- Salary statistics
- Professional officer salary
Professional officer salary
Latest available salary statistics are for 2025. Compare average pay, salary range and related job listings.
40 500 - 75 300 SEK / month
Women earn 89% of what men do.
Militärt arbete
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Salary progression Professional officer
What does a professional officer do? – Tasks and work environment
A professional officer is responsible for leading, training, and developing personnel within the Swedish Armed Forces. The work involves planning and executing military exercises, participating in international missions, and ensuring that officers and soldiers have the right skills and equipment. The role requires leadership and teamwork skills, as officers often work in teams and are responsible for making critical decisions under pressure. The work environment can range from office tasks to field exercises and international deployments, demanding flexibility and physical endurance.
Salary development over time
The salary for professional officers has increased steadily in recent years. In 2022, the average salary was 47,500 SEK per month, followed by an increase to 51 300 SEK in 2023. In 2024, the average salary has reached 56 200 SEK, which corresponds to a salary increase of about 8% over three years. The positive trend can partly be explained by increased demand for military skills and the growing security situation globally. The Swedish Armed Forces' investments in education, skills development, and gender equality have also influenced salary development. Despite the increase, there are still clear gender differences, with female officers earning on average 89% of male salaries.
Professional officer salary – complete overview
- Average salary: 56 200 SEK/month
- Lowest salary: 36,300 SEK/month (female, private sector, high school education)
- Highest salary: 53,900 SEK/month (female, private sector, doctoral degree)
- Hourly wage (average): 309 SEK
- Gender differences: Men 56 900 SEK, Women 50 700 SEK (women 89% of men's salary)
- Regional differences: Data is missing or limited
Education and qualifications
To become a professional officer, a basic officer training through the Swedish Armed Forces' schools is required, often combined with academic studies in leadership or security. Selection is competitive, and training includes both theory and practice focusing on leadership, tactics, and physical training. After basic training, there are opportunities for specialization and further education for different roles.
- Officer program: 3 years (academic degree, often at the Military Academy Karlberg)
- Specialist officer training: 1.5 years (for those with military background)
- Physical and aptitude tests: Mandatory for admission
- Internships and field exercises: Included in training
- Further education: Courses and certifications in leadership, international law, and security
Many professional officers have the opportunity to participate in international missions, gaining experience working in multinational teams and under varying conditions. This international exposure can be valuable for future career paths and personal development.
Common benefits and allowances
Professional officers are usually offered benefits such as extra vacation, wellness grants, pension contributions, and opportunities for paid further education and skills development. Additional allowances for unsociable hours, international service, and exercises are often provided, along with access to the Swedish Armed Forces’ health and medical services.
Competition and challenges
The job market for professional officers is relatively stable, but competition for vacant positions can be fierce, especially for specialist and leadership roles. Challenges in the profession include physically and mentally demanding working conditions, long working hours, and sometimes international deployments under difficult circumstances. The Swedish Armed Forces set high standards for integrity, responsibility, and decision-making. There is also an ongoing effort to increase gender equality within the profession, although salary differences and traditional structures still persist to some extent.
Tips for those who want to become a professional officer
To succeed as a professional officer, it is good to combine determination with a genuine willingness to take responsibility. Leadership skills are crucial, so focus on developing your communication skills and ability to motivate others, both during training and in the workplace. Physical endurance and stress resilience are important qualities—training and mental preparation for tests and field exercises are strongly recommended. Show flexibility and adaptability, as the work environment often changes quickly. Finally, having good teamwork skills and being open to further education and international assignments can strengthen your career in the long run.
Key facts about the professional officer
- Education level: Officer program (3 years) or specialist officer training (1.5 years)
- Work environment: Varies between office, field, and international missions
- Typical employment: Full-time, sometimes shift work and international deployment
- Demand: 39 job openings in the current database
- Special skills: Leadership, tactics, physical and mental endurance
Career paths and future prospects
After three to five years in the profession, a professional officer can advance to leadership roles such as company commander or staff positions. There are also opportunities to specialize in areas like intelligence, logistics, or training. Forecasts from the Swedish Public Employment Service indicate continued stable demand for professional officers, especially given increased defense spending and a changing security environment. International opportunities, such as within UN or NATO missions, contribute to the profession remaining attractive and developmental.
