How has the salary development been for retouchers?

The salary has increased from 32,600 SEK in 2022 to 38,100 SEK in 2024, which corresponds to an increase of about 17% over three years.

What education is required to become a retoucher in photography?

Typically, post-secondary education in photography, image editing, or graphic design is required, often supplemented with courses in photo editing and practical experience.

Are there salary differences between men and women?

Yes, women earn on average 96% of what men do in the profession of retoucher, photography.

What is the job market like for retouchers?

There are 1,433 available jobs within the profession, but the number of dedicated retoucher positions is fewer and competition for these is high.

What is the highest and lowest salary for a retoucher in photography?

The highest salary is 39,800 SEK (male, private sector, post-secondary education), and the lowest is 36,000 SEK (female, multiple sectors).

What personal qualities are important for the profession?

Precision, creativity, flexibility, and teamwork skills are especially valuable for success as a retoucher in photography.

Retoucher, photo salary

Q: What does a retoucher in photography earn?

A retoucher in photography has an average monthly salary of 38,100 SEK. Men earn on average 38,500 SEK and women 36,900 SEK.

42 600 SEK

Machine operators, chemical technology and photographic products

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

41 400 - 45 700 SEK / month

Women earn 98% of what men do.

Industriell tillverkning

Average salary 42 600 SEK/month Monthly gross salary

Salary range 41 400 - 45 700 SEK Latest available range Data year 2025 Latest published dataset

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Salary trend About the role What does a retoucher in photography do? – Tasks and work environment Salary development over time Retoucher, photography salary – comprehensive overview Open jobs Related occupations About the data

Salary progression Retoucher, photo

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What does a retoucher in photography do? – Tasks and work environment

A retoucher in photography works with editing and enhancing digital images to achieve the desired visual result. Tasks often include color correction, exposure adjustment, contrast enhancement, and removal of unwanted details or objects. Retouchers work closely with photographers, art directors, and sometimes clients to ensure the final result meets aesthetic and technical requirements. The work environment is generally studio or office-based, where advanced computers and image editing software are used daily. The pace can be fast, especially during productions or near deadlines, but the profession also offers opportunities for creative work and specialization within genres such as advertising, fashion, or portrait photography.

Salary development over time

The salary for retouchers in photography has shown a clear upward trend over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 32,600 SEK per month, increasing to 38 100 SEK in 2023. The most significant increase occurred between 2023 and 2024, when the average salary rose to 42 600 SEK – an increase of about 13% in just one year. This positive salary development can be partly explained by increased demand for digital image editing in advertising, e-commerce, and social media, as well as evolving technical skill requirements. The market's need for high-quality visual material drives up salaries, and specialized retouchers are becoming increasingly valuable to employers in both private and public sectors.

Retoucher, photography salary – comprehensive overview

Average salary: 42 600 SEK/month
Lowest salary: 36,000 SEK/month (female, multiple sectors)
Highest salary: 39,800 SEK/month (male, private sector, post-secondary education < 3 years)
Hourly wage: 229 SEK
Gender differences: Women earn 36,900 SEK/month (98% of men's salary of 38,500 SEK/month)
Regional differences: No specific statistics available

Education and qualifications

To work as a retoucher in photography, a combination of formal education and practical experience is usually required. Many retouchers have backgrounds in photography, graphic design, or image editing, and have deepened their knowledge through specialized courses or self-study. Practical experience and a strong portfolio are highly valued in hiring, especially in commercial environments.

Post-secondary education: YH training or university degree in photography, image editing, or graphic design (1–3 years)
Short courses/certifications: Courses in Adobe Photoshop and other image editing software
Internships/traineeships: Common within education programs or as entry points into the industry
Portfolio: A strong work sample is often crucial for employment
Self-study: Common, especially for new techniques and software

In the profession of retoucher, photography, it is common to work as a freelancer or on project-based employment, especially for larger advertising or fashion assignments. The flexibility of this work form allows combining assignments from multiple clients and building a broad network within the industry.

– statsskuld.se

Common benefits and compensations

Retouchers in photography are often offered competitive benefits such as wellness allowances, flexible working hours, and remote work options. Other common compensations include bonuses for major projects, training allowances for skill development, and access to modern equipment and software that facilitate daily work.

