What does a smelter in a steel plant earn?

The average salary is 39,700 SEK per month. The highest salary is 40,200 SEK, and the lowest is 38,000 SEK.

What are the gender differences in salary?

Women earn approximately 95% of what men do in the profession.

What education is required to become a smelter?

High school education with an industrial or technical profile is most common; sometimes certifications are also required.

What is the working environment like for smelters?

The working environment is physically demanding, characterized by noise, high temperatures, and shift work.

Are there many job openings for smelters?

Within the occupational group process controllers, metal production, there are 481 job openings.

What career paths are available after a few years?

Career opportunities include foreman, process leader, operations technician, or within quality assurance.

What are the future prospects?

No specific forecast is available, but the broad occupational group continues to have demand in the labor market.

Melters, steel mills salary

39 300 SEK

Process supervisors, metal production

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

37 900 - 40 900 SEK / month

Women earn 96% of what men do.

Installation & drift/underhåll

Average salary 39 300 SEK/month Monthly gross salary

Salary range 37 900 - 40 900 SEK Latest available range Data year 2025 Latest published dataset

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Salary trend About the role What does a smelter in a steel plant do? – Tasks and working environment Salary development over time Smelter in a steel plant salary – comprehensive overview Open jobs Related occupations About the data

Salary progression Melters, steel mills

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What does a smelter in a steel plant do? – Tasks and working environment

A smelter in a steel plant is responsible for monitoring and controlling the processes related to metal melting, primarily steel, on an industrial scale. Tasks include managing high-temperature furnaces, adding alloying elements, checking chemical compositions, and ensuring the final product meets quality standards. The work often involves shift work and close collaboration with colleagues in production, maintenance, and quality assurance. The working environment is challenging with high temperatures, noise, and safety requirements, making the use of protective equipment a routine part of the job.

Salary development over time

Salary development for smelters in steel plants has shown a steady and positive trend over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 36,400 SEK per month, increasing to 39 700 in 2023 and further to 39 300 in 2024. This increase corresponds to about 9% over the period. The growth is driven by increased demand for qualified workers in the metal industry, as well as wage adjustments to remain competitive and meet skill requirements. A certain shortage of experienced smelters and general cost increases within the industry have also contributed to upward salary pressure.

Smelter in a steel plant salary – comprehensive overview

Average salary: 39 300 SEK/month
Lowest salary: 38,000 SEK/month (female)
Highest salary: 40,200 SEK/month (male, regional sector)
Hourly wage: 239 SEK
Gender differences: Women earn 96% of men's salary (men: 39 500 SEK, women: 38,000 SEK)
Regional differences: Highest salaries are found in regional sectors

Education and qualifications

To work as a smelter in a steel plant, a high school education with a focus on industry, technology, or process operation is usually required. Many employers also seek practical experience from industrial production or specific certifications in process monitoring. Some workplaces offer internal training programs or trainee positions to ensure the right skill level.

High school education: Industrial or technical programs, 3 years
Certifications: Safety and process training may be required
Practical experience: Experience from steel plants or similar industries is advantageous
Prerequisites: Good physical condition, technical interest, and precision
Internal training: Some employers offer introductory programs

Smelters in steel plants often work in shifts, which can include night and weekend work. This can foster a special camaraderie among colleagues and sometimes offer greater flexibility in daily life than traditional office hours.

– statsskuld.se

Common benefits and compensations

Smelters in steel plants are often offered benefits such as shift allowances, extra vacation days, wellness contributions, and sometimes bonuses linked to production results. The physically demanding nature of the work means employers often prioritize health care and safety-related benefits.

Competition and challenges

The labor market for smelters in steel plants is characterized by high technological development and automation, which increases demands for technical understanding and willingness to further train. Competition for jobs can vary regionally, but there is generally a stable need for qualified process controllers. Safety requirements are high, and the working environment can be physically and mentally challenging, leading some to seek other opportunities after a few years. Since the job often involves shift work, balancing work and leisure can be a challenge for many.

