Analysis: Official 2025 Salaries Released – Here Are the Winners and Losers
Introduction: The 2025 Salary Landscape Under the Microscope
Statistics Sweden (SCB) has published the official salary statistics for 2025. The numbers reflect a year of economic transition. Following a period of high inflation and rising interest rates, financial pressures began to ease during 2025, which is now showing in Swedish paychecks.
The average monthly salary in Sweden increased by an average of 3.46% across all occupation groups, equivalent to a nominal raise of roughly +1,471 SEK per month. However, behind this national average lies dramatic divergence between sectors. Some profession groups secured double-digit wage gains, while others saw their compensation stagnate or even shrink under the weight of market restructuring.
In this report, we analyze the biggest winners, the hardest-hit sectors, and the underlying news and events that explain these shifts.
The Biggest Winners: Defense, Finance, and Aviation
Occupations showing the strongest salary growth in 2025 were almost exclusively linked to acute skills shortages, new collective bargaining agreements, or expanded state spending.
1. Historic Boost for Military Personnel (Soldiers etc. +17.76%)
Following Sweden's accession to NATO and subsequent defense budget increases in 2024–2025, the state has actively worked to boost recruitment. This resulted in a historic wage adjustment for soldiers and military personnel, whose average salary rose from 30,400 SEK to 35,800 SEK (+5,400 SEK/month).
2. Global Pilot and Technician Shortage (Pilots +9.17%, Aircraft Technicians +13.09%)
The aviation industry experienced painful post-pandemic restructuring, culminating in 2024–2025 with airlines completing complex financial reorganizations (such as SAS exiting Chapter 11). An acute shortage of licensed crew and maintenance staff forced new collective agreements, raising average pilot pay to 76,200 SEK (+6,400 SEK) and aircraft technician pay to 57,900 SEK (+6,700 SEK).
3. Financial Sector Recovery (Financial Brokers +14.84%)
As the Riksbank (Sweden's central bank) began cutting interest rates in 2025, capital markets revived after years of sluggishness. This provided a significant lift to commission-based finance roles. Financial brokers and traders topped the absolute wage growth chart, climbing from 106,500 SEK to 122,300 SEK (+15,800 SEK).
The Losers: The Real Estate Slump and Corporate Cost-Cutting
At the other end of the spectrum, several corporate and management roles saw negative growth as businesses focused on profitability and debt reduction.
1. Real Estate and Finance Managers Hit by Interest Lag (Property Managers -8.70%)
Despite rate cuts starting in 2025, the compounding damage of high interest rates in 2023–2024 caught up with the property sector. Debt burdens and asset write-downs forced severe cost-cutting and high-profile bankruptcies (such as the fall of Oscar Properties). This is visible in the data: the average salary for Property and Real Estate Managers (level 1) fell from 85,100 SEK to 77,700 SEK (-7,400 SEK). Similarly, Chief Financial Officers (level 1) saw average pay drop -4.69% to 87,400 SEK.
2. Cooldown in Corporate Law and Administration
A corporate focus on efficiency dampened staff function salaries. Corporate and Organizational Lawyers slipped by -4,61% to 58,000 SEK, and multiple administrative support roles showed flat or slightly negative wage growth.
Tech Sector: Cooldown for Developers, Security Still Rising
The IT sector, historically the engine of Swedish wage growth, presents a highly fragmented picture in 2025. The sector is consolidating following years of aggressive hiring, prioritizing profitability over growth.
- Software and Systems Developers: Average salaries rose by just 1.09% (from 54,900 SEK to 55,500 SEK). This clear slowdown reflects a cautious recruitment market, where junior developers have faced a tighter market.
- Game Developers: Average salaries contracted by -0.90% (from 55,800 SEK to 55,300 SEK), following a turbulent period of layoffs and studio downsizings in the Swedish gaming sector during 2024–2025.
- Cybersecurity Specialists: This group emerged as the tech sector's standout winner with a +4.14% gain (from 55,500 SEK to 57,800 SEK). This demand is driven by heightened geopolitical threats and the enforcement of the EU's new NIS2 security directive, which has compelled thousands of Swedish organizations to expand their security budgets.
Summary: What This Means for Your Next Salary Negotiation
The 2025 SCB data shows that while a standard 3–4% baseline is a solid benchmark, your industry and specialization dictate your true leverage.
If you work in cybersecurity, defense systems, or in-demand technical specializations, you hold strong cards. If you are in real estate management, general software engineering, or administrative support, you will need to rely on more than statistical averages—your individual performance, efficiency, and direct contribution to the bottom line will be your most important negotiation arguments.
Prepare for your next review with the latest official SCB 2025 stats for your specific role.