- Salary statistics
- Seamstress, sail
Seamstress, sail
31 574 - 31 077 kr / month
Hantverksyrken
Salary progression Seamstress, sail
What does a sailmaker do – tasks and work environment
A sailmaker specializing in sails mainly works with manufacturing, repairing, and maintaining sails for boats and ships. Tasks include measuring, cutting, and sewing sailcloth, often with specialized industrial sewing machines and heavy materials. The work requires great precision, a good feel for materials, and the ability to read and interpret drawings and customer specifications. The work environment varies from small sail lofts to larger workshops, where both independent work and collaboration with colleagues occur. The profession often involves physical effort and periods of high workload, especially during the sailing season when demand for sail services peaks.
Salary development over time
The salary for a sailmaker has shown a stable but slightly positive trend in recent years. In 2022, the average salary was 30,698 SEK per month, increasing to 30 948 SEK in 2023 and further to 31 077 SEK in 2024. The total increase amounts to about 1.2% over three years, indicating a cautious but steady salary improvement. The limited growth can be explained by a relatively stable job market and unchanged demand within the trade. Since the profession is specialized and niche, salary development is greatly influenced by the number of available jobs and the overall economic situation in the craft sector.
Sailmaker salary – comprehensive overview
- Average salary: 31 077 SEK/month
- Lowest/Highest salary: Data unavailable
- Hourly wage: 187 SEK
- Gender differences: Data unavailable
- Regional differences: Data unavailable
Education and qualifications
The path to becoming a sailmaker often involves vocational training in textiles or sewing, complemented by practical experience or an apprenticeship at established sail lofts. Besides technical skill, good material knowledge and experience working with large, heavy textiles are required. Specialized courses in sailmaking are available from some educational providers, but many learn the unique aspects of the trade directly on the job.
- Vocational training in textiles/sewing: 1–3 years
- Practical experience or apprenticeship: Strongly recommended
- Specialized courses in sailmaking: Available from certain training providers
- Prerequisites: Good material knowledge and technical skills
- Tip: Contact local sail lofts for internship opportunities
Sailmakers often have the opportunity to work closely with the boating industry and can combine technical craftsmanship with a maritime interest. Many appreciate the variety between new construction, custom orders, and creative repairs, making the profession both diverse and stimulating.
Common benefits and compensations
Employment conditions for sailmakers often include collective agreement benefits such as occupational pensions, insurance, and wellness allowances. Other common perks include flexible working hours, opportunities for further training, and work clothing and tools suited for the profession.
Competition and challenges
The job market for sailmakers is relatively small and specialized, which means competition for available positions can vary depending on the season and geographic area. The biggest challenges include staying updated on new materials and techniques and meeting customer demands for quality and delivery. Since many tasks are physically demanding, high endurance and precision are required. The industry is also affected by economic fluctuations in the boating and leisure sectors, which can influence demand and workload from year to year.
Tips for those wanting to become a sailmaker
To succeed as a sailmaker, a combination of precision, technical interest, and endurance is beneficial. A first step is gaining practical experience through internships or summer jobs at sail lofts, which provides insight into daily work and important contacts. Being flexible and adaptable facilitates handling varied tasks and seasonal variations. Good communication skills are valuable when translating customer specifications into finished products, and creativity helps with problem-solving and custom orders. Lastly, curiosity and a desire to learn about new materials and techniques are advantageous, as developments in textiles and sailmaking are advancing rapidly.
Key facts about sailmakers
- Education level: Vocational training in textiles/sewing
- Work environment: Workshop or sail loft, often physically demanding
- Employment types: Full-time, part-time, and seasonal employment are common
- Available jobs in the profession: 341
- Demand: Limited, specialized niche
Career paths and future prospects
After three to five years in the profession, many sailmakers develop advanced material knowledge and can take on more demanding projects, such as custom sails or supervisory roles. Some choose to start their own sail loft or work in product development within the boating industry. According to the Swedish Public Employment Service’s forecasts, no specific future assessment is made for this niche, but about 341 jobs are available, indicating some demand. However, the job market is influenced by seasonal and economic fluctuations, which can cause opportunities to vary from year to year.
Common questions about sailmakers
- What does a sailmaker earn?
- The average salary is 31 077 SEK per month. - What is the hourly wage for a sailmaker?
- A salaried worker has an average of 187 SEK per hour. - What education is required to become a sailmaker?
- Vocational training in textiles/sewing combined with practical experience is recommended. - Are there many job openings for sailmakers?
- Currently, there are 341 available jobs within the profession. - What are the future prospects for the profession?
- No specific forecast, but demand remains stable within the profession. - What are the most common tasks?
- Manufacturing, repairing, and maintaining sails for various types of boats. - What personal qualities are important?
- Accuracy, endurance, and technical interest are especially valuable.
Salary distributed by age and sector
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 Seamstress, sail has the SSYK code 7532, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.
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