What does a process operator, refinery earn?

The average salary is approximately 40,500 SEK per month, with variations between 37,500 and 42,200 SEK depending on experience and education.

What education is required to become a process operator in a refinery?

A post-secondary technical education in process or chemical engineering lasting 2–3 years is common.

Are there gender differences in salary?

Yes, women earn on average 92 percent of men's salaries in the profession.

Does a process operator work in shifts?

Yes, shift work is common to ensure continuous monitoring of the processes.

What personal qualities are important?

Accuracy, stress tolerance, and good communication skills are central qualities.

What are the future prospects?

There is a stable number of job openings within the profession, but an exact assessment is lacking due to limited data.

What is the hourly wage for a process operator, refinery?

The average hourly wage is approximately 243 SEK.

Process supervisor, refinery salary

41 200 SEK

Process supervisors, chemical industry

Latest available salary statistics are for 2025. Compare average pay, salary range and related job listings.

38 000 - 43 000 SEK / month

Women earn 92% of what men do.

Installation & drift/underhåll

Average salary 41 200 SEK/month Monthly gross salary

Salary range 38 000 - 43 000 SEK Latest available range Data year 2025 Latest published dataset

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Salary trend About the role What does a process operator, refinery do? – tasks and work environment Wage development over time Process operator, refinery salary – complete overview Open jobs Related occupations About the data

Salary progression Process supervisor, refinery

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What does a process operator, refinery do? – tasks and work environment

A process operator within a refinery is responsible for monitoring and controlling the technical processes in an oil or chemical refining plant. Tasks include continuously following production parameters, adjusting settings to ensure optimal operation and quality, and quickly identifying and correcting deviations to avoid operational disruptions. The environment is often industrial with shift work, where safety and accuracy are crucial to maintaining a safe and efficient production.

Wage development over time

The salary for a process operator in a refinery has shown steady growth over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 37,500 SEK per month, then increased to 40 500 SEK in 2023 and further to 41 200 SEK in 2024. This corresponds to a total increase of about 8 percent during the period, indicating a positive salary trend that can be linked to increased demand for skilled labor in the chemical industry and refineries. The salary increase also reflects the industry's focus on skill development and safety requirements, where experience and education are often rewarded. A stable market and the need to retain specialists drive wages upward.

Process operators in refineries often work in teams where collaboration and communication are essential to avoid shutdowns and ensure the quality of production.

– statsskuld.se

Process operator, refinery salary – complete overview

Average salary: 41 200 SEK/month
Lowest salary: 37,500 SEK/month (female, private sector employee, post-secondary education shorter than 3 years)
Highest salary: 42,200 SEK/month (male, private sector employee, post-secondary education 3 years or more)
Hourly wage: 243 SEK (based on 166 working hours/month)
Gender differences: Women earn on average 38 400 SEK, which is 92 % of men's average salary 41 900 SEK
Regional differences: Data is lacking, but salary levels may vary depending on the plant's location and labor market

Education and qualifications

To work as a process operator in a refinery, a technical education in chemistry, process, or industrial engineering at post-secondary level is usually required. Practical experience in an industrial environment is often advantageous, and certifications in safety and process control can further enhance competence.

Technical high school or vocational college in process or chemical engineering
Post-secondary education, often 2–3 years
Certifications in process monitoring and safety
Internship or trainee programs in industrial operation
Prerequisites: basic chemistry and technology
Continuous skills development and self-study

Common benefits and compensations

Process operators in refineries are often offered benefits such as shift allowances, pensions, and wellness contributions. Many employers also provide collective agreement-insured insurances and training support. The work may include overtime pay and bonuses for special efforts or goal-related results.

Competition and challenges

The profession as a process operator in a refinery is characterized by relatively stable demand, but competition can be fierce for the most attractive positions. Challenges include the requirement for constant attention and the ability to handle unexpected operational disruptions quickly. Additionally, the work environment demands high safety standards and physical endurance. Staying updated with technological changes and regulations is also central to success.

Tips for those who want to become a process operator, refinery

To succeed as a process operator in a refinery, it is good to have a technical interest and a careful work style. Developing problem-solving skills to handle process deviations quickly is important. Good communication skills facilitate collaboration with colleagues and safety officers. Being stress-resistant is an asset, as the work often requires quick decisions under pressure. Finally, it is recommended to continuously improve technical competence through education and certifications to stay relevant in the job market.

