How much does a School meal assistant make

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  2. School meal assistant
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School meal assistant

27 900 kr

Restaurant and kitchen assistants etc.

24 800 - 33 700 kr / month

Women earn 98% of what men do.

Hotell, restaurang

What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression School meal assistant

Average salary 27 900 kr
Males 28 300 kr
Females 27 600 kr
1 Likes 0 Comments 463 Vacant jobs ->

What does a school meal assistant do? – tasks and work environment

A school meal assistant mainly works with preparing, serving, and sometimes cooking food in a school setting. The profession involves daily contact with students and colleagues, focusing on ensuring that meals are nutritious, safe, and appealing. Tasks also include dishwashing, cleaning kitchen equipment, refilling buffets, and receiving and inspecting food deliveries. The work environment is characterized by a fast pace, time pressure, and high hygiene standards, but also offers social interactions and a sense of contributing to children's and young people's health.

Salary development over time

The salary for school meal assistants has shown a stable and positive trend over recent years. In 2022, the average salary was 25,200 SEK per month, increasing to 26 600 SEK in 2023 and further to 27 900 SEK in 2024. The total increase over three years amounts to approximately 11%, which is slightly higher than the general wage growth for many other service professions. Factors driving this development include increased demand for school meal staff, higher requirements for special diets and hygiene, and improved conditions in collective agreements. Continued shortages of trained personnel may contribute to further salary improvements within the profession in the future.

School meal assistant salary – comprehensive overview

  • Average salary: 27 900 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 24,800 SEK/month (female, private sector, pre-secondary education)
  • Highest salary: 33,700 SEK/month (male, public sector, pre-secondary education less than 9 years)
  • Hourly wage: 168 SEK/hour (based on 166 hours/month)
  • Gender differences: Men earn 28 300 SEK, women 27 600 SEK (women earn 98% of men's salary)
  • Regional differences: Salary variations may occur depending on municipality, sector, and local agreements

Education and qualifications

The pathway to working as a school meal assistant is often relatively short, with few formal educational requirements. Many are recruited directly after compulsory school, but experience from restaurants or large kitchens is advantageous and can improve employment prospects. Hygiene training and knowledge of food safety are important, and some employers offer internal training for new staff.

  • Education type: The restaurant and food program in upper secondary school (3 years) is meritorious but not mandatory
  • Certifications: Hygiene training and food handling
  • Internship: Internship in large kitchens or restaurant environments is recommended
  • Prerequisites: Basic education in compulsory school
  • Tips for selection: Experience from service professions or volunteer work in kitchens can be valuable

A school meal assistant often has significant influence on students' eating habits and well-being. By engaging with students daily and creating a welcoming environment, staff can contribute to both food enjoyment and social cohesion. Many describe the relationship with children and youth as one of the most rewarding parts of the job.

– statsskuld.se

Common benefits and compensations

School meal assistants are often covered by collective agreements with benefits such as overtime pay for early mornings or late afternoons, wellness allowances, work clothing, and opportunities for further training. Many workplaces also offer subsidized lunch and generous holiday policies.

Challenges and competition

The job market for school meal assistants is characterized by high demand but also competition for the most attractive positions. A challenge is the high proportion of part-time employment, which can affect income and working hours. The industry demands flexibility and the ability to handle stressful situations, while recruitment difficulties are common in many areas. The work environment can be physically demanding, requiring good hygiene and attention to detail. Digitalization and increased requirements for special diets set new demands on skills development.

Tips for those who want to become a school meal assistant

To succeed as a school meal assistant, it is good to be service-oriented and have a genuine interest in food and people. Precision is crucial for food handling and hygiene standards, while teamwork skills facilitate working with cooks and colleagues. Flexibility is needed to quickly adapt to changing routines or unexpected challenges in the kitchen. Patience and a friendly attitude help when interacting with students and colleagues, especially during busy lunch hours. Showing initiative and willingness to learn new tasks makes it easier to develop within the profession. Finally, a positive attitude contributes to a pleasant working environment and good relationships at the workplace.

Key facts about School Meal Assistant

  • Education level: From elementary to upper secondary school, no formal education required
  • Work environment: Large kitchens in schools, often fast-paced and daytime hours
  • Employment type: Mostly part-time or fixed-term employment
  • Demand: Great opportunities for employment, especially in the public sector
  • Special skills: Food hygiene, special diets, and service skills

Career paths and future prospects

After a few years of experience as a school meal assistant, there are opportunities to advance to other roles within large kitchens and restaurants, such as kitchen supervisor, chef, or team leader. With additional training, positions in menu planning or special diets may also become available. The Employment Service's forecasts show that job opportunities in the restaurant and kitchen assistant sector are significant, and demand is expected to be unchanged over the next five years. Recruitment difficulties occur, especially in smaller towns and metropolitan areas. In total, there were 123 job openings in the profession at the latest measurement.

Frequently asked questions about School Meal Assistant

  • What does a school meal assistant earn?
    - The average salary is 27 900 SEK per month.
  • What are the gender differences in salary?
    - Men earn 28 300 SEK and women 27 600 SEK, which means women earn 98% of men's salary.
  • What education is required to work as a school meal assistant?
    - No formal education is required, but experience and hygiene training are advantageous.
  • What is the job market like for school meal assistants?
    - Opportunities for employment are plentiful, and demand is expected to remain unchanged over the next five years.
  • What are the highest and lowest salaries in the profession?
    - The highest salary is 33,700 SEK per month and the lowest is 24,800 SEK per month.
  • Is there room for career development?
    - Yes, it is possible to advance to roles such as kitchen supervisor or chef with more experience and education.
  • What does a typical workday look like for a school meal assistant?
    - The workday includes food preparation, serving, dishwashing, and cleaning in the school kitchen.

Richard Andersson

Richard Andersson - 2025-07-13 10:40:12

Occupation
Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a School meal assistant is 33700 kr. This salary belongs to a man working in the Public sector with a pre-secondary education shorter than 9 years. The highest salary for a woman in this profession is 31300 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a School meal assistant is 24800 kr. This salary belongs to a woman also working in the Privately employed officials. The lowest salary for a man in this profession is 25000 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
18-24 97% 23700 kr 26200 kr
25-34 101% 27000 kr 28600 kr
35-44 92% 28400 kr 29500 kr
45-54 100% 27800 kr 29000 kr
55-64 103% 27700 kr 28400 kr
65-68 100% 27900 kr 28900 kr
Snitt 98% 26200 kr 27900 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 School meal assistant has the SSYK code 9412, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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