2024

Software
Engineering
Salary
Guide Sweden
Introduction
This salary guide provides
an insightful overview
of salary structures for
positions ranging from
Software Engineer to CTO
in two of Sweden’s major
cities—Stockholm and
Gothenburg. This survey
is designed to provide
in-depth knowledge to
companies, and job seekers,
helping them to make
informed decisions for their
recruitment strategies and
next career move.

The survey presents salary

data based on job titles,
years of experience,
educational qualifications,
and specific job functions.
This granular breakdown
allows organizations to
understand how these
factors contribute to salary
differentiation in the tech
industry in Sweden, thereby
helping to maintain fair and
competitive remuneration
practices.
Considerations
Wider Economic Factors

The economic context in which these salaries are being paid also plays a significant
role. Sweden’s cost of living is relatively high with Stockholm, on average, 17% more
expensive than Gothenburg which impacts the salary levels being paid. In addition,
the ongoing inflation rate stands at 9.3% which influences the actual value of salaries,
across both locations.

Competitive Landscape

The competitive landscape for software engineers in Sweden is fierce due to

the thriving tech ecosystem in the country. For example, Stockholm is home to
nearly 3,000 start-ups and scale-ups, with over 200 VC investors and approximately
100,000+ tech employees. The city has also bred more tech unicorns per capita than
any other region in the world except for Silicon Valley.

Consequently, the demand for top tech talent is high, leading to competitive salary
offerings, especially in Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Fully Remote workers.

The Importance of
This Data
The data provided by this survey is essential for several reasons:

Strategic
  Planning: By understanding the current salary landscape, you can strategize
your recruitment and retention initiatives more effectively.

Benchmarking:
  This data enables you to benchmark your salary offerings against the
market rates, ensuring they remain competitive.

Negotiation
  Transparency: This data helps in making the negotiation process more
transparent and evidence-based for both employers and employees.

Futuris Recruitment’s salary survey provides valuable insights that allow companies to remain
competitive, fair, and informed in their remuneration practices. It also offers insights to
candidates thinking about their next career move. The survey underscores the importance of
regular market analyses to adapt to dynamic market conditions and talent expectations.

3 2024 Software Engineering Salary Guide

 Software Engineering
Salaries – Stockholm
SALARIES ARE GIVEN IN SWEDISH KRONA (SEK) PER MONTH.

