Your salary will primarily be decided in negotiations between you and the person in charge of salaries, and is based on your position, responsibilities, competence, background and the current market situation. This system of individual and differentiated salaries means that salary levels differ considerably from one person to another. It is particularly important to negotiate your salary whenever you are start a new job. This applies at the start of your professional career as well as during it whenever you change position or employer.
Your salary will also be influenced on other occasions during your career, for example when you improve your level of competence or areas of responsibility, or at a local salary review.
The SMA and the local medical associations can support and give advice to their members, providing help in the form of salary statistics and practical advice. You can contact your local medical association before negotiating your salary.
Doctors who undergo a period of probationary service before the National Board of Health and Welfare has determined the conditions required for authorisation are covered by the ”Medical Student Agreement”, which applies to medical students working as supply assistant doctors before they qualify as a doctor.
The salary specified in the agreement is a minimum salary, which means that although you cannot earn any lower than this, you can negotiate it upwards. Doctors also receive a salary supplement for being on emergency standby and, in certain cases, compensation for working unsocial hours and overtime. Doctors’ salaries are set on an individual basis. For up-to-date salary statistics, use Lönesök which primarily presents figures according to position and specialization.