Washer

27 800 kr

Machine operators, bleaching, dyeing and washing

23 400 - 30 000 kr / month

Women earn 100% of what men do.

Industriell tillverkning

What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression Washer

Average salary 27 800 kr
Males 27 700 kr
Females 27 900 kr

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

A laundry worker primarily works with industrial laundry, which includes handling washing machines, sorting, washing, and finishing textiles. The profession is often found in larger laundries, industries, or service facilities where tasks may include machine inspection, chemical oversight, and quality control of laundered textiles. The work environment is usually noisy and humid, and shifts are common to meet customer needs. Physical work is frequent, and it is often required that laundry workers can stand for long periods and lift and handle heavy textiles.

Salary development over time

Over the past three years, the average monthly salary for laundry workers has increased from 26,600 SEK in 2022 to 26 500 SEK in 2023 and further to 27 800 SEK in 2024. This development corresponds to an increase of about 4.5% between 2023 and 2024, after a period of nearly unchanged salaries the year before. The recent salary increase can be linked to increased demand for labor in the industry, inflation, and improved collective agreements. The profession has a relatively stable salary trend and has recently shown a weak but clear upward trend, possibly due to greater focus on work environment and skills development within the industry. Despite this, salary levels remain fairly equal between genders, which is uncommon in many other professions.

Laundry worker salary – comprehensive overview

  • Average salary: 27 800 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 23,400 SEK/month (male, public sector, high school education 3 years)
  • Highest salary: 30,000 SEK/month (female, public sector, high school education up to 2 years)
  • Hourly wage: 167 SEK
  • Women: 27 900 SEK/month
  • Men: 27 700 SEK/month
  • Gender differences: Salaries are practically equal

Education and qualifications

To work as a laundry worker, no formal higher education is typically required, but a high school diploma is common and often advantageous. Many employers offer internal training, where practical experience is highly valued. The work requires accuracy, responsibility, and a certain technical understanding of machines and chemicals.

  • High school education: Industry or service programs, 2–3 years
  • Internal training: Common upon employment, supervised on-site
  • Internships: Meritorious, may occur during high school
  • Prerequisites: Basic Swedish, good physical ability
  • Certifications: Rarely required, but work environment training can be a plus

Many laundry workers quickly develop a good eye for materials and can determine the proper treatment for different textiles, making their skills invaluable in quality control and specialized laundry services.

– statsskuld.se

Common benefits and compensations

Laundry workers are often covered by collective agreements that include occupational pensions, insurance, and overtime allowances for evening and weekend work. Other benefits may include wellness contributions, work clothing, and sometimes subsidized meals. Opportunities for further training and workplace health services are available in some operations.

Competition and challenges

The competition for jobs as a laundry worker is currently relatively low, reflected by the large number of vacancies in the profession. However, high demands are placed on physical endurance and accuracy, especially when handling different materials and chemicals. The work environment can be challenging due to noise, humidity, and monotonous tasks. Digitalization and automation are gradually affecting the profession, which may require new technical skills. Limited career development within the profession is a challenge for those seeking long-term variation, but experience can open doors to supervisory roles or specialization in quality control.

Tips for those who want to become laundry workers

To succeed as a laundry worker, it is good to be meticulous and attentive to detail, as this ensures textiles are handled correctly and quality standards are met. Good physical condition facilitates often heavy and monotonous work, while the ability to collaborate is crucial in shift work and larger teams. Flexibility and adaptability help when pace changes or new routines are introduced. Being responsible and taking the initiative to learn machines and routines quickly is appreciated by employers. Having a positive attitude towards shift work and being service-oriented is also an advantage, as tasks are often varied and require contact with different parts of the operation.

Key facts about laundry workers

  • Average salary: 27 800 SEK/month
  • Education level: High school education common, internal training available
  • Work environment: Industrial and service-oriented, often noisy and humid
  • Hourly wage: 167 SEK
  • Job openings: 1,437 within the profession

Career paths and future outlook

After three to five years in the profession, a laundry worker can advance to supervisor, machine manager, or specialize in quality control and machine maintenance. According to the Swedish Public Employment Service's forecast, there is no specific assessment for the laundry worker profession, but the large number of vacancies indicates good employment prospects. Digitalization and increased automation may change the profession in the future, but the need for experienced and meticulous staff remains central. Career opportunities can also lead to logistics or other service roles within industry.

Frequently asked questions about laundry workers

  • What is the average salary of a laundry worker?
    - The average salary is 27 800 SEK per month.
  • Are there differences between men's and women's salaries?
    - No, salaries are generally equal between genders within the profession.
  • What are the requirements to work as a laundry worker?
    - A high school diploma is common, but internal training and practical experience are often most important.
  • What is the work environment like for a laundry worker?
    - The work environment is often noisy, humid, with heavy lifting and monotonous tasks.
  • What career opportunities are there for laundry workers?
    - Advancement to supervisor, machine manager, or specialization in quality control.
  • What are the future prospects?
    - Many job openings exist, but no precise forecast due to limited data.
  • What is the hourly wage for a laundry worker?
    - The average hourly wage is 167 SEK.

Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Washer is 30000 kr. This salary belongs to a woman working in the Public sector with a upper secondary education, maximum 2 years. The highest salary for a man in this profession is 28600 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Washer is 23400 kr. This salary belongs to a man working in the Government sector. The lowest salary for a woman in this profession is 25200 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
18-24 23800 kr 25600 kr
25-34 98% 26700 kr 28200 kr
35-44 99% 25900 kr 27400 kr
45-54 101% 26900 kr 28100 kr
55-64 97% 28100 kr 28900 kr
Snitt 100% 26500 kr 27800 kr
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 Washer has the SSYK code 8151, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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