often shift work
  • Demand: Large job opportunities but decreasing in the long term due to automation

Career paths and future prospects

After 3–5 years as a plastic press operator, there are opportunities to advance to more specialized roles such as machine supervisor or production manager within the plastics industry. Some choose to further educate themselves as technicians or quality controllers. The Employment Service's forecasts show that job opportunities for machine operators in the plastics industry are large in the short term, but demand is expected to decline over five years due to technological development and automation. The recruitment situation is challenging as many leave the profession, which can open opportunities for new applicants with the right skills.

Frequently asked questions about plastic press operators

  • What is the average salary of a plastic press operator?
    - The average salary is approximately 33 200 SEK per month.
  • What education is required to become a plastic press operator?
    - A secondary education within the industrial program with specialization in plastics or mechanical engineering is most common.
  • Are there gender differences in the salaries of plastic press operators?
    - Yes, women earn on average 94 % of men's salaries.
  • What are the future prospects for plastic press operators?
    - Job opportunities are large today but are expected to decrease in the long term due to automation.
  • What work environments do plastic press operators work in?
    - Mostly in industrial environments with machinery and shift work.
  • Can one advance within the profession?
    - Yes, opportunities exist to become machine supervisor or production manager after a few years.
  • What is the hourly wage for a plastic press operator?
    - The hourly wage is on average about 200 SEK based on full-time work.

Richard Andersson

Richard Andersson - 2025-07-03 18:45:49

Occupation
Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Plastic press 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 press 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
* 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 Plastic press has the SSYK code 8142, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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