Frequently asked questions about professional officers
- What is the average salary of a professional officer?
- A professional officer has an average salary of 56 200 SEK per month. - What education is required to become a professional officer?
- A three-year officer program or a 1.5-year specialist officer training is required. - Are there salary differences between men and women?
- Yes, women earn on average 89% of what men do within the profession. - What does the work environment look like for a professional officer?
- The work environment varies between office work, field exercises, and international missions. - What are the most common benefits?
- Extra vacation, wellness grants, pension contributions, and allowances for international service are common benefits. - What are the future prospects?
- Demand is stable with an increasing number of job openings and good career opportunities. - What is the highest and lowest salary for professional officers?
- The highest salary is 53,900 SEK/month and the lowest is 36,300 SEK/month.
Salary distributed by age and sector
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 32400 kr | 38800 kr | |
| 25-34 | 41000 kr | 47100 kr | |
| 35-44 | 50900 kr | 55000 kr | |
| 45-54 | 58000 kr | 61100 kr | |
| 55-64 | 60100 kr | 62100 kr | |
| Snitt | 89% | 52600 kr | 56200 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 102% | 32400 kr | 38800 kr |
| 25-34 | 97% | 41000 kr | 47100 kr |
| 35-44 | 96% | 50900 kr | 55000 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 58000 kr | 61100 kr |
| 55-64 | 106% | 60100 kr | 62100 kr |
| 65-68 | 54200 kr | 55100 kr | |
| Snitt | 89% | 52600 kr | 56200 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 102% | 32400 kr | 38800 kr |
| 25-34 | 97% | 41000 kr | 47100 kr |
| 35-44 | 96% | 50900 kr | 55000 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 58000 kr | 61100 kr |
| 55-64 | 106% | 60100 kr | 62100 kr |
| 65-68 | 54200 kr | 55100 kr | |
| Snitt | 89% | 52600 kr | 56200 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 41100 kr | 47400 kr | |
| 35-44 | 51000 kr | 55300 kr | |
| 45-54 | 58100 kr | 61300 kr | |
| 55-64 | 60000 kr | 62000 kr | |
| Snitt | 89% | 53300 kr | 56900 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 102% | 32200 kr | 38600 kr |
| 25-34 | 97% | 41100 kr | 47400 kr |
| 35-44 | 96% | 51000 kr | 55300 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 58100 kr | 61300 kr |
| 55-64 | 106% | 60000 kr | 62000 kr |
| 65-68 | 54000 kr | 54900 kr | |
| Snitt | 89% | 53300 kr | 56900 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 102% | 32200 kr | 38600 kr |
| 25-34 | 97% | 41100 kr | 47400 kr |
| 35-44 | 96% | 51000 kr | 55300 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 58100 kr | 61300 kr |
| 55-64 | 106% | 60000 kr | 62000 kr |
| 65-68 | 54000 kr | 54900 kr | |
| Snitt | 89% | 53300 kr | 56900 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 89% | 46800 kr | 50700 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 102% | 32800 kr | 39200 kr |
| 25-34 | 97% | 40400 kr | 45900 kr |
| 35-44 | 96% | 49800 kr | 52900 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 57400 kr | 58400 kr |
| 55-64 | 106% | 64600 kr | 65800 kr |
| Snitt | 89% | 46800 kr | 50700 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 102% | 32800 kr | 39200 kr |
| 25-34 | 97% | 40400 kr | 45900 kr |
| 35-44 | 96% | 49800 kr | 52900 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 57400 kr | 58400 kr |
| 55-64 | 106% | 64600 kr | 65800 kr |
| Snitt | 89% | 46800 kr | 50700 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 Professional officer has the SSYK code 110, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.
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