Social worker salary

Social Doctor's Responsibilities

Social doctors, a specialized role within healthcare, dedicate themselves to diagnosing and treating patients with various social and medical issues. Their work involves understanding and integrating psychosocial aspects into care planning, requiring a deep knowledge of both medical and social factors that impact a patient's health. Social doctors often work closely with social workers, psychologists, and other medical specialists to provide holistic care.

Social Doctor's Salary and Gender Differences

Social doctors have an average monthly salary of 92 200 SEK. However, there is a gender pay gap within the profession; male professionals earn an average of 93 800 SEK while female professionals earn 90 800 SEK, meaning that women earn approximately 97% of what their male counterparts do. The hourly wage for a social doctor, based on 166 working hours per month, is 555 SEK.

Salary Development

The salary situation for social doctors has shown positive growth in the past year, with the average salary increasing from 86 400 SEK to 92 200 SEK. This indicates an increased demand and potentially higher valuation of the work that social doctors perform.

Salary Range within the Profession

The salary range for social doctors varies depending on the sector of employment and educational level. The highest salary for a social doctor is 108,400 SEK and belongs to a male professional working in the public sector with a doctoral degree. On the female side, the highest salary is 100,000 SEK. Within the municipal sector, the lowest salary for females is 88,000 SEK, while the lowest for males is 91,000 SEK.

Education and Skill Requirements

Becoming a social doctor requires extensive education. After obtaining a medical degree and completing internship training (AT-tjänstgöring), further specialization within a specific field is necessary. This entails several years of additional studies and practical training. Specializing in social medicine equips the doctor with the necessary knowledge to address both medical and social aspects of patient care.

Future Outlook and Challenges

The future outlook for social doctors is very promising. According to forecasts from the Employment Service, the demand for specialist doctors, including social doctors, is expected to increase nationally over the next five years. This is partly due to the growing complexity in patient care and the need to integrate social factors into medical diagnoses.

Recruitment Situation

Despite the positive future prospects, the recruitment situation is characterized by a paradox: there are recruitment difficulties while unemployment and the proportion of part-time workers are high. This may be due to the long and demanding educational path and the need for specialized knowledge in social medicine.

Working Conditions and Benefits

Social doctors generally enjoy good working conditions with opportunities for flexible working hours and remote work, especially in the public and municipal sectors. Many employers also offer continued education and skills development as part of the employment benefits, enhancing the attractiveness of the profession.

Considerations for Future Social Doctors

For those considering a career as a social doctor, it is important to have a genuine interest in both medicine and social issues. The work requires the ability to see the whole person and to work interprofessionally with other professional groups. Additionally, being prepared for a long educational journey and continuously updating knowledge in the field is advantageous.

Summary

Working as a social doctor entails an exciting and challenging career where one has the opportunity to significantly impact patients' lives. With an average salary of 92 200 SEK and promising future prospects, it is an attractive profession for those willing to invest in the necessary education and development.