Key facts about process operator, refinery

Education level: Post-secondary technical education (2–3 years)
Salary range: 37,500–42,200 SEK/month
Work environment: Industrial environment with shift work
Gender salary gap: Women earn 92 % of men's salary
Work form: Stationary process monitoring with high safety focus

Career paths and future prospects

After 3–5 years as a process operator in a refinery, there are opportunities to advance to specialist roles in process optimization or operations management. Some may also move on to project management within industrial production or safety responsibilities. The labor market forecasts show that there are 481 job openings in the broader profession of process operators in the chemical industry, but due to limited data, no precise assessment of recruitment in refineries is made. Overall, the industry is expected to continue demanding technically skilled personnel as automation and environmental regulations increase.

Common questions about process operator, refinery

What does a process operator, refinery earn?
- The average salary is approximately 41 200 SEK per month, with variations between 37,500 and 42,200 SEK depending on experience and education.
What education is required to become a process operator in a refinery?
- A post-secondary technical education in process or chemical engineering lasting 2–3 years is common.
Are there gender differences in salary?
- Yes, women earn on average 92 percent of men's salaries in the profession.
Does a process operator work in shifts?
- Yes, shift work is common to ensure continuous process monitoring.
What personal qualities are important?
- Accuracy, stress tolerance, and good communication skills are central qualities.
What are the future prospects?
- There is a stable number of job openings within the profession, but an exact assessment is lacking due to limited data.
What is the hourly wage for a process operator, refinery?
- The hourly wage averages around 243 SEK.

Richard Andersson - 2025-07-07 19:39:35

Occupation

Salary distributed by age and sector

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
18-24	96%	31200 kr	36500 kr
25-34	95%	34200 kr	40100 kr
35-44	90%	35400 kr	41300 kr
45-54	92%	36800 kr	43100 kr
55-64	91%	37200 kr	43400 kr
Snitt	92%	35200 kr	41200 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
18-24	96%	31200 kr	36500 kr
25-34	95%	34200 kr	40100 kr
35-44	90%	35400 kr	41300 kr
45-54	92%	36800 kr	43100 kr
55-64	91%	37200 kr	43400 kr
Snitt	92%	35200 kr	41200 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
18-24	96%	31200 kr	36500 kr
25-34	95%	34200 kr	40100 kr
35-44	90%	35400 kr	41300 kr
45-54	92%	36800 kr	43100 kr
55-64	91%	37200 kr	43400 kr
Snitt	92%	35200 kr	41200 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
18-24	96%	30900 kr	36900 kr
25-34	95%	34200 kr	40500 kr
35-44	90%	35800 kr	42300 kr
45-54	92%	37300 kr	43800 kr
55-64	91%	37600 kr	44100 kr
Snitt	92%	35500 kr	41900 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
18-24	96%	30900 kr	36900 kr
25-34	95%	34200 kr	40500 kr
35-44	90%	35800 kr	42300 kr
45-54	92%	37300 kr	43800 kr
55-64	91%	37600 kr	44100 kr
Snitt	92%	35500 kr	41900 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
18-24	96%	30900 kr	36900 kr
25-34	95%	34200 kr	40500 kr
35-44	90%	35800 kr	42300 kr
45-54	92%	37300 kr	43800 kr
55-64	91%	37600 kr	44100 kr
Snitt	92%	35500 kr	41900 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
18-24	96%	31800 kr	35500 kr
25-34	95%	34200 kr	38700 kr
35-44	90%	34100 kr	37900 kr
45-54	92%	35100 kr	40200 kr
55-64	91%	35300 kr	40000 kr
Snitt	92%	34100 kr	38400 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
18-24	96%	31800 kr	35500 kr
25-34	95%	34200 kr	38700 kr
35-44	90%	34100 kr	37900 kr
45-54	92%	35100 kr	40200 kr
55-64	91%	35300 kr	40000 kr
Snitt	92%	34100 kr	38400 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
18-24	96%	31800 kr	35500 kr
25-34	95%	34200 kr	38700 kr
35-44	90%	34100 kr	37900 kr
45-54	92%	35100 kr	40200 kr
55-64	91%	35300 kr	40000 kr
Snitt	92%	34100 kr	38400 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 Process supervisor, refinery has the SSYK code 8192, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.