- Salary statistics
- Virologist, clinical salary
Virologist, clinical salary
Latest available salary statistics are for 2025. Compare average pay, salary range and related job listings.
89 800 - 117 800 SEK / month
Women earn 99% of what men do.
Hälso- & sjukvård
Related tools
Salary progression Virologist, clinical
What does a virologist in clinical medicine do? – Tasks and work environment
A clinical virologist primarily works on diagnosing, treating, and preventing viral diseases in patients. The role involves interpreting laboratory results, assessing infection risks, and developing treatment strategies for virus-related conditions. The work environment is often located at infectious disease clinics, specialized laboratories, or university hospitals, where collaboration with other specialists and researchers is common. Precision, analytical skills, and a constantly updated scientific interest are central to the profession. Regular contact with patients occurs, especially when investigating severe or unusual infections, and workload can sometimes be high during outbreaks or epidemics.
Salary development over time
The salary for clinical virologists has increased significantly in recent years. In 2022, the average salary was 86,400 SEK per month. In 2023, it rose to 93 600 SEK, corresponding to an increase of about 6.7%. Between 2023 and 2024, the trend continued upward to 98 000 SEK, a more moderate increase of approximately 1.5%. This salary development reflects an increased demand for specialist competence in virology, partly driven by global virus outbreaks and a growing need for advanced diagnostics. Salary increases can also be explained by the labor market’s competition for experienced specialists and the requirements for long education and ongoing training in the field.
Virologist in clinical medicine salary – complete overview
- Average salary: 98 000 SEK/month
- Lowest salary: 84,600 SEK/month (men), 91,200 SEK/month (women)
- Highest salary: 110,600 SEK/month (men), 101,500 SEK/month (women)
- Hourly wage: 563 SEK
- Gender differences: Women earn 99 % of what men do (98 700 SEK/month for men, 97 300 SEK/month for women)
- Regional differences: Specific data is lacking, but salary levels often vary between larger hospital regions and smaller towns
Education and qualifications
To work as a clinical virologist, a long and specialized educational path is required. The foundation is a medical degree, followed by general internship (AT), specialist training (ST) in infectious medicine or clinical microbiology, and then advanced studies in virology. Experience in laboratory work and research is often meritorious, as is the ability to interpret complex analysis results.
- Medical degree: 5.5 years of university studies
- General internship (AT): approximately 1.5–2 years
- Specialist training (ST): 5 years in a relevant field (infectious medicine/clinical microbiology)
- Advanced courses: Focused on virology, often through universities or employers
- Research/Dissertation: Doctoral degree is common among clinical virologists
Clinical virologists often collaborate with infectious disease specialists and microbiologists to quickly identify and manage new virus outbreaks. The role involves intensive interdisciplinary work where quick decisions can significantly impact public health.
Common benefits and compensations
Clinical virologists are often covered by collective agreements that include benefits such as occupational pension, health insurance, and generous vacation policies. Other common benefits include professional development, conference travel, compensation for unsocial hours, and sometimes opportunities for research funding or supervision roles. Some employers also offer wellness allowances and subsidized meals.
Competition and challenges
The competition for positions as a clinical virologist is generally low due to the limited number of specialists and the long educational pathway. At the same time, the recruitment situation can be described as paradoxical, with both a shortage of qualified personnel and relatively high mobility within the profession. Challenges include rapidly changing knowledge requirements, managing epidemics, and high expectations from healthcare providers and the public. The profession also demands navigating between clinical work and research, with workload often intense during viral outbreaks.
Tips for those who want to become a virologist in clinical medicine
To succeed as a virologist in clinical medicine, it is beneficial to develop an early interest in both medicine and natural sciences. Perseverance during the long education is crucial, as is analytical rigor when interpreting research data and laboratory results. Curiosity and a desire to stay updated on new viruses and treatment methods are advantageous, as well as collaboration skills since the work often occurs in interdisciplinary teams. The ability to communicate clearly is also important, especially when explaining complex relationships to colleagues and patients. Flexibility and resilience under periods of high pressure, such as during epidemics, are highly valued traits. Actively seeking internships and research experience during education provides a strong foundation for future career steps.
