- Salary statistics
- Polis salary
Polis salary
Latest available salary statistics are for 2025. Compare average pay, salary range and related job listings.
39 800 - 51 600 SEK / month
Women earn 97% of what men do.
Säkerhetsarbete
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Salary progression Polis
What does a police officer do? – tasks and work environment
A police officer works to uphold the law and order, prevent crime, and intervene in criminal acts and emergencies. Tasks range from fieldwork with patrolling and interventions to investigations and collaboration with other authorities. The work environment can be physically and mentally demanding, with stress and risk of dangerous situations. Police officers often work in shifts and may need to handle unexpected and rapidly changing situations.
Salary development over time
The police salary has shown positive growth over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 38,800 SEK per month, which increased to 44 100 SEK in 2023 and further to 44,100 SEK in 2024. This corresponds to a total salary increase of approximately 13.6% over the period. This salary development can be explained by increased demand for qualified personnel in the security sector and investments to strengthen police resources and skills. The steady increase also reflects a general trend where the public sector has prioritized salary improvements to retain and recruit personnel with the right education and experience.
The police profession often requires quick decision-making under pressure, making the ability to stay calm and analyze situations crucial for success in the role.
Police salary – complete overview
- Average salary: 44,100 SEK/month
- Lowest salary: 42,500 SEK (female with post-secondary education, public sector)
- Highest salary: 49,200 SEK (male with doctoral degree, public sector)
- Hourly wage: 265 SEK (based on 166 working hours/month)
- Gender differences: Women earn on average 43 100 SEK, men 44 300 SEK, women earn 97% of men's salary
- Regional differences: Data unavailable for detailed regional differences
Education and qualifications
To become a police officer, a police degree obtained after a three-year program is required. The education combines theoretical studies with practical components and also includes physical tests and internships. In addition to the basic training, continuous further education and specialization are common to meet the profession's requirements.
- Formal degree: Police program, 3 years
- Internship: Mandatory internship during the program
- Physical requirements: Good physical health and approved tests
- Prerequisites: High school diploma with specific qualifications
- Certifications: Special courses such as weapon handling and crime investigation
- Tips: Good communication skills and stress resilience facilitate studies and work
Common benefits and compensations
Police officers are often offered benefits such as collective pension schemes, wellness allowances, and sometimes company cars. The work may involve shift work, which is often compensated with overtime pay. Additionally, police officers can receive compensation for overtime and risks associated with the job. Many employers also offer training opportunities and career development within the organization.
Competition and challenges
The police profession is competitive, especially for admission to the police program where many apply for limited spots. Challenges include high workload, demands for quick problem-solving, and handling dangerous situations. At the same time, high standards of integrity and professionalism are required in public interactions. Maintaining a good work environment and work-life balance remains a challenge in the profession.
Tips for those who want to become a police officer
To succeed as a police officer, it is good to develop strong stress resilience since the profession often involves quick and pressured situations. Good communication skills are also important for effective collaboration with colleagues and the public. Having a genuine interest in justice and social issues is also motivating for daily work. Practical experience from volunteer work or similar can give an advantage in the admission process. Finally, good physical condition facilitates both training and field tasks.
Key facts about police officers
- Education level: Police program, 3 years
- Salary range: 42,500–49,200 SEK/month
- Work environment: Fieldwork combined with office tasks
- Hourly wage: 265 SEK
- Gender differences: Women earn 97% of men's salary
Career paths and future prospects
After 3–5 years in the profession, a police officer can advance to specialist roles such as investigator, forensic technician, or team leader. There are also opportunities to work in management or to specialize in areas like drugs, traffic, or IT crimes. The employment agency's forecast for the security and surveillance sector indicates approximately 191 available jobs, but due to limited data, no specific assessment of recruitment for police officers is made. However, the profession is expected to remain relevant with stable demand for qualified personnel in the field.
Frequently asked questions about police officers
- What does a police officer earn at the beginning of their career?
- The starting salary for a police officer is often in the range of 38,800–42,500 SEK per month depending on education and workplace. - What are the educational requirements to become a police officer?
