The complete guide to the average salary in France (2024)

When you move to a country to find a job, one of the main deciding factors is the salary you receive. By knowing how much the average salary isFrance, you canMake sure you are not underpaidand even negotiate for a better salary.

This article will help you negotiate a better offer or increase by understanding:

1. The minimum wage in France
2. The average salary in France in 2023
3. A good salary to live comfortably in France
4. Average salary for different professions
5. Factors that influence your salary

From March 2024, yesminimum wage in France€11.65 per hour.For a full-time employee working 35 hours per week, the minimum wage in France is€1,766.92 gross per month or €21,203 gross per year.

“

France is in the rankings6maximum for minimum wage (interprofessional growth minimum wageor SMIC) from 21 European countries.

”

Are you underage? The minimum wage in France for 17 year olds is €10.49 per hour and €9.32 per hour for those under 16.

Your minimum wage in France may also differ from the National Minimum Wage (SMIC) if you belong to specific sectors, such as the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. In some sectors in France, the minimum wage is set in collective agreements. If this amount is less than the national minimum (SMIC), the employer must compensate to reach the SMIC amount. If the amount is higher than the SMIC, the employer pays the collective labor agreement amount.

Who is entitled to the minimum wage in France?

All workers in France must earn a minimum wageminimum wage corresponding to their age, with the exception of young students (18-25 years old) and students doing an internship.

If you make onestageAnd hisunder 25 years oldoud,your salary dependson yourage and experience. However, you must be paid the minimum wage if you have worked for the same company for more than 6 months.

Like ainternyou earn the minimum€3.90 per hourif your internship lasts at least 2 months. Below this threshold, the employer does not have to pay you. Depending on the number of working days per month, you can earn between €573.30 and €627.90. This amount will not be enough to cover all costs, but it will be enough to cover food or certain leisure activities, such as going to the cinema and going out in the evening, or the cost of public transport.

“

Calculate your estimated salary by adding your working hours into oneonline salariscalculator.

”

What qualifies for the minimum wage?

Your basic salary and any benefits in kind, such as contributions to yourhealth insuranceor a company car, contribute to the minimum wage in France. Bonuses, refunds, travel expenses or overtime do not count towards the minimum wage.

In 2023, the average salary in France will be€2,340 net per month or €39,300 net per year. Due to the differences in the cost of living between different French cities, the average salary in Paris is the same€2,570 net per month9.8% higher than the national average.

The average salary in France is higher than in most European countries. But compared to Western European countries such asHollandInGermanythe average salary in France is lower. An explanation for this is that France has a lower minimum working time (35 hours) compared to the Netherlands (38 hours) and Germany (40 hours).

Table: Average net wages in European countries

Because top salaries increase the overall average, it's important to look at median salaries as well. The median salary represents the exact middle by excluding outliers (the highest and lowest salaries). The average wage in France is€ 1,940 net per month, which is approximately 18% lowerthan the average wage. This means that 50% of the population earns less than the average wage and more than the national minimum in France.

Depending onFrench city where you want to live, your cost of living will vary, as will how much salary you need to live comfortably (going on trips, having a gym membership, going out a few times a week, eating out, etc.).

In general aa good salary for a comfortable life in France is €3,200 for a single personor €5,600 for a person supporting a family of three.

Cities likeParis,On a, and Lyon has a higher cost of living thanother French cities. For examplecost of living in Parisis high and you have to spend approx€3,400 per month to live comfortably.

The average salary you earn depends on the field in which you work. The ones who workIT, law and finance do more than others. Below you will find the average salary per position as reported by people on Glassdoor.

But remember that this is only the average salary and the actual salary you may get or earndepends on various factors.

The average salary is only an indication and your actual gross salary depends on this6 factors:

1. Professional area
2. Six
3. Location in France
4. Experience level
5. Nationality
6. Educational attainment

1. Carrièreveld

Your career field is one of the most critical factors that determine your salary. Professions that require a lotwhere there is a lot of demand or where there is a shortage of specialistspay much more than others. Some of the highest paying jobs in France include:

• Surgeon: €160,177 per year
• IT director: €90,000 per year
• Lawyer: €92,000 per year
• Dentist: €117,000 per year

At this moment it ismost in-demand jobsin France they pay well and are difficult to fill locally. So if youLooking for a job in France, consider these professions:

1. IT-professionals
2. Healthcare professionals
3. Veterinarians
4. Technical professionals
5. Financial professionals
6. Legal professionals

2. Six

Unfortunately, gender still plays a role in wage determination in France. While the average gender pay gap in Europe was 13% in 2020, France recorded a figure15,8%.

Those who work in itNatural sciences, mathematics, technology and the IT sectoris most affected by the gender gap in France (31%). The latest report from the World Economic Forum onThe pay gap between men and womenindicates that the pay gap between men and women in the lowest pay decile is 7%, while for the highest pay decile this figure rises to 21%.

The wage gap is also increasing for women after childbirth.INCIEreports that women's wages are fallingOn average 25% after birth.

Don't let the gender pay gap stop you from asking for what you deserve. Instead, negotiate for a better salary.

3. Location in France

The average salary in France varies depending on your location. ThatIle-de-Franceregion that includes the capital Paris, andProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur(Nice, Cannes, etc.) have higher average salaries because they host many international and national companies, such as the Rocher group, Ford and Coca-Cola.Lyon, another important city, also has attractive salaries thanks to being home to Euronews and the LCL bank.

4. Experience level

Experience level is one of the determining factors for your salary. Normally, an employee with 2 to 5 years of experience earns on average32%more than just a novice employee. After 5 years you can expect an increase of36%, and with more than 10 years of experience, a21%salary increase.

5. Nationality

In general,expats outside the EU earn a higher incomecompared to the average annual salary in France. This is because they need a work visa to work in France and a work visa is only granted if the company doescannot find a French employeeto fill the vacancy. So automatically,you are in high demand, which means a higher salary.

Highly educated or highly educated expats can also apply for a so-called highly skilled worker visatalent pas. One of the requirements for this visa is that you receive at least one visa€53,836.50 gross per year, that is1.5 times morethan the average gross annual salary. To have this visa, you must earn a high salary.

6. Education level

Most professions pay more for people with higher levels of education, even if experience levels remain the same. Here's how much you can expect to earn based on your education level:

Now that you know the average salaries, make sure you are also familiar with the banking system in France. After all, you need oneFrench bank accountto receive your well-deserved salary.

Please contact content@housinganywhere.com if you have any suggestions or questions about the content on this page.