How much does a Hiking guide make

  1. Salary statistics
  2. Hiking guide

Hiking guide

30 200 kr

Guides and tour leaders

27 700 - 33 600 kr / month

Women earn 97% of what men do.

Försäljning & inköp

What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression Hiking guide

Average salary 30 200 kr
Males 30 800 kr
Females 29 900 kr
1 Likes 0 Comments 15 Vacant jobs ->

What does a Hiking Guide do? – Tasks and Work Environment

A Hiking Guide leads groups on nature and cultural walks in both Swedish and international environments. Tasks include planning routes, guiding participants, safety assessments, and interpreting nature. It often also involves informing about flora, fauna, local history, and handling practical issues like weather, equipment, and logistics. The work environment is mostly outdoors and can involve long days in varying weather conditions. A Hiking Guide works independently and in collaboration with travel agencies or tourism companies, where high service orientation and flexibility are important qualities.

Salary development over time

The salary for a Hiking Guide has shown steady growth over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 28,200 SEK per month, rising to 28 500 SEK in 2023. The most recent measured salary for 2024 is 30 200 SEK, which represents an increase of just over 7% during this period. This salary trend reflects an increased demand for qualified guides, especially in nature tourism and sustainable travel experiences. The industry has also become more professionalized, raising requirements for education and certification. Regional differences may exist, with guides in popular tourist areas often earning slightly higher salaries than in less visited regions.

Hiking Guide salary – complete overview

  • Average salary: 30 200 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 27,700 SEK/month (female, high school education 3 years)
  • Highest salary: 33,600 SEK/month (female, public sector, high school education up to 2 years)
  • Hourly wage: 181 SEK (calculated on 166 hours/month)
  • Gender differences: Women earn 29 900 SEK, men 30 800 SEK (women 97% of men's salary)
  • Regional differences: Salaries are higher in larger tourist regions

Education and qualifications

To work as a Hiking Guide, formal university education is usually not required, but many employers prefer candidates with high school education in tourism or natural resource management, supplemented with specialized guiding courses. Practical experience in outdoor activities, first aid, and leadership is highly meritorious. Several training providers offer shorter certification courses and opportunities for internships within the industry.

  • High school education: Tourism or natural resource programs, 2–3 years
  • Certifications: For example, mountain leader standards, CPR training
  • Internships: Strongly recommended, often through training or volunteer work
  • Prerequisites: Good physical condition, basic knowledge of nature and environmental conservation
  • Courses and self-study: Leadership, safety, local history, languages

Working as a Hiking Guide often involves seasonal work, offering flexibility and variation between destinations and employers. Many guides combine this work with other professions or studies, and there are opportunities to specialize in areas such as historical walks, mountain trips, or international travel.

– statsskuld.se

Common benefits and compensations

Hiking Guides are often offered perks such as free meals during tours, access to equipment, and sometimes accommodation for longer trips. Some employers provide travel allowances, discounts on outdoor gear, and opportunities for further training in safety or languages. Seasonal positions may also include bonuses during high demand periods.

Challenges and competition

Competition for positions as a Hiking Guide varies with season and location. In popular tourist regions and during peak season, demand is high, but job opportunities can be limited in the off-season. Challenges include managing groups with diverse expectations and backgrounds, working under physically demanding conditions, and sometimes unpredictable weather. To stand out in the job market, language skills, local knowledge, and certifications that enhance employability are often required. The industry is characterized by seasonal fluctuations, which demand flexibility and the ability to adapt to rapidly changing work environments.

Tips for aspiring Hiking Guides

To succeed as a Hiking Guide, it is good to combine a genuine interest in nature and outdoor activities with strong service skills. Being communicative helps engage and inform participants about routes, safety, and nature experiences. Good physical condition is crucial for long days, sometimes in challenging terrain and weather. Flexibility is a strength, especially since work often involves unexpected situations requiring quick decisions. Leadership skills facilitate motivating groups and creating a sense of security even under pressure. Continuously updating skills in first aid and local knowledge increases competitiveness. Last but not least, curiosity and openness are important qualities for ongoing development and adapting to new environments and groups.

Key facts about Hiking Guides

  • Average salary: 30 200 SEK/month
  • Education level: High school with certification
  • Common employment type: Seasonal or hourly employment
  • Work environment: Outdoors, often in varying weather
  • Job openings in the profession: 550

Career paths and future prospects

After three to five years in the profession, there are opportunities to advance to roles such as lead guide, trainer in nature tourism, or organizer of own hiking trips. Some choose to further their education as mountain leaders or specialize in ecotourism and sustainable guiding. The employment agency’s prognosis for Guides and Tour Leaders is uncertain due to limited data, but the number of job openings indicates stable demand, especially during tourist season. Industry growth is influenced by trends in sustainable tourism and nature experiences, where specialized knowledge and language skills can provide a competitive edge.

Frequently asked questions about Hiking Guides

  • What does a Hiking Guide earn?
    - The average salary is 30 200 SEK per month, with an hourly wage of 181 SEK.
  • What education is required to become a Hiking Guide?
    - High school education in tourism or natural resource management, along with certification courses and internships, is the common path.
  • Are there significant salary differences between men and women?
    - Yes, women earn on average 97% of what men do in the profession.
  • What does the job market look like for Hiking Guides?
    - The outlook is uncertain, but there are approximately 550 job openings in the profession.
  • What personal qualities are important?
    - Leadership, service orientation, good physical condition, and flexibility are essential.
  • What is the highest and lowest salary for a Hiking Guide?
    - The highest salary is 33,600 SEK and the lowest 27,700 SEK per month.

Richard Andersson

Richard Andersson - 2025-07-07 10:40:12

Occupation
Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Hiking guide is 33600 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 31500 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Hiking guide is 27700 kr. This salary belongs to a woman also working in the Multiple sectors. The lowest salary for a man in this profession is 30600 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
18-24 24300 kr 28200 kr
25-34 27700 kr 30600 kr
35-44 29600 kr 31700 kr
Snitt 97% 27200 kr 30200 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 Hiking guide has the SSYK code 5113, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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