Average Salary in France

Written by Luis Minvielle Moderated by Oleksandra Dosii

Luis Minvielle

Luis is a writer with over 5 years of experience in B2B software. Even though he has always worked in tech, a sector he regularly publishes about, his initial incursions into writing were, curiously enough, music essays discussing scenes from different parts of the world—most likely to deal with his unfulfilled ambition of becoming a neo-soul crooner.

Oleksandra Dosii

Oleksandra is a dedicated marketer with a passion for growing HR-tech products. She believes content marketing is about delivering high-quality content that provides value—not just generating leads. Since 2016, Oleksandra has been involved in tech talent relocation.

Last update: June 30, 2025

Next update: Scheduled for January 30, 2026

What is the average salary in France?

The average net salary in France in 2023 was €2,574 per month for full-time private sector employees. This sum describes earnings after taxes and social contributions (i.e. take-home pay) and is based on the most recent and reliable available data according to INSEE, France’s national statistics office.

For context, this monthly salary translates to roughly €30,900 per year, net, or €40,000 per year, gross. This is an average. Like you’d expect, better salaries are typically found in tech, finance, and pharmaceuticals, while roles in hospitality or retail tend to offer lower-than-average pay.

While INSEE has not published official data for 2025, it’s worth noting that inflation in France remained relatively stable between 2023 and 2025. According to INSEE, consumer price growth slowed significantly after peaking in 2022. As a result, average wages have not seen a dramatic increase, and it is likely that net salaries in 2025 remain close to the 2023 figures.

What is the average salary in Paris?

As of 2023, the average gross annual salary in Paris was €54,100, or roughly €4,508 per month. This is considerably higher than the national average and speaks to the capital’s role as France’s primary economic hub (although it also speaks to its high cost of living!)

After income tax and social contributions, the net monthly salary would typically amount to around €3,200 to €3,400, depending on personal circumstances. This take-home pay is still a lot more than the national net average of €2,574 per month, which helps make up for the city’s much higher cost of living.

You can compare this to the average salary in other European capitals, like Berlin. Berlin has an average annual salary of €55,000, which is even better than the Parisian salary. But, when you take into account German taxes and calculate the net pay, you realise that Berlin’s net salary is at €2,900. This means that the net Parisian salary is ~10% greater than the Berlin average salary. There’s a counterpoint, though: The cost of living in Berlin is slightly friendlier than what it takes to live in Paris.

Salary breakdown by industry

Paris offers some of the highest salaries in the country, particularly in skilled professions. Here are some industry-specific examples, according to data sourced from INSEE (plenty of times from 2023) and other outlets:

• Technology: Salaries range between €28,600 and €90,000 per year.
• Finance: Annual earnings typically fall between €22,900 and €114,000.
• Education: Professionals in education earn between €28,000 and €106,000, depending on role and experience.
• Design: Salaries in this creative sector range from €24,500 to €94,100, in line with Paris’s global reputation in fashion and design.

Salary expectations by age

Income tends to increase with age and experience:

• Under 25: Around €1,800 net per month
• 25–44: Roughly €2,500 net per month
• 45–64: As high as €3,000 net per month

Again: while these figures are from 2023, they remain highly relevant in 2025. Inflation in France has remained relatively low and stable since 2023, meaning there has been no significant erosion of purchasing power, and wage levels have not shifted dramatically in most sectors. Salaries have largely kept pace with prices, rather than increasing substantially beyond them. However, entry-level figures may have risen slightly in high-demand sectors like software, but no major wage shifts have occurred across the board.

Also, despite the city’s higher salaries, it’s important to keep in mind that Paris also has one of the highest costs of living in France. So while earnings are greater, so too are day-to-day expenses—especially for housing, childcare, and transport.

How many salaries do you get per year in France?

In France, employees are typically paid on a 12-month basis, which means one salary payment per month. However, some employers offer a 13th-month bonus (known as prime de treizième mois), which is an additional month's salary paid at the end of the year

While this bonus is not mandated by law, it is a common practice in certain industries, such as banking, insurance, and manufacturing. The 13th-month bonus is often stipulated in employment contracts or collective bargaining agreements, which makes it a binding obligation for the employer in such cases. It's important to point out that this bonus is subject to income tax and social security contributions.

