Move to Sweden from the EU: Tech Jobs & Salaries 2026
2026-10-12 · Petter Larsen
Moving to Sweden from the EU as a software developer is simple: no permit, and you can start working the day you arrive. Sweden also has the most English-speaking tech jobs in the Nordics, about half of all ads.
- Work permit: not needed for EU/EEA citizens.
- Median developer salary: 53,500 SEK (€4,720) a month.
- Top 10% of developers: 72,600 SEK a month (€77,000 a year) in base salary.
- €100k+: the top 10% of senior engineers, counting bonus and stock.
- English-speaking jobs: 49% of tech job ads.
How do you move to Sweden as an EU citizen?
- Find a job, or come and look. You have a right of residence while you work or job hunt.
- Start working. No contact with the Migration Agency needed.
- Register with Skatteverket if you're staying a year or more, with your ID and work contract. You'll get a personnummer, which you need for a bank account, BankID and healthcare.
After five years you automatically get permanent residence. See Skatteverket's guide for EU workers.
Tip: Unemployed at home? The U2 form lets you keep your unemployment benefit for three to six months while you job hunt in Sweden.
What is the average developer salary in Sweden?
From Statistics Sweden's 2025 figures for 113,100 developers:
- Median: 53,500 SEK a month, about €57,000 a year.
- Aged 35–44: 56,600 SEK on average.
- Stockholm: 59,400 SEK on average, 7% above the national figure.
That's below Norway and Denmark. On top: the ITP1 pension, at least 25 days of vacation and 480 days of shared parental leave per child.
How do you earn €100,000 as a developer in Sweden?
Base salary rarely gets there, since the top 10% of developers earn about €77,000. Six-figure packages include bonus and stock, so:
- Target international product companies in Stockholm, such as Spotify (median total pay about €104,700) or Amazon.
- Reach senior level. On Levels.fyi, the top 10% of senior engineers in Sweden make 1,179,000 SEK (€104,000) or more in total pay.
- For $100k (about 998,000 SEK), be just above the top 25% of senior engineers, who make about 947,000 SEK.
The other route is management: the top 25% of senior IT managers earn about €99,000 in base salary alone.
Which tech jobs pay the most in Sweden?
Top 10% salaries in the private sector (Statistics Sweden):
| Role | Top 10% earn at least |
|---|---|
| Senior IT managers | 121,700 SEK/month (€129,000 a year) |
| IT architects | 81,300 SEK/month (€86,100 a year) |
| Security specialists | 80,000 SEK/month (€84,700 a year) |
| Software developers | 73,200 SEK/month (€77,500 a year) |
Architecture, security and leadership pay more, and Stockholm pays about 7% above average. See our Sweden developer salary page.
Can you get a tech job in Sweden without speaking Swedish?
Usually, yes. 49% of tech job ads in Sweden are open to English speakers, against 18% in Norway. Stockholm's startups and product companies are the most international: browse startup jobs in Sweden. Swedish helps for public sector and defence jobs, and SFI classes are free.
What is it like to live and work in Sweden?
- Consensus culture. Decisions take longer but stick.
- Fika, coffee breaks with colleagues, is part of the day.
- Housing takes effort. Stockholm rentals have long queues, so most newcomers start with a sublet.
- EU rights carry over. Pension and social security periods count at home.
FAQ
Can I move to Sweden first and find a job later?
Yes. You can stay three months with no conditions, and longer while you actively look for work.
Is Sweden or Norway better for English-speaking developers?
Sweden has far more English-speaking jobs, and Norway pays more. Compare in our guide to moving to Norway from the EU.
Find English-speaking tech jobs in Sweden on Nordic Tech Jobs.