Competition and challenges

The competition within the profession of retoucher, photography, is significant, especially in larger cities where many seek entry into creative industries. Rapid technological development also means high demands for updated skills and software knowledge. Automation and AI-based image editing tools may affect demand for traditional retouching in the future, but there remains a strong need for skilled professionals for advanced and artistic image processing. Projects can vary greatly in scope, requiring flexibility and resilience to stress. The number of available positions within the profession is relatively high, but the number of dedicated retoucher roles is limited, making networking and specialization important tools for success.

Tips for aspiring retouchers in photography

To succeed as a retoucher in photography, attention to detail and precision are essential, as small errors can impact the overall impression of an image. Creativity and a developed sense of color and form help create visually appealing results that meet client requirements. Continuously updating skills with new techniques and software is crucial in this fast-changing profession. Building a strong portfolio that demonstrates variety and quality is important, as work samples often carry significant weight in hiring. Good teamwork skills are vital, as work is often done in collaboration with photographers and creative directors. Flexibility and resilience are needed, especially under tight deadlines or large projects. Finally, being proactive and able to work independently are advantages, as many retouchers work freelance or autonomously.

Key facts about retoucher, photography

Education level: Post-secondary education or vocational training (1–3 years)
Work environment: Office-based or freelance with flexible hours
Common employment forms: Permanent employment, project-based or freelance assignments
Demand: 1,433 available jobs within the profession (2024)
Gender distribution: Women earn 98% of men's salaries

Career paths and future prospects

After three to five years in the profession, a retoucher in photography can advance to roles such as senior retoucher, image editor, or project manager for image production. There are also opportunities to specialize within specific areas, such as fashion, advertising, or art photography. Some choose to start their own business and work as freelancers with their own clients. According to the Swedish Public Employment Service's forecasts, there is no specific assessment for retoucher, photography, but within the group of machine operators for photographic products, the number of available jobs is high, indicating a healthy job market. Continued digitalization and increased visual communication are expected to keep demand for skilled retouchers stable in the coming years, although competition for the most attractive positions may be tough.

Common questions about retoucher, photography

What does a retoucher in photography earn?
- A retoucher in photography has an average salary of 42 600 SEK per month. Men earn on average 38,500 SEK and women 36,900 SEK.
How has the salary development been for retouchers?
- Salaries have increased from 32,600 SEK in 2022 to 42 600 SEK in 2024, which is about a 17% increase over three years.
What education is required to become a retoucher in photography?
- Usually, post-secondary education in photography, image editing, or graphic design, often complemented with courses in photo editing and practical experience.
Are there salary differences between men and women?
- Yes, women earn on average 98% of what men do in the profession of retoucher, photography.
What is the job market like for retouchers?
- There are 1,433 available jobs within the profession, but the number of dedicated retoucher roles is fewer and competition is high.
What is the highest and lowest salary for a retoucher in photography?
- The highest salary is 39,800 SEK (male, private sector, post-secondary education), and the lowest is 36,000 SEK (female, multiple sectors).
What personal qualities are important for the profession?
- Precision, creativity, flexibility, and teamwork skills are especially valuable for success as a retoucher in photography.

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Richard Andersson - 2025-08-09 01:02:01

Occupation

Salary distributed by age and sector

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
25-34		36100 kr	41900 kr
35-44		37300 kr	42900 kr
45-54		37800 kr	43400 kr
55-64		37900 kr	44000 kr
Snitt	98%	36900 kr	42600 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
25-34		36100 kr	41900 kr
35-44		37300 kr	42900 kr
45-54		37800 kr	43400 kr
55-64		37900 kr	44000 kr
Snitt	98%	36900 kr	42600 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
25-34		36100 kr	41900 kr
35-44		37300 kr	42900 kr
45-54		37800 kr	43400 kr
55-64		37900 kr	44000 kr
Snitt	98%	36900 kr	42600 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
25-34		36300 kr	42300 kr
35-44		37400 kr	42800 kr
45-54		38000 kr	43500 kr
55-64		38000 kr	44300 kr
Snitt	98%	37100 kr	42700 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
25-34		36300 kr	42300 kr
35-44		37400 kr	42800 kr
45-54		38000 kr	43500 kr
55-64		38000 kr	44300 kr
Snitt	98%	37100 kr	42700 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
25-34		36300 kr	42300 kr
35-44		37400 kr	42800 kr
45-54		38000 kr	43500 kr
55-64		38000 kr	44300 kr
Snitt	98%	37100 kr	42700 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
Snitt	98%	36200 kr	42000 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
Snitt	98%	36200 kr	42000 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
Snitt	98%	36200 kr	42000 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 Retoucher, photo has the SSYK code 8132, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.