How much does a Translator make

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  2. Translator
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Translator

38 300 kr

Translators, interpreters and linguists etc.

31 500 - 48 100 kr / month

Women earn 102% of what men do.

Kultur, media, design

What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression Translator

Average salary 38 300 kr
Males 37 700 kr
Females 38 500 kr
1 Likes 0 Comments 28 Vacant jobs ->

What does a Translator do? – Tasks and Work Environment

A Translator works with translating written texts between different languages and adapts the content according to purpose, target audience, and cultural conditions. Tasks include translating everything from legal and technical documents to literary works, websites, and marketing materials. Precision, language intuition, and the ability to convey the right tone and style are central qualities in the profession. The work is often digital, either as an employee at an agency or company, or as a self-employed freelancer working remotely. The work environment is characterized by deadlines and high quality demands, but also offers flexibility and opportunities for specialization within certain subject areas.

Salary development over time

Over the past three years, Translator salaries have shown a clear positive trend. In 2022, the average salary was 34,700 SEK per month. The following year, 2023, the average salary slightly decreased to 33 500 SEK, which corresponds to a decrease of about -3.5%. Between 2023 and 2024, salaries increased significantly to 38 300 SEK, a rise of over 14%. This variation is partly explained by increased demand for qualified translators driven by globalization and digitalization’s growing requirements for multilingual communication. The sharp salary increase in the latest year may also be due to the industry’s adjustment to skills shortages, and more employers investing in language specialists with higher education and digital skills.

Translator salary – comprehensive overview

  • Average salary: 38 300 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 31,500 SEK/month (female, public sector, high school education)
  • Highest salary: 48,100 SEK/month (male, private sector, doctoral degree)
  • Hourly wage: 230 SEK
  • Women: 38 500 SEK/month (102% of men's salary)
  • Men: 37 700 SEK/month
  • Regional differences: Data unavailable

Education and qualifications

To work as a Translator, a university degree in translation, languages, or linguistics is usually required. Many employers also seek specialized knowledge in areas such as law, technology, or economics, depending on the types of texts to be translated. Practical experience, certifications, and good references are advantageous for employment. Self-study and continuous skills development are important for staying updated with language changes and new digital tools.

  • Formal degree: Bachelor's or master's degree in translation, languages, or linguistics (3–5 years)
  • Certifications: Approved translation tests, accreditation via Kammarkollegiet may be required for some assignments
  • Internship: Internships or trainee periods during or after studies provide valuable experience
  • Specialization: Courses in law, economics, technology, or medicine increase employability
  • Self-study: Ongoing professional development and digital skills enhancement are recommended

Many Translators work as self-employed and have the opportunity to specialize in niche areas, such as medical or legal translation. This makes the profession both versatile and adaptable, with great freedom to choose clients and work arrangements.

– statsskuld.se

Common benefits and compensations

Translators are often offered benefits such as flexible working hours, remote work options, wellness allowances, and skills development. Some employers also provide access to advanced translation tools, ergonomic workplaces, and sometimes bonuses for larger projects or particularly advanced assignments.

Competition and challenges

The competition within the Translator profession is relatively high, especially for general language translators. Specialization in technical, legal, or medical fields can provide a clear advantage in the job market. Challenges include fluctuating demand depending on economic conditions and languages, as well as the increasing use of machine translation and AI tools. To remain competitive, continuous skills development and adaptation to new digital working methods are required. Quality demands are high, and deadlines can be tight, requiring both efficiency and accuracy.

Tips for aspiring Translators

To succeed as a Translator, it’s beneficial to combine language intuition with strong analytical skills and curiosity about new subject areas. Accuracy is crucial—delivering correct and stylistically refined texts consistently builds trust with clients. It’s wise to specialize early in a high-demand area, such as technology, law, or medicine, and to network continuously with industry colleagues and potential employers. Self-discipline is important, especially for freelancers or remote workers. Digital competence and familiarity with translation tools make daily work easier and increase efficiency. Finally, being service-minded and flexible is a big advantage, as client needs often vary and quick turnarounds may be required.

Key facts about Translators

  • Average salary: 38 300 SEK/month
  • Salary range: 31,500–48,100 SEK/month
  • Women earn: 102% of men's salary
  • Work arrangement: Commonly remote and self-employed
  • Number of job openings: 620 (entire profession)

Career paths and future prospects

After 3–5 years as a Translator, opportunities include advancing to specialist roles in technical, legal, or medical translation, or becoming an authorized Translator through Kammarkollegiet. Many choose to start their own business and work as freelancers, which offers increased flexibility and potential for higher income with niche expertise. Others progress to roles such as project manager, language consultant, or terminologist within larger companies and government agencies. The employment agency’s forecasts for the translation, interpreting, and linguistics professions are uncertain due to limited data, but digitalization and globalization are expected to continue driving demand for qualified language specialists. As of May 2024, there were 620 job openings in the profession, indicating an active job market despite notable competition.

Common questions about Translators

  • What is the average salary of a Translator?
    - The average salary for a Translator is 38 300 SEK per month.
  • What education is required to become a Translator?
    - Typically, a bachelor's or master's degree in translation, languages, or linguistics.
  • Are there salary differences between men and women?
    - Yes, women earn on average 102% of what men do in the profession.
  • Is remote work common?
    - Yes, many Translators work entirely or partially remotely.
  • What are the future prospects for Translators?
    - Prognoses are uncertain, but digitalization and globalization continue to drive demand.
  • What is the highest and lowest salary for a Translator?
    - The highest reported salary is 48,100 SEK, and the lowest is 31,500 SEK per month.
  • How many job openings are there in the profession?
    - There are approximately 620 job openings for translators, interpreters, and linguists.

Richard Andersson

Richard Andersson - 2025-07-06 17:36:57

Occupation
Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Translator is 48100 kr. This salary belongs to a man working in the Privately employed workers with a postgraduate education. The highest salary for a woman in this profession is 47100 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Translator is 31500 kr. This salary belongs to a woman also working in the Government sector. The lowest salary for a man in this profession is 34200 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
35-44 36200 kr 36700 kr
45-54 37500 kr 38200 kr
55-64 41100 kr 41700 kr
Snitt 102% 37700 kr 38300 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 Translator has the SSYK code 2643, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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