- Salary statistics
- Nurse, psychiatric care salary
Nurse, psychiatric care salary
Latest available salary statistics are for 2025. Compare average pay, salary range and related job listings.
30 100 - 44 300 SEK / month
Women earn 100% of what men do.
Hälso- & sjukvård
Related tools
Salary progression Nurse, psychiatric care
What does a psychiatric care assistant do? – Tasks and work environment
A psychiatric care assistant works closely with patients experiencing various mental health conditions, often within inpatient care, outpatient care, or specialized treatment homes. Tasks include supporting patients in daily activities, providing emotional support, and helping create a safe and structured environment. Care assistants collaborate with nurses, doctors, and other professionals to ensure the best possible care and treatment. The work can be physically and mentally demanding, with shift work and sometimes night and weekend duties, requiring high stress resilience and empathy.
Salary development over time
The salary for psychiatric care assistants has shown stable and positive growth over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 31,300 SEK per month, increasing to 33 600 SEK in 2023 and further to 34 300 SEK in 2024. This represents a total increase of approximately 7.3% during the period, which is above the average for many other healthcare professions. The salary increase can be explained by increased demand for qualified personnel in psychiatry and ongoing focus on work environment and skills development. Gender differences have been minimal, with women earning 100% of men's salaries, indicating a relatively equal wage structure within the profession.
Psychiatric care assistant salary – comprehensive overview
- Average salary: 34 300 SEK/month
- Lowest salary: 30,800 SEK (female, public sector)
- Highest salary: 37,100 SEK (female, municipal sector, research education)
- Hourly wage: 202 SEK
- Men's average salary: 34 400 SEK
- Women's average salary: 34 300 SEK (100% of men's salary)
- Regional differences: Salaries may vary depending on region and employer
Education and qualifications
To work as a psychiatric care assistant, a high school diploma with a focus on healthcare and care is usually required, supplemented with specialized courses in psychiatry. Practical experience in the healthcare sector is often advantageous, and some employers also require specific certifications or further training. There are also opportunities to specialize through higher education or continuing education within psychiatric care.
- Education: Care and Welfare Program (3 years, upper secondary level)
- Specialized courses: Psychiatry and mental health
- Internship: Workplace-based learning (APL) during training
- Certifications: Some employers require further training in psychiatry
- Prerequisites: Good knowledge of Swedish and basic healthcare knowledge
Working as a psychiatric care assistant often means becoming an important source of safety for patients in vulnerable situations. Many describe it as a profession where small progress can mean a lot, both for the patient and the staff. A good ability to listen and build trust is crucial in daily work.
Common benefits and compensations
Psychiatric care assistants are often offered various benefits beyond base salary, such as overtime pay for evening, night, and weekend work, wellness grants, skills development, and opportunities for further training. In some regions, extra vacation days, occupational pension, and subsidized lunches may also be available. Collective agreements often provide a secure foundation for employment conditions.
Competition and challenges
The job market for psychiatric care assistants is characterized by continued demand, with 375 available jobs within the profession according to current data. However, competition can vary regionally, especially in metropolitan areas where more people seek the profession. One of the biggest challenges is the high demands on psychosocial skills and the ability to handle stressful situations. The work environment can be challenging both emotionally and physically, requiring strong personal maturity and the ability to set boundaries. Staff shortages and sometimes resource constraints within psychiatry can also impact the workload.
Tips for those aspiring to become a psychiatric care assistant
To succeed as a psychiatric care assistant, it is helpful to have an open mind and a genuine desire to help others. Developing good communication skills facilitates cooperation with both patients and colleagues, while patience and responsiveness are essential qualities when meeting people in vulnerable situations. Practical experience from the healthcare sector during training provides valuable insight into the profession’s daily life. Being flexible and adaptable makes it easier in an environment where each day can bring new challenges. Teamwork and a stable self-image are important factors for long-term sustainability, especially when working in teams and under pressure. Continuing education and staying updated on new methods within psychiatric care is also a great advantage.
Key facts about psychiatric care assistants
- Education level: High school diploma with a focus on healthcare and care
- Work environment: Inpatient care, outpatient care, and treatment homes
- Demand: 375 available jobs within the profession
- Gender distribution: Very small salary differences between genders
- Typical work arrangement: Shift work with on-call, evening, and weekend shifts
Career paths and future prospects
After three to five years in the profession, there are opportunities to advance to supervisory roles, such as coordinator or team leader within psychiatric care. Further education can also open doors to positions as a treatment assistant, psychiatric nurse, or specialist in various treatment methods. According to the Employment Service, no detailed forecast is made for the profession due to limited data, but the overall demand for psychiatric care assistants remains strong. There are also opportunities to work in different settings, such as forensic psychiatry or substance abuse care, offering broad career paths and specialization options.
