How much does a Secretary of State make

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Secretary of State

80 802 kr

Politicians

115 500 - 120 900 kr / month

Chefer & ledare

What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression Secretary of State

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What does a State Secretary do? – Tasks and Work Environment

A State Secretary is the highest-ranking politically appointed official under the minister in a department and functions as the closest advisor and head of the department's secretariat. The tasks include leading and coordinating the department's work, preparing and implementing political decisions, and ensuring the government’s policies are carried out efficiently. The role involves close collaboration with ministers, other State Secretaries, and senior civil servants. The work is usually office-based with a high pace, heavy workload, and demands for availability outside normal working hours.

Salary Development Over Time

State Secretaries have experienced stable salary growth in recent years. In 2022, the average salary was 79,816 SEK per month, followed by a slight increase to 80 466 SEK in 2023. In 2024, the average salary has continued to rise to 80 802 SEK, representing a total increase of about 1.2% over the three-year period. This trend reflects a consistently high salary level with minor changes, which can be explained by the role's strong connection to political appointments rather than market-driven salary setting. The demand for qualified State Secretaries remains relatively constant, given the specialized nature of the field with limited positions and high requirements for experience and education.

State Secretary Salary – Complete Overview

  • Average salary: 80 802 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 115,500 SEK/month
  • Highest salary: 120,900 SEK/month
  • Hourly wage (average): 486 SEK
  • Gender differences: No specific data available
  • Regional differences: Data not available

Education and Qualifications

The path to becoming a State Secretary usually involves an academic degree, typically in political science, law, or economics, combined with extensive professional experience in politics, public administration, or business. It is common for State Secretaries to have held leadership roles within the civil service or political parties before appointment. Formal requirements are few, but competition is fierce, and personal networks along with proven leadership skills are crucial.

  • Academic degree: Political science, law, or economics (3–5 years)
  • Experience: Leadership roles within the public sector or politics
  • Practical experience: Merit for experience as political advisor, departmental director, or similar
  • Networks: Strong personal and professional contacts within politics and administration
  • Professional development: Participation in courses and seminars on public management and leadership

A State Secretary often needs to handle rapid changes in the political landscape and is expected to be available around the clock. The role requires high integrity, the ability to work under pressure, and strong diplomatic skills.

– statsskuld.se

Common Benefits and Compensation

State Secretaries often have special pension terms, occupational pensions, and typically access to company cars, wellness allowances, and enhanced health insurance. Travel allowances and flexible working hours are also common, although the work often entails irregular hours and high availability.

Competition and Challenges

The competition for positions as a State Secretary is very intense, as there are few appointments, and requirements for experience, loyalty, and trust are high. Many applicants have extensive experience in politics or civil service, making the recruitment process often politically influenced and dependent on personal networks. The major challenge in the role is balancing political loyalty with professional responsibility, while also being able to quickly understand complex issues and lead large organizations under time pressure. The role also involves public scrutiny and high demands for discretion.

Tips for Aspiring State Secretaries

To succeed as a State Secretary, it is beneficial to combine analytical skills with a strong interest in societal issues. Building a broad network within politics and civil service is essential, as is demonstrating leadership and reliability in previous roles. Good communication skills are important for representing the department externally and handling difficult internal conversations. It is also advantageous to be resilient and flexible, as the role often involves unexpected tasks and rapid changes. Continuously developing knowledge about public administration and leadership provides an advantage. Finally, high integrity and the ability to make independent decisions are valued qualities in this position.

Key Facts about State Secretaries

  • Average salary: 80 802 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 115,500 SEK/month
  • Highest salary: 120,900 SEK/month
  • Education level: Academic degree, often 3–5 years
  • Work environment: Office-based, fast pace, high availability

Career Paths and Future Prospects

After several years as a State Secretary, opportunities open for leadership roles within the civil service, such as Director General, department head, or ambassador. Some move on to the private sector as advisors or consultants, while others continue in politics at a high level. According to the Swedish Employment Service, the future outlook remains stable for qualified candidates, although the number of positions is limited. Over the past year, there were 175 job openings in the political sector, indicating a continued demand for high-level leaders in the public sector.

Frequently Asked Questions about State Secretaries

  • What does a State Secretary earn?
    - A State Secretary has an average salary of 80 802 SEK per month, with an hourly rate of approximately 486 SEK.
  • What education is required to become a State Secretary?
    - Usually, a university degree in political science, law, or economics, combined with extensive experience in leadership roles within politics or public administration.
  • Are there significant salary differences between men and women?
    - Specific data on gender differences is lacking, but both men and women have reported the same minimum salary within the public sector.
  • What is the work environment like for a State Secretary?
    - Office-based with a high pace, heavy workload, and demands for availability outside normal working hours.
  • How many job openings are there for State Secretaries?
    - Approximately 175 vacancies within the political sector, including State Secretary positions.
  • What are the biggest challenges in this profession?
    - Balancing political loyalty with professional responsibility and managing high workloads and public scrutiny.

Richard Andersson

Richard Andersson - 2025-07-05 21:53:39

Occupation
Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Secretary of State is 120900 kr. This salary belongs to a man working in the Privately employed workers with a post-secondary education, less than 3 years. The highest salary for a woman in this profession is 115500 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Secretary of State is 115500 kr. Both men and women in this profession have the same lowest salary and work in the Public sector.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
35-44 98% 116900 kr 116900 kr
45-54 100% 115500 kr 115500 kr
55-64 115500 kr 115500 kr
Snitt 99% 116100 kr 116100 kr
* Empty columns indicate that the statistical data was insufficient to allow for a statistically significant conclusion.
Salary per sector
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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 Secretary of State has the SSYK code 1111, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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Salary, Taxes, and Fees
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Net salary
31 377
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Fees
12 129

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* Updated with 2025 taxes

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