Help centre

Here you will find answers to some of the most common questions about the salary statistics and the salary survey, explanations of terms, and how to read the salary statistics. You can also submit questions you did not find the answer to, which we can use to expand the help center so that others can find better answers here later.

Note that these questions will not be answered directly. Please contact us at [email protected] for questions you do not find answers to here.

Tekna's salary survey is sent to all members registered as employed in the membership register. It is also sent to newly graduated members, that is, members who have completed their studies but have not yet reported where they work.

The salary survey is sent out by email, and each member receives a personal link to the survey so they can respond without logging in to tekna.no.

The responses in the survey are treated confidentially. The survey specifies the date that is the target date for the year, meaning the date for which you should provide answers.

The salary statistics are compiled based on the responses from the salary survey.

The salary statistics do not provide a definitive answer on what the "correct salary" should be based on your years of experience, your position, or the sector you work in. However, the salary statistics give you an overview of what Tekna's members earned the previous year. Note that the statistics do not show what Tekna's members are earning right now.

When reading the salary statistics to see where you stand in relation to them, it is useful to start by looking at your graduation year, that is, the year you completed your master's studies. This will show you what others with the same graduation year earned on average when they responded to the salary survey.

Not everyone is at the average. Some earn more and others less - and the average is often raised by a few who have high salaries. 25% of those who responded to the salary survey earn less than the lower quartile.

You also need to consider factors such as the level of responsibility. If you have a managerial position, you should normally have a higher salary than those without a managerial position.

Sector also plays a role; average salaries in the private sector are usually higher than in the public sector. In short, there are many factors that influence how you should read the statistics to determine if your salary level matches what others similar to you have.

You will find definitions of terms and phrases used about salary in Tekna here. 

The salary statistics are a useful tool when negotiating salary, whether in the same position, when changing jobs, or for your first job.

In the salary statistics, you can see what other Tekna members with the same educational level as you, working in the same sector as you, and who completed their education at the same time as you, earned on average the previous year. This can help you assess whether the offer you have received is a good one or if you should ask for more. It is also helpful when asking for a raise in a salary discussion if you can show that the salary level for those with the same educational level, graduation year, and in the same sector as you is higher than what you are currently earning.

The salary statistics are also used by Tekna's union representatives in companies when negotiating salaries on behalf of our members, and they are used to develop policies and strengthen Tekna's arguments as an association when responding to consultations or expressing opinions in the media.

Geographical location and gender can influence salary levels. The figures from the salary statistics are used when Tekna conducts analyses on these issues, to provide weight and direction for, for example, consultation responses, policy development, and media statements.

We deliberately do not present figures on these factors in the salary statistics because we believe it would be disadvantageous for our members, as employers could use the differences to argue for lower salaries based on geography.

Union representatives have access to more detailed statistics than members, which they can use in negotiations to ensure that members are not subject to unfair salary distribution based on factors such as gender.

It may be natural to compare yourself to the average salary for your graduation cohort. However, not everyone can be at or above this level. It is natural to have a spread/variation, and this is shown by also providing salary figures for, among other things, quartiles and median for each graduation year.

The level that is most appropriate for you will depend on factors such as your position, level of responsibility, and other factors.

Most people complete their master's degree before starting to work, and the graduation year therefore indicates how long they have been in relevant work at a relevant level.

When comparing yourself to others in the salary statistics, it is crucial to know whether they have been working for about as long as you, or if they have worked longer or shorter. Therefore, the graduation year is a good indicator of this.

If you have worked for a few years between completing your bachelor's and master's degrees, if you have pursued further higher education after your master's degree, or if you have worked previously but changed direction and pursued new education, you need to take this into account when reading the statistics.

There are salary differences between the various sectors, also within industries and for the same graduation cohorts. Traditionally, the private sector has somewhat higher salary levels than the public sectors. To understand what salary level is realistic to expect, it is important to be aware that there are salary differences between the sectors.

If another sector has a higher salary level than the sector you belong to, this insight can also be used to your advantage in salary negotiations.

If you have completed a PhD, the graduation year may not necessarily be the most relevant factor when reading the salary statistics. A PhD can contribute to a higher salary level if it is relevant to your work, but there are many factors to consider here.

You can talk to the local union representative where you work, or contact Tekna's lawyers for some guidance specific to your situation.

If you have worked for a few years after your bachelor's degree before pursuing a master's degree, you have a few more years of experience than those who have the same graduation year for their master's degree as you.

You need to consider whether you have worked in a relevant field and the level of your work experience.