JOB TITLES

ENGINEERING LOW AVERAGE HIGH

Software Engineer 34,000 53,000 93,000

Senior Software Engineer 48,000 65,000 115,000

Lead Software Engineer 50,000 67,000 85,000

Software Architect 65,000 70,000 74,000

Senior Software Architect 68,000 78,000 90,000

DevOps Engineer 36,000 48,000 59,000

Senior DevOps Engineer 55,000 60,000 67,000

Cloud Engineer 51,000 68,000 96,000

Senior Cloud Engineer 58,000 76,000 78,000

Technical Lead 61,000 70,000 89,000

Staff Software Engineer 78,000 82,000 86,000

MANAGEMENT LOW AVERAGE HIGH

Engineering Manager 59,000 75,000 135,000

Senior Engineering Manager 71,000 92,000 112,000

Director of Engineering 70,000 98,000 134,000

VP of Engineering 86,000 105,000 140,000

CTO 65,000 108,000 200,000

4 2024 Software Engineering Salary Guide

YEAR OF EXPERIENCE

ENGINEERING LOW AVERAGE HIGH

0-2 years 36,000 44,000 57,000

2-5 years 34,000 52,000 83,000

5-10 years 43,000 60,000 86,000

10-15 years 50,000 65,000 100,000

15+ years 51,000 70,000 115,000

MANAGEMENT LOW AVERAGE HIGH

5-10 years 59,000 86,000 135,000

10-15 years 67,000 76,000 115,000

15+ years 62,000 94,000 200,000

EDUCATION

ENGINEERING LOW AVERAGE HIGH

Bachelors Degree 38,000 63,000 115,000

Masters Degree 36,000 61,000 93,000

Boot Camp / Coding School 34,000 50,000 68,000

Self Taught 52,000 65,000 100,000

MANAGEMENT LOW AVERAGE HIGH

Bachelors Degree 62,000 84,000 135,000

Masters Degree 59,000 93,000 200,000

5 2024 Software Engineering Salary Guide

JOB FUNCTION

LOW AVERAGE HIGH

Backend Development 36,000 63,000 115,000

Frontend Development 39,000 51,000 62,000

Full-stack Development 34,000 60,000 93,000

Mobile Development 57,000 61,000 69,000

DevOps Engineering 36,000 56,000 70,000

Cloud Engineering 55,000 77,000 96,000

6 2024 Software Engineering Salary Guide

 Software Engineering
Salaries – Gothenburg
JOB TITLES

ENGINEERING LOW AVERAGE HIGH

Software Engineer 31,000 45,000 69,000

Senior Software Engineer 42,000 54,000 76,000

Lead Software Engineer 43,000 56,000 60,000

Software Architect 51,000 59,000 65,000

Senior Software Architect 60,000 64,000 68,000

DevOps Engineer 36,000 46,000 56,000

Senior DevOps Engineer 50,000 54,000 62,000

Cloud Engineer 46,000 53,000 60,000

Senior Cloud Engineer 49,000 57,000 65,000

Technical Lead 45,000 55,000 67,000

Staff Software Engineer 61,000 68,000 72,000

MANAGEMENT LOW AVERAGE HIGH

Engineering Manager 56,000 60,000 65,000

Senior Engineering Manager 63,000 65,000 67,000

Director of Engineering 65,000 69,000 73,000

VP of Engineering 75,000 78,000 80,000

CTO 55,000 87,000 135,000

7 2024 Software Engineering Salary Guide

YEAR OF EXPERIENCE

ENGINEERING LOW AVERAGE HIGH

0-2 years 37,000 41,000 47,000

2-5 years 31,000 43,000 69,000

5-10 years 42,000 51,000 70,000

10-15 years 50,000 55,000 64,000

15+ years 51,000 62,000 76,000

MANAGEMENT LOW AVERAGE HIGH

5-10 years 56,000 59,000 62,000

10-15 years 60,000 63,000 65,000

15+ years 55,000 77,000 135,000

EDUCATION

ENGINEERING LOW AVERAGE HIGH

Bachelors Degree 36,000 52,000 70,000

Masters Degree 40,000 51,000 76,000

Boot Camp / Coding School 33,000 43,000 54,000

Self Taught 31,000 47,000 60,000

MANAGEMENT LOW AVERAGE HIGH

Bachelors Degree 56,000 61,000 65,000

Masters Degree 55,000 65,000 73,000

8 2024 Software Engineering Salary Guide

JOB FUNCTION

LOW AVERAGE HIGH

Backend Development 36,000 51,000 70,000

Frontend Development 40,000 49,000 69,000

Full-stack Development 31,000 52,000 76,000

Mobile Development 50,000 55,000 60,000

DevOps Engineering 36,000 48,000 60,000

Cloud Engineering 39,000 54,000 62,000

Additional findings
Remote workers:

The following salaries were observed for Software Engineers who have over 5 years of
experience and work remotely for companies located outside of Sweden:

LOW AVERAGE HIGH

70,000 111,000 141,000

2023 Salary Increases Gender

In 2023, 61% of participants received a salary 87% of our participants were male and
increase. This chart shows the percentage of 10% were female, with 3% preferring
increases that were seen. not to share this data.

9
 Additional Compensation
& Benefits
While salary remains a primary consideration in the job market, other forms of compensation and
benefits are equally influential in attracting and retaining top software engineering talent. Our
research also explored these factors in the Swedish market, providing an overview of the prevailing
practices around pensions, bonuses, vacation days, remote working flexibility, and stock options.

Pensions - ITP1 and ITP2

Pension schemes are an integral part of total remuneration in Sweden, and the two common plans,
ITP1 and ITP2, were both highlighted in our research. ITP1 is a defined-contribution pension and is
generally applicable to employees born in 1979 and later, while ITP2 is a defined-benefit pension
for those born in 1978 or earlier. Our research indicates that companies providing comprehensive
ITP pension schemes hold a distinct advantage in the recruitment market.

Bonuses

Bonuses play a crucial role in employee motivation and retention. They serve as a recognition
of hard work and achievements, thereby contributing to job satisfaction. Our research
revealed that companies offering regular, performance-based bonuses between 10-20% of
the annual salary, tend to attract high-performing talent in the competitive landscape.

Vacation - 30 Days

Sweden has one of the most generous vacation policies in the world, offering a statutory
minimum of 25 days of annual leave. Many companies, however, provide up to 30, some even
35 days. Our research revealed that companies offering these extended vacation benefits had
a higher employee retention rate and were viewed as more attractive by potential recruits.