Frequently asked questions about psychiatric care assistants
- What does a psychiatric care assistant earn?
- The average salary is 34 300 SEK per month. - How to become a psychiatric care assistant?
- Through high school education with a focus on healthcare and care, plus specialization in psychiatry. - Is there a difference in salary between men and women?
- Women earn 100% of men's salaries, which corresponds to an average of 34 300 SEK versus 34 400 SEK for men. - What does the job market look like?
- There are 375 available jobs within the profession according to the latest data. - What is the highest salary for a psychiatric care assistant?
- The highest salary is 37,100 SEK and is held by a woman in the municipal sector with research education. - What is required to work as a psychiatric care assistant?
- High school diploma, specialized courses in psychiatry, and sometimes further training or certification. - Do you work shifts?
- Yes, shift work with on-call, evenings, and weekends is common.
Salary distributed by age and sector
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 99% | 25900 kr | 30400 kr |
| 25-34 | 99% | 28500 kr | 32700 kr |
| 35-44 | 99% | 30200 kr | 33900 kr |
| 45-54 | 98% | 31100 kr | 35000 kr |
| 55-64 | 99% | 32000 kr | 35700 kr |
| 65-68 | 100% | 32000 kr | 36700 kr |
| Snitt | 100% | 30400 kr | 34300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 99% | 25700 kr | 30400 kr |
| 25-34 | 97% | 28600 kr | 32700 kr |
| 35-44 | 97% | 30500 kr | 34300 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 31700 kr | 35600 kr |
| 55-64 | 98% | 32500 kr | 36400 kr |
| 65-68 | 100% | 32500 kr | 37500 kr |
| Snitt | 98% | 30900 kr | 35000 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 99% | 26100 kr | 30200 kr |
| 25-34 | 98% | 29400 kr | 32500 kr |
| 35-44 | 98% | 31100 kr | 33600 kr |
| 45-54 | 100% | 32000 kr | 34600 kr |
| 55-64 | 100% | 32400 kr | 35200 kr |
| 65-68 | 103% | 32000 kr | 35400 kr |
| Snitt | 100% | 31300 kr | 34100 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 99% | 25500 kr | 30600 kr |
| 25-34 | 97% | 28000 kr | 32800 kr |
| 35-44 | 96% | 30000 kr | 34800 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 31400 kr | 36600 kr |
| 55-64 | 98% | 32600 kr | 37600 kr |
| 65-68 | 100% | 32900 kr | 38800 kr |
| Snitt | 98% | 30600 kr | 35700 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 100% | 26000 kr | 30400 kr |
| 25-34 | 100% | 28400 kr | 32800 kr |
| 35-44 | 102% | 29500 kr | 33200 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 29700 kr | 33500 kr |
| 55-64 | 103% | 30800 kr | 34000 kr |
| 65-68 | 30200 kr | 34100 kr | |
| Snitt | 103% | 29300 kr | 33100 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 100% | 26000 kr | 30400 kr |
| 25-34 | 100% | 28400 kr | 32800 kr |
| 35-44 | 102% | 29500 kr | 33200 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 29700 kr | 33500 kr |
| 55-64 | 103% | 30800 kr | 34000 kr |
| 65-68 | 30200 kr | 34100 kr | |
| Snitt | 103% | 29300 kr | 33100 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 99% | 25800 kr | 30500 kr |
| 25-34 | 99% | 28100 kr | 33000 kr |
| 35-44 | 99% | 30000 kr | 34100 kr |
| 45-54 | 98% | 30900 kr | 35400 kr |
| 55-64 | 99% | 31700 kr | 35900 kr |
| 65-68 | 100% | 31400 kr | 36600 kr |
| Snitt | 100% | 30000 kr | 34400 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 99% | 25400 kr | 30700 kr |
| 25-34 | 97% | 28200 kr | 33200 kr |
| 35-44 | 97% | 30200 kr | 34900 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 31400 kr | 36200 kr |
| 55-64 | 98% | 32000 kr | 36900 kr |
| 65-68 | 100% | 31900 kr | 37500 kr |
| Snitt | 98% | 30500 kr | 35400 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 99% | 25700 kr | 30500 kr |
| 25-34 | 98% | 28900 kr | 32900 kr |
| 35-44 | 98% | 30700 kr | 34100 kr |
| 45-54 | 100% | 31500 kr | 34600 kr |
| 55-64 | 100% | 31800 kr | 35200 kr |
| 65-68 | 103% | 31500 kr | 34700 kr |
| Snitt | 100% | 30800 kr | 34200 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 99% | 25200 kr | 30800 kr |
| 25-34 | 97% | 27800 kr | 33400 kr |
