- Salary statistics
- Exchanger, railway salary
Exchanger, railway salary
Latest available salary statistics are for 2025. Compare average pay, salary range and related job listings.
37 700 - 38 800 SEK / month
Women earn 97% of what men do.
Transport
Related tools
Salary progression Exchanger, railway
What does a railway switchman do? – Tasks and work environment
A railway switchman is responsible for connecting, separating, and sorting wagons, as well as moving train sets within yards. The work is carried out in close cooperation with locomotive drivers and other yard personnel to ensure wagons are sorted and positioned correctly for further transportation. The switchman also handles manual and remotely controlled switches, performs safety checks, and ensures loading and unloading are carried out efficiently and according to safety regulations. The work environment is often outdoors, varied, and may involve working around the clock, with heavy lifting and high safety and attention requirements.
Salary development over time
Over the past three years, the salary for a railway switchman has shown a steady upward trend. The average salary increased from 34,800 SEK in 2022 to 37 200 SEK in 2023, representing about a 4% increase. Between 2023 and 2024, the salary rose further to 38 600 SEK, an additional increase of just under 3%. This positive trend is linked to increased demand for qualified yard personnel and employers' desire to retain skilled staff in a profession with strict safety requirements. The salary increases are slightly above inflation and reflect the industry's need to offer competitive conditions to attract new employees.
Railway switchman salary – complete overview
- Average salary: 38 600 SEK/month
- Lowest salary: 36,600 SEK/month
- Highest salary: 39,700 SEK/month
- Hourly wage (average): 224 SEK
- Men: 38 800 SEK/month
- Women: 36,600 SEK/month
- Women’s salary as percentage of men’s: 97%
- Regional differences: No specific data available
Education and qualifications
To work as a railway switchman, a upper secondary education is usually required, often with a technical or transport focus, along with on-the-job safety training. In addition to formal education, specialized safety certifications and training are necessary to work safely in yards. Practical experience and good physical condition are valuable assets in the profession.
- Upper secondary education: Technical or transport program, 3 years
- On-the-job training: Workplace-based, typically 2–6 months
- Safety certifications: Mandatory for all yard personnel
- Internship: Often part of the education
- Prerequisites: Good physical condition and safety awareness
Railway yard switchmen often need to communicate via radio and coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously, making good multitasking skills and clear communication essential for safety.
Common benefits and compensations
Railway yard switchmen often receive overtime pay for unsocial hours, overtime compensation, and access to collective pension schemes and insurance. Many employers also offer wellness allowances, subsidized meals, and work clothing and protective equipment.
Competition and challenges
The job market for railway yard switchmen is somewhat competitive, but there are regularly available positions, especially in larger cities and major railway hubs. One of the main challenges is that the work requires high safety standards and physical ability, often involving shift work and working under varying weather conditions. Since the industry is safety-critical, ongoing training and meticulousness in every task are essential. The work environment can be demanding, and tasks may be monotonous, so endurance and concentration are important qualities for those choosing this profession.
Tips for those interested in becoming a railway yard switchman
To succeed as a railway yard switchman, it is important to have a careful and safety-conscious attitude, as the work environment demands constant attention to detail. Being resilient under stress and flexible helps manage varying shifts and unforeseen situations on the yard. Good teamwork skills are crucial since the work is performed in teams and requires clear communication. Physical endurance is also key, as tasks are often mobile and sometimes heavy. Lastly, having a technical interest and a willingness to continuously learn new routines and safety regulations is advantageous, as the industry evolves and demands high competence development.
Key facts about railway yard switchmen
- Education level: Upper secondary education with on-the-job training
- Work environment: Outdoors, shift work, safety-critical
- Average salary: 38 600 SEK/month
- Occupational group: Yard personnel
- Job openings (May 2024): 412 within the occupational group
Career paths and future prospects
After three to five years in the profession, a railway yard switchman can advance to more specialized roles, such as yard supervisor, instructor, or traffic controller. There are also opportunities to further train as a locomotive driver or to take responsibility for training new switchmen. According to forecasts from the Employment Service, there is not enough data for an exact assessment of future prospects for switchmen specifically, but within the yard personnel group, there were 412 job openings in May 2024. The industry is influenced by investments in railway infrastructure and retirements, indicating continued stable demand for the profession.
Frequently asked questions about railway yard switchmen
- What does a railway yard switchman earn?
- The average salary is 38 600 SEK per month, with an hourly rate of 224 SEK. - How to become a railway yard switchman?
- By completing upper secondary education with a technical/transport focus and on-the-job safety training provided by the employer. - Are there salary differences between men and women?
- Yes, women earn 97% of men's salaries, which amounts to 36,600 SEK compared to men's 38 800 SEK. - What is the highest salary for a railway yard switchman?
- The highest reported salary is 39,700 SEK per month. - What is the work environment like?
- It is outdoor-based, often shift work, requiring high safety standards. - What are the requirements to get a job as a railway yard switchman?
- Upper secondary education, good physical condition, safety training, and suitability tests conducted by the employer. - What are the future prospects?
- No exact forecast is available, but there are several job openings within the profession, and stable demand is expected to continue.
Salary distributed by age and sector
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 34300 kr | 37700 kr | |
| 35-44 | 35900 kr | 39200 kr | |
| 55-64 | 37000 kr | 40500 kr | |
| Snitt | 97% | 35100 kr | 38600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 34300 kr | 37700 kr | |
| 35-44 | 35900 kr | 39200 kr | |
| 55-64 | 37000 kr | 40500 kr | |
| Snitt | 97% | 35100 kr | 38600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 34300 kr | 37700 kr | |
| 35-44 | 35900 kr | 39200 kr | |
| 55-64 | 37000 kr | 40500 kr | |
| Snitt | 97% | 35100 kr | 38600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 34400 kr | 37700 kr | |
| 35-44 | 35900 kr | 39600 kr | |
| 55-64 | 37300 kr | 41000 kr | |
| Snitt | 97% | 35200 kr | 38800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 34400 kr | 37700 kr | |
| 35-44 | 35900 kr | 39600 kr | |
| 55-64 | 37300 kr | 41000 kr | |
| Snitt | 97% | 35200 kr | 38800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 34400 kr | 37700 kr | |
| 35-44 | 35900 kr | 39600 kr | |
| 55-64 | 37300 kr | 41000 kr | |
| Snitt | 97% | 35200 kr | 38800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 97% | 34600 kr | 37700 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 97% | 34600 kr | 37700 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 97% | 34600 kr | 37700 kr |
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 Exchanger, railway has the SSYK code 8312, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.
Compare salary, work tasks and job outlook in adjacent occupations to find roles with similar skills or pay levels.
-
Average salary: 34 600 SEK/month • Transport
Cabin crew etc.
Compare with Exchanger, railway
Tue, 23 Jun 2026 - 06:36 -
Average salary: 45 100 SEK/month • Transport
Train drivers
Compare with Exchanger, railway
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 - 03:09 -
Average salary: 31 000 SEK/month • Transport
Ramp staff, movers and stock replenishment staff etc.
Compare with Exchanger, railway
Tue, 23 Jun 2026 - 10:05 -
Average salary: 29 600 SEK/month • Transport
Other car, motorcycle and bicycle drivers
Compare with Exchanger, railway
Mon, 22 Jun 2026 - 22:41 -
Average salary: 36 500 SEK/month • Transport
Train attendants and on-board managers etc.
Compare with Exchanger, railway
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 - 03:49 -
Storage worker, warehouse salary
Average salary: 34 800 SEK/month • Transport
Warehouse and terminal staff
Compare with Exchanger, railway
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 - 01:06