Key facts about virologists in clinical medicine
- Education level: Medical degree + specialist training (approximately 12 years in total)
- Work environment: Hospitals, laboratories, and research environments
- Typical working hours: Full-time, often daytime but sometimes on-call
- Demand: Very high and increasing according to the Employment Service
- Special skills: Virus analysis, laboratory diagnostics, research
Career paths and future prospects
After 3–5 years as a certified specialist, clinical virologists can advance to leading roles within hospital laboratories, become chief physicians, or take on research responsibilities at universities. There are also opportunities to work internationally within infectious disease organizations or the pharmaceutical industry. The Employment Service assesses that job opportunities are very large, with an expected increase in demand over the next five years. The recruitment situation is characterized by difficulties in finding the right competence, while the need for specialist doctors in virology and related fields is expected to grow. Currently, there are 375 job openings in the specialist doctor category, underscoring the high demand in the job market.
Common questions about virologists in clinical medicine
- What does a virologist in clinical medicine earn?
- The average salary is 98 000 SEK per month, with variations depending on experience, gender, and employer. - What education is required to become a clinical virologist?
- Medical degree, general internship (AT), specialist training (ST), and advanced studies in virology. - Are there good future prospects for clinical virologists?
- Yes, demand is very high and expected to increase further, according to the Employment Service. - What are the highest and lowest salaries for the profession?
- Highest salary is 110,600 SEK (men), 101,500 SEK (women); lowest salary is 84,600 SEK (men), 91,200 SEK (women). - What do gender salary differences look like?
- Women earn on average 99 % of what men do within the profession. - Where do clinical virologists usually work?
- In hospitals, university hospitals, laboratories, and sometimes research institutions. - How many job openings are there in the field?
- Currently, there are 375 job openings within the specialist doctor category, including virologists.
Salary distributed by age and sector
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 80100 kr | 84700 kr |
| 35-44 | 101% | 85700 kr | 90300 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 96600 kr | 101800 kr |
| 55-64 | 100% | 98300 kr | 102700 kr |
| 65-68 | 97% | 103100 kr | 105900 kr |
| Snitt | 99% | 93300 kr | 98000 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 80400 kr | 85800 kr |
| 35-44 | 97% | 85900 kr | 91400 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 94500 kr | 100700 kr |
| 55-64 | 96% | 99500 kr | 104800 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 103400 kr | 106700 kr |
| Snitt | 95% | 92900 kr | 98500 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 94% | 90400 kr | 91800 kr |
| 45-54 | 91% | 96300 kr | 97300 kr |
| 55-64 | 91% | 99500 kr | 103200 kr |
| 65-68 | 73% | 125700 kr | 128000 kr |
| Snitt | 87% | 97800 kr | 99800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 80400 kr | 85900 kr |
| 35-44 | 97% | 85800 kr | 91400 kr |
| 45-54 | 96% | 94500 kr | 100700 kr |
| 55-64 | 97% | 99500 kr | 104800 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 102900 kr | 106200 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 92900 kr | 98500 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 119% | 84900 kr | 85600 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 106600 kr | 107300 kr |
| 55-64 | 93200 kr | 94100 kr | |
| Snitt | 113% | 94900 kr | 95600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 119% | 84900 kr | 85600 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 106600 kr | 107300 kr |
| 55-64 | 93200 kr | 94100 kr | |
| Snitt | 113% | 94900 kr | 95600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 80600 kr | 85900 kr |
| 35-44 | 101% | 84600 kr | 89900 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 96700 kr | 103600 kr |
| 55-64 | 100% | 97500 kr | 102900 kr |
| 65-68 | 97% | 104200 kr | 107300 kr |
| Snitt | 99% | 93100 kr | 98700 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 80700 kr | 86900 kr |
| 35-44 | 97% | 86400 kr | 93200 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 95300 kr | 103200 kr |
