Image that illustrates Safety engineer

Safety engineer

53 200 kr

Occupational safety engineers, occupational and environmental hygienists

41 700 - 58 700 kr / month

Women earn 95% of what men do.

Säkerhetsarbete

What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression Safety engineer

Average salary 53 200 kr
Males 54 500 kr
Females 51 700 kr

What does a safety engineer do? – Tasks and work environment

A safety engineer works to create and develop safe and healthy work environments at companies, authorities, and other organizations. Tasks include risk assessments, designing routines for occupational health and safety, conducting safety inspections, and advising employers and employees on laws and regulations. Training staff on occupational health issues and evaluating accidents and near misses are also common. The profession involves both office work and practical activities at workplaces, with collaboration involving managers, safety representatives, and other specialists.

Salary development over time

The salary for a safety engineer has shown steady and positive growth over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 48,600 kronor per month, increasing to 51 200 kronor in 2023. During 2024, the average salary has reached 53 200 kronor, which represents a salary increase of just over 9% over two years. This development reflects an increased demand for expertise in occupational health and safety, especially as legal requirements and employer responsibilities have strengthened. Technological advances and new risks in the workplace have also contributed to the higher valuation of the profession’s skills and thus rising wages.

Safety engineer salary – comprehensive overview

  • Average salary: 53 200 kr/month
  • Lowest salary: 41,700 kr/month
  • Highest salary: 58,700 kr/month
  • Hourly wage (average): 320 kr
  • Women: 51 700 kr/month (95% of men's salary)
  • Men: 54 500 kr/month
  • Regional differences: Information not available

Education and qualifications

To work as a safety engineer, a post-secondary education in engineering, occupational health, or natural sciences (3–5 years) is usually required. The education is often combined with specialized courses in occupational health, legislation, and safety. Practical experience through internships or trainee programs is highly meritorious and can be crucial for employment in the profession.

  • Formal education: University or engineering degree (3–5 years), often with a focus on occupational health or environmental engineering
  • Specialized courses: Occupational health, risk management, labor law, corporate health services
  • Internship/trainee: Recommended to gain insight into occupational health work
  • Certifications: Examples include BAS-U/BAS-P or other occupational health certificates
  • Prerequisites: Scientific or technical high school education is often advantageous

Many safety engineers work cross-functionally and gain insight into several parts of the organization, making the profession an excellent stepping stone for further careers in leadership, HR, or business development.

– statsskuld.se

Common benefits and compensations

Safety engineers are often offered benefits such as wellness grants, occupational pension, flexible working hours, and the possibility of remote work. Other common compensations include subsidized occupational health services, professional development, and sometimes bonuses linked to safety performance or project goals.

Competition and challenges

The profession as a safety engineer is competitive with good employment opportunities, especially for those with specialized education and experience. At the same time, high demands are placed on staying updated on new laws, technical standards, and safety trends. A challenge is managing complex occupational health issues in organizations with varying risk levels and cultural conditions. Women in the profession still earn slightly less than men, reflecting challenges in gender equality within the industry. The lack of regional salary statistics can also make it difficult to compare conditions across different parts of the country.

Tips for aspiring safety engineers

To succeed as a safety engineer, it’s beneficial to combine analytical skills with a solution-oriented approach, as the role often involves identifying and preventing risks in complex environments. Attention to detail is crucial for interpreting laws and regulations correctly and establishing clear routines. Being communicative and pedagogical facilitates collaboration with managers and staff, especially during training and change processes. Engagement and a genuine interest in occupational health create trust and make it easier to drive improvement initiatives. Finally, building a network within the industry and staying updated on new research and legislative changes is wise to remain competitive in the job market.

Key facts about safety engineers

  • Average salary: 53 200 kr/month
  • Salary range: 41,700–58,700 kr/month
  • Education level: Post-secondary education (3–5 years)
  • Work environment: Both office and on-site
  • Number of available jobs: 191 in the profession

Career paths and future prospects

After three to five years in the profession, safety engineers can advance to roles such as occupational health coordinator, project manager in occupational health, or head of occupational health and safety departments. Specializations in chemical safety, construction safety, or systematic occupational health are common. According to the Swedish Public Employment Service’s job forecasts, there is no exact assessment for safety engineers, but the overall profession has a relatively stable labor market with 191 registered job openings. Demand is influenced by legal requirements, increasing employer focus on occupational health, and technological development. The broad skill set also opens opportunities in consulting, government agencies, or large industrial companies.

Frequently asked questions about safety engineers

  • What is the average salary for a safety engineer?
    - The average salary for a safety engineer is 53 200 kronor per month.
  • What are the highest and lowest salaries for a safety engineer?
    - The highest salary is 58,700 kr/month and the lowest is 41,700 kr/month.
  • How do gender differences affect salaries?
    - Women earn 51 700 kr/month, which corresponds to 95% of men's salary (54 500 kr/month).
  • What education is required to become a safety engineer?
    - Post-secondary education in engineering, occupational health, or natural sciences (3–5 years) is required.
  • What is the job market like?
    - There are 191 available jobs in the profession, but no exact forecast for future demand.
  • What are the typical tasks of a safety engineer?
    - Risk assessments, designing safety routines, training, and advising on occupational health.
  • Are there regional salary differences?
    - Information about regional differences is not available for safety engineers.

Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Safety engineer is 58700 kr. This salary belongs to a man working in the Privately employed officials with a post-secondary education, 3 years or more. The highest salary for a woman in this profession is 53600 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Safety engineer is 41700 kr. This salary belongs to a woman also working in the Privately employed workers. The lowest salary for a man in this profession is 49100 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
25-34 44200 kr 45900 kr
35-44 94% 49200 kr 51900 kr
45-54 94% 53800 kr 55900 kr
55-64 99% 53300 kr 54900 kr
Snitt 95% 51100 kr 53200 kr
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 Safety engineer has the SSYK code 2181, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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