What’s a workweek like in France? How many workable hours are there per month in France?

In France, full-time employees are stipulated to work, at max, 35 hours per week or 151.67 hours per month. The length of the actual work cannot be longer than 10 hours. Actual work hours each week can't go over 48 hours in a single week, or 44 hours per week on average over 12 weeks in a row. This is all made clear on France’s official website for the service public, but it applies to both public and private workers. There are provisions for overtime, but yes, the French work–job market is very tightly regulated. This strong regulation, which is meant to protect workers, is visible in the French everyday life. For example, many tourists, at least some decades ago, used to question why the highest-end stores on the Paris’ Champs-Elysées avenue were closed down on a Sunday. This went on, of course, not for commercial reasons, but because that’s how France stipulated it.

What is the minimum wage in France?

As of 2025, the statutory minimum wage in France—known as the SMIC (Salaire Minimum Interprofessionnel de Croissance)—is set at €11.88 per hour gross, which amounts to €1,801.80 per month for a standard 35-hour work week. After social security deductions, the net monthly minimum wage comes to roughly €1,426.30, or €9.40 per hour.

These figures apply to all adult employees aged 18 and over.

Lower minimums for under-18s

Workers under the age of 18, who have less than six months of professional experience in their field, may legally earn a reduced minimum wage:

• At 17 years old, the gross hourly rate is €10.70
• At 16 or younger, the gross hourly rate is €9.51

Once a young worker reaches six months of experience, they’re entitled to the full SMIC—unless a collective agreement says otherwise.

What’s included in the SMIC calculation?

Not all forms of compensation count toward the minimum wage. Here’s what does—and doesn’t—get included:

Included in the SMIC:

• Base salary
• Benefits in kind (e.g. meals or housing)
• Productivity-related bonuses

Not included:

• Reimbursement of expenses (like transport)
• Overtime pay
• Profit-sharing and performance bonuses
• Seniority or hardship bonuses
• Holiday or end-of-year bonuses (unless paid monthly)

Updates and enforcement

The minimum wage is reviewed every January, and may be increased mid-year if inflation rises sharply. Employers are legally required to comply with these thresholds—those who don’t may face penalties.

It’s also worth noting that part-time employees must still be paid the hourly minimum, and while interns aren’t considered salaried employees, they must receive a legally mandated stipend if their placement exceeds two months.

What is a good salary in France?

What qualifies as a “good” salary in France depends heavily on location, lifestyle, and individual circumstances.

In cities like Paris, where the cost of living is significantly higher than the national average, a net monthly income of €3,000 to €3,500 is generally considered comfortable for a single person. Most of the time, this range is enough to cover rent, groceries, transportation, and fun activities without too much budgetary stress.

For families or individuals pursuing a more affluent lifestyle, a net annual income above €60,000 implies higher levels of financial freedom and a stronger safety net. If you’re making €100,000 a year or more in France, you’re definitely among the country’s top earners and well into the upper-income bracket.

Average salary after tax in France

France uses a progressive income tax system, with rates ranging from 0% to 45%, depending on annual income. Employees also contribute to social security schemes that fund healthcare, pensions, and unemployment benefits.

According to INSEE, the average gross annual salary in France is around €39,800, while the average net monthly salary (take-home pay) is approximately €2,574—or €30,900 per year. This means that income tax and social contributions typically reduce gross pay by 22% to 25%, depending on the specific case.

Net earnings may vary based on personal circumstances such as marital status, dependents, or available tax credits. Thanks to France’s prélèvement à la source (withholding at source) system, taxes are automatically deducted from monthly pay. This makes the process much more predictable and avoids large year-end bills.

💡 To estimate your own take-home pay, you can use our Tax Calculator for France.

What are the highest-paying jobs in France?

Let’s have a look at the average salaries for some common professions in France (sources: Payscale and Plane.com):

• Software Engineer: €44,173
• Software Developer: €39,146
• Data Analyst: €41,094
• Project Manager: €51,669
• Customer Service Representative: €26,839
• Business Manager: €39,381
• Sales Manager: €24,812
• Marketing Specialist: €32,635

Average salary comparison by country (2025)

When comparing average gross monthly salaries across Europe in 2025, France ranks among the higher-paying countries.