| 55-64 | 96% | 100100 kr | 106600 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 105100 kr | 109100 kr |
| Snitt | 95% | 94000 kr | 100900 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 94% | 92700 kr | 95900 kr |
| 45-54 | 91% | 101600 kr | 104600 kr |
| 55-64 | 91% | 103700 kr | 108600 kr |
| 65-68 | 73% | 138500 kr | 141900 kr |
| Snitt | 87% | 105600 kr | 109300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 80700 kr | 86900 kr |
| 35-44 | 97% | 86300 kr | 93200 kr |
| 45-54 | 96% | 95200 kr | 103200 kr |
| 55-64 | 97% | 100000 kr | 106500 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 104400 kr | 108300 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 93900 kr | 100800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 119% | 79000 kr | 79400 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 105700 kr | 106400 kr |
| Snitt | 113% | 89200 kr | 89800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 119% | 79000 kr | 79400 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 105700 kr | 106400 kr |
| Snitt | 113% | 89200 kr | 89800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 79600 kr | 83400 kr |
| 35-44 | 101% | 86700 kr | 90600 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 96600 kr | 100400 kr |
| 55-64 | 100% | 99100 kr | 102500 kr |
| 65-68 | 97% | 101200 kr | 103600 kr |
| Snitt | 99% | 93500 kr | 97300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 80100 kr | 84600 kr |
| 35-44 | 97% | 85400 kr | 90000 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 93900 kr | 98500 kr |
| 55-64 | 96% | 98900 kr | 102800 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 100900 kr | 103100 kr |
| Snitt | 95% | 92000 kr | 96300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 94% | 89200 kr | 89800 kr |
| 45-54 | 91% | 94600 kr | 95000 kr |
| 55-64 | 91% | 96400 kr | 99300 kr |
| 65-68 | 73% | 103500 kr | 103900 kr |
| Snitt | 87% | 93800 kr | 94800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 80200 kr | 84700 kr |
| 35-44 | 97% | 85400 kr | 90000 kr |
| 45-54 | 96% | 93800 kr | 98600 kr |
| 55-64 | 97% | 99000 kr | 102900 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 100800 kr | 103100 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 91900 kr | 96300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 119% | 93100 kr | 94100 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 107100 kr | 107800 kr |
| 55-64 | 99900 kr | 101100 kr | |
| Snitt | 113% | 100600 kr | 101600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 119% | 93100 kr | 94100 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 107100 kr | 107800 kr |
| 55-64 | 99900 kr | 101100 kr | |
| Snitt | 113% | 100600 kr | 101600 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 Virologist, clinical has the SSYK code 2211, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.
-
Specialist Physician in Ophthalmology for New Clinic in Södertälje
Specialist doctors
Sat, 27 Jun 2026 - 00:13 -
Specialist in General Practice at Capio Primary Care Centre Vålberg
Specialist doctors
Fri, 26 Jun 2026 - 22:35 -
Chief Physician for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (BUP) in Västernorrland
Specialist doctors
Fri, 26 Jun 2026 - 22:24 -
General Practitioner in Mariestad – Continuity and Responsibility
Specialist doctors
Fri, 26 Jun 2026 - 21:57 -
Specialist Physician in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at BUP Skärholmen
Specialist doctors
Fri, 26 Jun 2026 - 21:09
Compare salary, work tasks and job outlook in adjacent occupations to find roles with similar skills or pay levels.
-
Average salary: 33 700 SEK/month • Hälso- & sjukvård
Dental assistants
Compare with Virologist, clinical
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 - 17:12 -
Industrial psychologist salary
Average salary: 48 600 SEK/month • Hälso- & sjukvård
Psychologists
Compare with Virologist, clinical
Sat, 27 Jun 2026 - 14:06 -
Average salary: 46 800 SEK/month • Hälso- & sjukvård
Pediatric nurses
Compare with Virologist, clinical
Fri, 26 Jun 2026 - 17:38 -
Average salary: 98 000 SEK/month • Hälso- & sjukvård
Specialist doctors
Compare with Virologist, clinical
Sat, 27 Jun 2026 - 07:30 -
Average salary: 48 600 SEK/month • Hälso- & sjukvård
Psychologists
Compare with Virologist, clinical
Sat, 27 Jun 2026 - 11:32 -
Average salary: 40 100 SEK/month • Hälso- & sjukvård
Physiotherapists
Compare with Virologist, clinical
Sat, 27 Jun 2026 - 03:59