| 35-44 | 96% | 29800 kr | 35500 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 31300 kr | 37200 kr |
| 55-64 | 98% | 32200 kr | 38000 kr |
| 65-68 | 100% | 32100 kr | 38800 kr |
| Snitt | 98% | 30300 kr | 36100 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 100% | 26100 kr | 30400 kr |
| 25-34 | 100% | 28000 kr | 32700 kr |
| 35-44 | 102% | 29700 kr | 32900 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 29600 kr | 33300 kr |
| 55-64 | 103% | 30900 kr | 33200 kr |
| Snitt | 103% | 29000 kr | 32600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 100% | 26100 kr | 30400 kr |
| 25-34 | 100% | 28000 kr | 32700 kr |
| 35-44 | 102% | 29700 kr | 32900 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 29600 kr | 33300 kr |
| 55-64 | 103% | 30900 kr | 33200 kr |
| Snitt | 103% | 29000 kr | 32600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 99% | 25900 kr | 30300 kr |
| 25-34 | 99% | 28800 kr | 32500 kr |
| 35-44 | 99% | 30300 kr | 33700 kr |
| 45-54 | 98% | 31200 kr | 34800 kr |
| 55-64 | 99% | 32100 kr | 35600 kr |
| 65-68 | 100% | 32300 kr | 36800 kr |
| Snitt | 100% | 30600 kr | 34300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 99% | 25900 kr | 30300 kr |
| 25-34 | 97% | 28800 kr | 32300 kr |
| 35-44 | 97% | 30800 kr | 33800 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 31800 kr | 35200 kr |
| 55-64 | 98% | 32700 kr | 36200 kr |
| 65-68 | 100% | 32900 kr | 37500 kr |
| Snitt | 98% | 31200 kr | 34700 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 99% | 26300 kr | 30100 kr |
| 25-34 | 98% | 29700 kr | 32300 kr |
| 35-44 | 98% | 31400 kr | 33400 kr |
| 45-54 | 100% | 32200 kr | 34500 kr |
| 55-64 | 100% | 32600 kr | 35200 kr |
| 65-68 | 103% | 32200 kr | 35700 kr |
| Snitt | 100% | 31500 kr | 34100 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 99% | 25700 kr | 30500 kr |
| 25-34 | 97% | 28100 kr | 32300 kr |
| 35-44 | 96% | 30100 kr | 34200 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 31400 kr | 36000 kr |
| 55-64 | 98% | 32900 kr | 37300 kr |
| 65-68 | 100% | 33500 kr | 38800 kr |
| Snitt | 98% | 30900 kr | 35300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 100% | 25900 kr | 30400 kr |
| 25-34 | 100% | 28800 kr | 32800 kr |
| 35-44 | 102% | 29400 kr | 33500 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 29700 kr | 33600 kr |
| 55-64 | 103% | 30800 kr | 34400 kr |
| Snitt | 103% | 29500 kr | 33500 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 100% | 25900 kr | 30400 kr |
| 25-34 | 100% | 28800 kr | 32800 kr |
| 35-44 | 102% | 29400 kr | 33500 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 29700 kr | 33600 kr |
| 55-64 | 103% | 30800 kr | 34400 kr |
| Snitt | 103% | 29500 kr | 33500 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 Nurse, psychiatric care has the SSYK code 5341, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.
Compare salary, work tasks and job outlook in adjacent occupations to find roles with similar skills or pay levels.
-
Veterinary veterinarian salary
Average salary: 54 800 SEK/month • Hälso- & sjukvård
Veterinarians
Compare with Nurse, psychiatric care
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 - 05:52 -
Average salary: 49 600 SEK/month • Hälso- & sjukvård
Ambulance nurses etc.
Compare with Nurse, psychiatric care
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 - 09:46 -
Average salary: 52 600 SEK/month • Hälso- & sjukvård
Intensive care nurses
Compare with Nurse, psychiatric care
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 - 10:23 -
Average salary: 30 500 SEK/month • Hälso- & sjukvård
Other health and care staff
Compare with Nurse, psychiatric care
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 - 11:05 -
Average salary: 48 600 SEK/month • Hälso- & sjukvård
Psychologists
Compare with Nurse, psychiatric care
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 - 09:48 -
Veterinary hospital veterinarian salary
Average salary: 54 800 SEK/month • Hälso- & sjukvård
Veterinarians
Compare with Nurse, psychiatric care
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 - 10:19