Remote Working Flexibility

The advent of COVID-19 accelerated a shift towards remote working, which has continued to
be popular even as the world adapts to the ‘new normal’. Employees increasingly value the
flexibility to balance their work and personal lives, reducing commute times, and working in a
comfortable home environment. Companies that offer remote working flexibility, whether full-
remote or Hybrid, stand out in the competitive landscape, with our research showing a clear
preference for such roles among developers.
10
 Stock Options

Stock options are a powerful tool for both recruitment and retention, particularly in the
tech industry. They offer employees a share in the company’s success and foster a sense of
ownership and commitment. Our research showed that companies offering stock options
often succeed in attracting ambitious professionals who are invested in long-term growth.

Parental Leave Top-ups

Sweden’s parental leave policy stands as a beacon of progressive family support and gender
equality. Offering a generous 480 days (16 months) of paid leave per child, which can
be utilized until the child turns eight, the system ensures both parents actively partake in
childcare responsibilities. While 390 of these days are compensated at roughly 80% of the
parent’s income, the remaining 90 days are provided at a fixed rate. However, our research
shows that companies offering a top-up to 90% and more stood a significant advantage in
attracting and retaining top engineering talent.

In conclusion, while base salary is a critical factor, our survey underscores the significant role of
additional benefits in shaping the attractiveness of an employment offer. Organizations should
consider a holistic approach to remuneration, factoring in a comprehensive benefits package
that aligns with the values and preferences of their current and prospective employees.

11 2024 Software Engineering Salary Guide

 Your Career Path
Contemplating future career trajectories is common, especially for software developers who
generally face two primary directions: The Technical Path and The Management Path.

Choosing the right path can be challenging, even for seasoned managers looking to further
their careers. To assist, we provide a detailed overview of both paths, highlighting the key
positions and requisite qualities for advancement.

Junior Software Engineer

Software Engineer (Mid-Level)

Senior Software Engineer

Software Architect, Engineering Manager

Tech Lead etc.

Director of Engineering
Staff Software Engineer
and Beyond e.g. Principal
VP of Engineering

CTO

12 2024 Software Engineering Salary Guide

 The Technical Path
To move from one stage to another, an engineer usually needs a combination of technical
growth, increasing impact in projects, continuous learning, mentorship (both giving and
receiving), and often a growing involvement in the broader technical community. Feedback
and performance reviews, along with self-initiated projects and responsibilities, also play a big
role in advancing through these stages.

Junior Software Engineer

Basics of Programming: Understands syntax, algorithms, and data structures.
Communication: Ability to ask questions and articulate challenges.
Continuous Learning: Eagerness to learn and adapt.
Team Collaboration: Can work with a team and follows lead of senior members.
Responsibilities:
  Generally provided with clear directions, limited to specific tasks, and
closely mentored.

Software Engineer
Solid Problem Solving: Can independently debug and solve more complex issues.
 
Project Management: Can handle bigger pieces or entire features of a project.
 
Design
  Skills: Understands design patterns and can make architectural decisions on a
smaller scale.
Soft Skills: Improved communication and collaboration with cross-functional teams.
 
Responsibilities:
  More autonomy, reduced need for direct supervision, and a broader
understanding of the project.

Senior Software Engineer

Deep Technical Expertise: Mastery of multiple technologies, tools, and platforms.
 
System Design: Can design complex systems and understands trade-offs.
 
Mentorship: Guides junior team members and helps them grow.
 
Leadership: Takes initiative, influences technical decisions, and can lead projects.
 
Responsibilities:
  Deep involvement in design and architectural decisions, often seen as a
go-to expert on certain topics or areas.

13 2024 Software Engineering Salary Guide

 Technical Lead

Technical Depth: Mastery of tech stack, system design, and problem-solving.

 
Leadership
  & Soft Skills: Mentorship, effective communication, decision-making, and
conflict resolution.
Collaboration: Team coordination, stakeholder engagement, and feedback reception.
 
Project
  Oversight: Task prioritization, accurate estimation, and alignment with broader
objectives.
Responsibilities:
  Guide technical direction, ensure high-quality software delivery, mentor
team members, coordinate tasks, and be the technical point of contact.

Staff Software Engineer (and beyond, e.g., Principal)

Broad
  Systems Thinking: Thinks at an organizational or company-wide level. Understands
how different pieces fit together.
Strategic Influence: Shapes technical strategy and direction.
 
