What is the average salary of a cooperage worker?

The average salary for a cooperage worker is 32,300 SEK per month.

Are there significant salary differences between men and women?

Only salary data for men is reported, so differences between genders cannot be specified.

What education is required to become a cooperage worker?

A vocational upper secondary education with a focus on woodworking or carpentry, along with an apprenticeship or internship, is recommended.

What is the job market like for cooperage workers?

The job market is competitive with limited opportunities, and demand is expected to remain unchanged over the next five years.

Where do cooperage workers usually work?

Most work in workshops, museums, or with beverage producers who require custom-made wooden barrels.

What personal qualities are important?

Attention to detail, patience, creativity, and good physical strength are important qualities for the profession.

What is the hourly wage for a cooperage worker?

The hourly wage for a cooperage worker is 194 SEK.

Cooper

32 300 kr

Fine, interior and furniture carpenters

31 900 - 32 300 kr / month

Hantverksyrken

What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression Cooper

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What does a cooperage worker do? – Tasks and work environment

Cooperage workers manufacture and repair wooden barrels, casks, and vats. Tasks include selecting and processing wood, shaping staves and lids, and assembling and sealing the barrels using traditional techniques. The work often takes place in smaller workshops or specialized craft environments, utilizing both hand tools and basic machinery. Cooperage workers need good knowledge of different wood types and materials, as well as understanding how the vessels should be constructed to hold liquids and for storage. The profession often involves physical work, standing positions, and a focus on precision and durability in every step.

Salary development over time

The salary for cooperage workers has shown some variation in recent years. In 2022, the average salary was 30,400 SEK per month, which increased to 33 000 SEK in 2023. In 2024, the average salary has slightly decreased to 32 300 SEK per month. This development corresponds to an increase of about 6% between 2022 and 2023, but a decrease of just over 2% between 2023 and 2024. Changes may be due to fluctuations in demand within craft trades, shifts in order volumes, or variations in the labor market composition. Overall, the profession has been relatively stable over time, but smaller declines may indicate increased competition or reduced recruitment in traditional craft fields.

Cooperage worker salary – complete overview

Average salary: 32 300 SEK/month
Lowest/Highest salary: Data not available
Hourly wage: 194 SEK
Gender differences: Only male salaries reported (32 300 SEK/month), data for women is missing
Regional differences: Data not available

Education and qualifications

The path to becoming a cooperage worker typically involves vocational education focusing on woodworking and carpentry. Formal training can be combined with longer internships with established cooperage workers to acquire the specific skills required. Self-study and courses in traditional craftsmanship are also available, and many learn the trade through apprenticeships or traineeships.

Vocational upper secondary education: 3 years, with specialization in wood or fine carpentry
Internship/Apprenticeship: Important for learning craft techniques
Courses in traditional cooperage: Available at some folk high schools and museum workshops
Prerequisites: Interest in wood, attention to detail, and good physical health
Self-study: Possible via online resources and industry organizations

The cooperage profession is one of Sweden's oldest crafts and requires high skill, especially since each barrel must be completely airtight without modern sealants. Many cooperage workers today work to revive historical methods and contribute to cultural heritage, often in close collaboration with museums or beverage producers.

– statsskuld.se

Common benefits and compensations

Cooperage workers often enjoy benefits such as wellness allowances, work clothing, and in some cases, flexible working hours. Benefits vary depending on whether the employer is a traditional craft business, museum, or larger industrial entity. Some also offer opportunities for further training within the craft area.

Competition and challenges

The profession of cooperage worker is characterized by high competition and limited demand, as it is a niche craft with few new recruits. According to the Swedish Public Employment Service forecast, there is an oversupply of workforce in the fields of fine, interior, and furniture carpenters, which includes cooperage workers. Nationally, job opportunities are limited, and demand is expected to remain unchanged over the next five years. Challenges include increasing mechanization and decreasing demand for handmade wooden vessels, which means many cooperage workers need to specialize in niche projects or cultural heritage work. Success requires both craftsmanship skills and the ability to find new markets.

Tips for those wishing to become a cooperage worker

To succeed as a cooperage worker, a genuine interest in traditional craftsmanship and careful work are essential, as each barrel must be perfectly sealed and well-made. Curiosity and willingness to learn from experienced professionals during internships or apprenticeships are crucial for developing the right techniques quickly. Patience is a key trait, as the process often involves many steps and requires high precision, especially in manufacturing and repairing older vessels. Creativity can help solve unexpected problems and adapt to different customer requests. Finally, endurance and good physical strength are important, as the work is physically demanding and often performed standing for extended periods.

Key facts about cooperage workers

Education level: Vocational upper secondary education, often with an apprenticeship
Work environment: Workshop, craft environment, or museum
Occupational group: Fine, interior, and furniture carpenters
Job openings (2024): 341 within the occupational group
Demand: Limited opportunities, according to the Swedish Public Employment Service

Career paths and future prospects

Cooperage workers with 3–5 years of experience can develop into more specialized craft roles, such as restoring historic wooden vessels or working in museums. Some choose to start their own workshop and collaborate with breweries, winemakers, or event companies. The forecast from the Swedish Public Employment Service indicates that job opportunities are limited and competition is high. Over five years, demand is expected to remain unchanged, making innovation and specialization important for increasing chances of employment or commissions. Currently, the number of job openings in the occupational group is 341, but this reflects the entire field and does not cover only cooperage workers.

Common questions about cooperage workers

What is the average salary of a cooperage worker?
- The average salary is 32 300 SEK per month.
Are there significant salary differences between men and women?
- Only salary data for men is reported (32 300 SEK/month), data for women is missing.
What education is required to become a cooperage worker?
- Vocational upper secondary education with specialization in wood or carpentry, along with an apprenticeship or internship, is recommended.
What is the job market like for cooperage workers?
- The job market is competitive with limited opportunities, and demand is expected to stay the same over the next five years.
Where do cooperage workers usually work?
- Most work in workshops, museums, or with beverage producers needing custom wooden vessels.
What personal qualities are important?
- Attention to detail, patience, creativity, and good physical strength are key qualities.
What is the hourly wage for a cooperage worker?
- The hourly wage is 194 SEK.

Richard Andersson - 2025-07-08 17:18:30

Occupation

Salary distributed by age and sector

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
45-54		30800 kr	31000 kr
Snitt		31900 kr	32300 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
45-54		30800 kr	31000 kr
Snitt		31900 kr	32300 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
45-54		30800 kr	31000 kr
Snitt		31900 kr	32300 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
Snitt		31900 kr	32300 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
Snitt		31900 kr	32300 kr

Age	Women's salary as a percentage of men's	Base salary	Monthly salary
Snitt		31900 kr	32300 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 Cooper has the SSYK code 7522, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

How much does a Cooper make