The members of the Riksdag are not employed by the Riksdag, instead they have an assignment from the voters to represent them in parliament. They therefore receive pay rather than a salary. Here the rules applying to members' pay are described.
The members of the Riksdag receive a basic, monthly pay of SEK 73,000, a sum which is subject to income tax. Many of the members also have other assignments in the Riksdag, for which they receive an increment on their pay. For example, a member who is the chair of a parliamentary committee or the Committee on EU Affairs receives an increment of 20 % and a deputy chair receives a 15% increment.
It is the Riksdag Remunerations Board that determines the size of the pay.The Riksdag Remunerations Board is an authority under the Riksdag.
Leave can affect the pay
Parental leave
A deduction is made on the pay of members of the Riksdag who take parental leave from their assignment. Members who take parental leave are generally entitled to parental benefits.
Absence due to illness
A deduction is made on the pay of members who are absent due to illness. After the qualifying period, members receive a sick pay in the same way as regular employees. One difference compared with employees is that members are considered to carry out their assignment seven days a week, while employees normally have a five-day working week. The deduction is therefore calculated slightly differently for members compared to employees.
Leave of absence
Members of the Riksdag can apply for, and in certain cases be granted absence for personal or other special reasons. Special reasons may, for example, include leave of absence for a public assignment, for example, as a state secretary or an international assignment. They are not permitted to take part-time leave of absence. During their leave of absence, members do not receive a pay from the Riksdag.
Other income does not affect the pay
Members may receive a salary or extra income in addition to their pay from the Riksdag. The salary or extra income must be reported to the register of financial interests. The register contains information about interests in companies, for example shareholdings, assignments as a board member and other agreements of an economic nature such as employment on the side of their assignment as members of the Riksdag.
Members who have another income, for example a salary from employment, cannot choose to refrain from their entire or part of their pay from the Riksdag. A deduction on the pay is only made in the case of illness or approved leave.
The pay of the Speaker and Deputy Speakers
The Speaker receives a pay of SEK 184,000 per month, which is the same as that of the Prime Minister. The size of this remuneration is determined by the Riksdag Remunerations Board.
The Deputy Speakers receive an increment of 30 % of the pay of a member.
The pay of the members of the Riksdag over the years
The table shows the pay of the members of the Riksdag since 2006.
| Year/month | Pay per month |
|---|
| 2023 January |
SEK 73,000 |
|---|
| 2022 January |
SEK 71,500 |
|---|
| 2021 January |
SEK 69,900 |
|---|
| 2019 November |
SEK 68,400 |
|---|
| 2019 January |
SEK 66,900 |
|---|
| 2018 November |
SEK 66,900 |
|---|
| 2018 January |
SEK 65,400 |
|---|
| 2017 November |
SEK 65,400 |
|---|
| 2017 January |
SEK 63,800 |
|---|
| 2016 November |
SEK 63,800 |
|---|
| 2016 January |
SEK 62,400 |
|---|
| 2015 November |
SEK 62,400 |
|---|
| 2015 January |
SEK 61,000 |
|---|
| 2014 November |
SEK 61,000 |
|---|
| 2014 January |
SEK 59,800 |
|---|
| 2013 November |
SEK 59,800 |
|---|
| 2013 January |
SEK 58,300 |
|---|
| 2012 November |
SEK 58,300 |
|---|
| 2012 January |
SEK 57,000 |
|---|
| 2011 November |
SEK 57,000 |
|---|
| 2011 January |
SEK 56,000 |
|---|
| 2010 November |
SEK 56,000 |
|---|
| 2010 January |
SEK 55,000 |
|---|
| 2009 November |
SEK 55,000 |
|---|
| 2009 January |
SEK 54,500 |
|---|
| 2008 November |
SEK 54,500 |
|---|
| 2008 January |
SEK 52,900 |
|---|
| 2007 November |
SEK 52,900 |
|---|
| 2006 November |
SEK 51,200 |
|---|
| 2006 October |
SEK 50,000 |
|---|
A member can be obliged to return his or her pay in cases of absence
A member of the Riksdag who does not participate in the work of the Riksdag and lacks a valid reason for doing so can be liable to return his or her pay. This is the case if the member has been absent, without a valid reason, during two three-month periods during the same electoral period for at least 60 per cent of votes. In this case, the Speaker has to have informed the member in question of his or absence and of the obligation to return his or her pay after the first three-month period.
Applicable rules
The rules that apply to the members' pay are set out in the following laws and regulations (in Swedish):