Technical Depth: Recognized as an expert internally (and sometimes externally).
 
Mentorship
  at Scale: Helps in the growth of multiple team members, often beyond their
immediate team.
Responsibilities:
  Has a significant impact on the organization’s technical direction, often
involved in defining best practices, and might work on the most complex challenges the
organization faces.

The Management Path

The journey from software engineer to CTO often involves a shift from deep technical
work to a mix of technical strategy and people management. An engineer looking to make
this transition should focus on broadening their technical understanding, improving their
communication and leadership skills, and gaining experience in strategic planning and team
management. The pathway isn’t strictly linear, and the specific route can vary based on the
individual and the company. For instance, some may transition to a CTO role from a senior
technical role without ever holding a managerial position. However, the below progression
provides a general roadmap for the typical path.

14 2024 Software Engineering Salary Guide

 Engineering Manager

People
  Skills: This is paramount. A manager must be able to understand, empathize,
motivate, and handle conflicts among their team members.
Mentorship:
  Ability to coach and guide engineers for their professional and technical
growth.
Project
  Management: Ensuring projects run smoothly, on time, and meet the required
quality standards.
Technical
  Understanding: While they might not be hands-on, they still need a solid
understanding to make informed decisions and guide their team.
Responsibilities:
  Overseeing a team (or multiple teams), ensuring project delivery, career
development for team members, and often collaborating with other parts of the business.

Director of Engineering

Strategic Thinking: Aligning engineering goals with company goals.

Scaling Teams: Hiring, structuring, and scaling engineering teams as the company grows.
Cross-functional
  Collaboration: Working with other departments (product, sales,
marketing, etc.) to ensure cohesive strategy and execution.
Operational
  Efficiency: Streamlining processes, tools, and practices to improve the
efficiency of the engineering department.
Responsibilities:
  Overseeing multiple engineering teams or the entire engineering
department, setting technical direction, and ensuring alignment with company objectives.

VP of Engineering

Strategic
  Vision & Team Management: Foresee technical direction in alignment with
company goals and manage large engineering teams.
Cross-functional
  Collaboration: Engage and integrate with other departments to ensure
cohesive strategies.
Budget
  and Resource Management: Oversee financial allocations and engineering
budget efficiently.
Talent Management: Prioritize acquisition, retention, and nurturing of engineering talent.
 
Responsibilities:
  Lead the engineering division, set technical strategy, align with company
objectives, manage resources, and ensure clear communication with stakeholders.

15 2024 Software Engineering Salary Guide

 CTO

Visionary
  Thinking: Setting the technological direction for the company. This involves
understanding current tech trends and foreseeing how they’ll impact the business.
Business
  Acumen: Understanding of how technology fits into the broader business
context. A CTO often needs to make decisions that balance technical and business needs.
Stakeholder
  Communication: Ability to communicate complex technical information to
non-technical stakeholders, including board members and investors.
Leadership
  at Scale: Leading and influencing not just engineering, but often product, IT,
and sometimes other technical departments.
Responsibilities:
  Setting the overall technological direction and strategy for the company,
making high-level decisions about tech stacks and infrastructure, and representing the
company’s technical interests both internally and externally.

About
Futuris Recruitment
Futuris Recruitment is a boutique recruitment firm for software engineering
talent in Sweden. We specialize in placing exceptional professionals with
our network of clients spanning early-stage start-ups, fast-growing scale-
ups, and high-growth tech businesses, giving us unparalleled access to
exciting opportunities for top-tier talent.

We are more than a recruitment firm; we are a catalyst for growth and
innovation in the Swedish tech landscape. Our mission is to forge
meaningful connections between top-tier software engineering talent and
companies driving technological innovation in Sweden. We believe that
the right talent can transform not just a business, but an entire industry.
That’s why we’ve made it our goal to bridge the gap between incredible
opportunities and exceptional professionals.

16 2024 Software Engineering Salary Guide

 SEEKING TO EXPAND YOUR SOFTWARE
DEVELOPMENT TEAM?
CONTEMPLATING YOUR NEXT
PROFESSIONAL STEP?

SCHEDULE A 15-MINUTE
CONSULTATION CALL BOOK A
CALL
WITH OUR FOUNDER AND
ROGER HICKFORD
FOUNDER PRINCIPAL TECH RECRUITER
CONTACT US

SE: +46 8 420 023 31

UK: +44 203 854 55 55

Email: info@futurisrecruitment.com

Website: www.futurisrecruitment.com