Tips for those wishing to become a smelter in a steel plant

To succeed as a smelter, it is good to have a strong sense of responsibility and the ability to work carefully even under pressure. Technical interest facilitates monitoring and adjusting complex machinery and processes. Good teamwork skills are important since the work is often team-based, and communication about safety and quality is crucial. Physical endurance and good health are advantages, as the working environment can be demanding and involve heavy lifts. Flexibility and willingness to work shifts make it easier to enjoy the job's hours, and being solution-oriented helps with quick changes in production.

Key facts about smelters in steel plants

Average salary: 39 300 SEK/month
Education level: High school diploma (industry/technology)
Work environment: Shift work, high safety standards, noise, and high temperatures
Job openings: 481 within the occupational group
Gender differences: Women earn approximately 96% of men's salaries

Career paths and future prospects

After three to five years in the profession, a smelter in a steel plant can develop into a foreman, process leader, or take on specialist roles within quality assurance and technical development. Some choose to further their education to become operations technicians or production managers. According to the Swedish Public Employment Service, there is no exact forecast for the profession, but the broader occupational group of process controllers in metal production has 481 job openings, indicating good employment opportunities. Developments in automation and digitalization are expected to increase the need for technically skilled smelters in the future.

Common questions about smelters in steel plants

What does a smelter in a steel plant earn?
- The average salary is 39 300 SEK per month. The highest salary is 40,200 SEK, and the lowest is 38,000 SEK.
What are the gender differences in salary?
- Women earn approximately 96% of what men do in the profession.
What education is required to become a smelter?
- High school education with an industrial or technical profile is most common; sometimes certifications are also required.
What is the working environment like for smelters?
- The working environment is physically demanding, characterized by noise, high temperatures, and shift work.
Are there many job openings for smelters?
- Within the occupational group process controllers, metal production, there are 481 job openings.
What career paths are available after a few years?
- Opportunities include foreman, process leader, operations technician, or within quality assurance.
What are the future prospects?
- No specific forecast, but the broad occupational group continues to have demand in the labor market.

Richard Andersson - 2025-07-08 02:30:57

Occupation

Salary distributed by age and sector

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
18-24		31700 kr	36900 kr
25-34		33100 kr	38000 kr
35-44		35200 kr	40700 kr
45-54		35300 kr	40500 kr
55-64		35600 kr	39800 kr
Snitt	96%	34400 kr	39300 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
18-24		31700 kr	36900 kr
25-34		33100 kr	38000 kr
35-44		35200 kr	40700 kr
45-54		35300 kr	40500 kr
55-64		35600 kr	39800 kr
Snitt	96%	34400 kr	39300 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
18-24		31700 kr	36900 kr
25-34		33100 kr	38000 kr
35-44		35200 kr	40700 kr
45-54		35300 kr	40500 kr
55-64		35600 kr	39800 kr
Snitt	96%	34400 kr	39300 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
18-24		31600 kr	36700 kr
25-34		33200 kr	38100 kr
35-44		35500 kr	41000 kr
45-54		35700 kr	41200 kr
55-64		35600 kr	39800 kr
Snitt	96%	34500 kr	39500 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
18-24		31600 kr	36700 kr
25-34		33200 kr	38100 kr
35-44		35500 kr	41000 kr
45-54		35700 kr	41200 kr
55-64		35600 kr	39800 kr
Snitt	96%	34500 kr	39500 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
18-24		31600 kr	36700 kr
25-34		33200 kr	38100 kr
35-44		35500 kr	41000 kr
45-54		35700 kr	41200 kr
55-64		35600 kr	39800 kr
Snitt	96%	34500 kr	39500 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
Snitt	96%	33400 kr	38100 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
Snitt	96%	33400 kr	38100 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
Snitt	96%	33400 kr	38100 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 Melters, steel mills has the SSYK code 8193, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.