- The police program, which lasts three years, is the basic requirement to work as a police officer in Sweden. - Are there gender differences in police salaries?
- Yes, women earn on average 97% of what men earn within the profession. - What is the work environment like for police officers?
- The work environment is varied and can be physically and mentally demanding, with elements of shift work. - What opportunities are there for further education?
- Police officers can specialize in various areas, and further training is often offered within the organization.
Salary distributed by age and sector
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 101% | 29500 kr | 33700 kr |
| 25-34 | 99% | 34600 kr | 38700 kr |
| 35-44 | 100% | 40500 kr | 43600 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 46100 kr | 48400 kr |
| 55-64 | 98% | 50700 kr | 52100 kr |
| 65-68 | 50400 kr | 51900 kr | |
| Snitt | 97% | 40800 kr | 43900 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 101% | 29500 kr | 33700 kr |
| 25-34 | 99% | 34600 kr | 38700 kr |
| 35-44 | 100% | 40500 kr | 43600 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 46100 kr | 48400 kr |
| 55-64 | 98% | 50700 kr | 52100 kr |
| 65-68 | 97% | 50400 kr | 51900 kr |
| Snitt | 97% | 40800 kr | 43900 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 101% | 29500 kr | 33700 kr |
| 25-34 | 99% | 34600 kr | 38700 kr |
| 35-44 | 100% | 40500 kr | 43600 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 46100 kr | 48400 kr |
| 55-64 | 98% | 50700 kr | 52100 kr |
| 65-68 | 97% | 50400 kr | 51900 kr |
| Snitt | 97% | 40800 kr | 43900 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 101% | 29300 kr | 33500 kr |
| 25-34 | 99% | 34600 kr | 38900 kr |
| 35-44 | 100% | 40100 kr | 43600 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 46300 kr | 48900 kr |
| 55-64 | 98% | 50900 kr | 52500 kr |
| 65-68 | 50800 kr | 52300 kr | |
| Snitt | 97% | 41100 kr | 44300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 101% | 29300 kr | 33500 kr |
| 25-34 | 99% | 34600 kr | 38900 kr |
| 35-44 | 100% | 40100 kr | 43600 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 46300 kr | 48900 kr |
| 55-64 | 98% | 50900 kr | 52500 kr |
| 65-68 | 97% | 50800 kr | 52300 kr |
| Snitt | 97% | 41100 kr | 44300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 101% | 29300 kr | 33500 kr |
| 25-34 | 99% | 34600 kr | 38900 kr |
| 35-44 | 100% | 40100 kr | 43600 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 46300 kr | 48900 kr |
| 55-64 | 98% | 50900 kr | 52500 kr |
| 65-68 | 97% | 50800 kr | 52300 kr |
| Snitt | 97% | 41100 kr | 44300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 101% | 29800 kr | 34000 kr |
| 25-34 | 99% | 34700 kr | 38400 kr |
| 35-44 | 100% | 41300 kr | 43500 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 45700 kr | 47400 kr |
| 55-64 | 98% | 50200 kr | 51200 kr |
| Snitt | 97% | 40500 kr | 43100 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 101% | 29800 kr | 34000 kr |
| 25-34 | 99% | 34700 kr | 38400 kr |
| 35-44 | 100% | 41300 kr | 43500 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 45700 kr | 47400 kr |
| 55-64 | 98% | 50200 kr | 51200 kr |
| 65-68 | 97% | 49400 kr | 51000 kr |
| Snitt | 97% | 40500 kr | 43100 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 101% | 29800 kr | 34000 kr |
| 25-34 | 99% | 34700 kr | 38400 kr |
| 35-44 | 100% | 41300 kr | 43500 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 45700 kr | 47400 kr |
| 55-64 | 98% | 50200 kr | 51200 kr |
| 65-68 | 97% | 49400 kr | 51000 kr |
| Snitt | 97% | 40500 kr | 43100 kr |
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 Polis has the SSYK code 3360, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.
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