Average salary of the French in 2025
25 March 2025 · 4 min reading time
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See job offersKey Takeaways:
In 2025, salaries in France reflect the deep disparities in the job market.
- The average net salary reaches €2,735 in the private sector, compared to €2,530 in the public sector.
- Significant gaps persist depending on the profession, region, and skill level.
- The median salary, estimated at €2,183, remains well below the average, revealing a strong concentration of high earners.
- Gender pay inequalities are slowly decreasing but remain significant.
- Dynamic regions, socio-professional categories, and levels of responsibility continue to strongly influence remuneration.
According to the latest INSEE data, the average salary in France is approximately €2,735 net per month in the private sector and €2,530 net in the public sector. These amounts correspond to full-time employment (full-time equivalent, FTE)* and thus offer an overall view of the distribution of remuneration in the French labor market. They also highlight the structural difference between the two sectors, with the private sector showing slightly higher average salaries, while the public sector, with its regulated salary scales, presents more homogeneous remuneration levels.
The FTE (Full-Time Equivalent) measures the punctual occupancy rate of a position, instantaneously or over a short period. The annualized FTE (EQTP - Équivalent Temps Plein annualisé) focuses more on an average over the full year, useful for managing activity and its costs in the long term. In temporary work (intérim), the annualized FTE is particularly relevant for accurately estimating needs and costs over an extended period, while the punctual FTE is better suited for an immediate analysis of the workforce.
Average Salary of the French: How Has it Evolved?
Over the past ten years, the average net salary for a full-time job in France has increased by an average of about 0.5% per year. This increase, although modest, reflects both the slow revaluation of remuneration and the impact of economic fluctuations on employees' purchasing power. In the private sector, this trend is generally stable, but disparities are observed across professional categories. For example, manual workers have seen a more significant increase (+16.3%), notably due to the revaluation of the SMIC (minimum wage) which increased by 2% in November 2024. It is important to note that these changes vary depending on the sectors of activity and the specific dynamics of each industry, reflecting the complexity of the French labor market.
Average Salary in the Private Sector
In the private sector, the average salary in 2025 is €2,735 net per month according to INSEE for a full-time job (annualized FTE). However, it should be noted that this figure masks significant disparities across socio-professional categories:
- Executives (Cadres): On average, an executive earns around €4,570 net per month, reflecting high responsibilities and skill levels.
- Manual Workers (Ouvriers): Their average remuneration is around €2,030 net per month.
- Employees (Employés): The remuneration for this socio-professional category averages €1,960.
- Intermediate Professions (Professions Intermédiaires): The average salary is €2,660.
Here is an overview of the average figures according to key indicators:
| Indicator | Amount |
|---|---|
| Average net monthly | €2,735 |
| Average gross monthly | €3,613 (approx.) |
| Average gross annual | €43,356 (approx.) |
However, it is important to remember that the average salary does not always accurately reflect what all French people actually earn; this is why analyzing the median salary offers an essential complementary view.
Average Salary in France in the Public Sector
In the public sector, the wage dynamic differs significantly from that of the private sector, both in its organization and its evolution. The remuneration system is based on strict index scales, guaranteeing relative homogeneity within each body or category of agents. In 2022, the average full-time equivalent salary was around €2,527 net per month according to INSEE data. However, this figure masks significant disparities depending on status and function, notably:
- Hospital Public Service (Fonction publique hospitalière): Approximately €2,734 net per month
- Territorial Public Service (Fonction publique territoriale): Approximately €2,145 net per month
- State Public Service (Fonction publique d’État): Approximately €2,743 net per month
These differences reflect the specific characteristics of each sector, where remuneration is generally higher in the hospital and state public services compared to the territorial sector.
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The Median Salary in France
The median salary represents the central point of the remuneration distribution, where 50% of employees earn less and 50% earn more. In 2025, this amount is estimated at around €2,183 net per month (all sectors combined).
Thus, this figure is more than 20% lower than the average salary (a difference of €552).
This indicator offers a more realistic view of the economic situation because it eliminates the effect of extreme salaries that skew the average.
It should be noted that in the public sector, the median salary is higher, reaching €2,260 net (most recent data). The fact that the median salary is lower than the average net salary highlights the significant inequalities in income distribution, highlighting the gap between the richest and the poorest.
Average Salary: Still Gender Inequalities in 2025
Pay inequalities between women and men remain a persistent reality. Even in 2025, for equivalent work, women earn on average less than their male counterparts (-14.9%). These gaps, which manifest themselves in both the private and public sectors, illustrate that wage discrimination persists despite efforts to reduce it. While some progress has been made over the years, the gap remains significant and continues to challenge both economic actors and public authorities.
Île-de-France vs. Lowest-Paying Regions: A Significant Gap
With an average net salary of around €3,519 per month, Île-de-France remains by far the highest-paying region in France. Conversely, some regions and departments record much lower levels. In Brittany, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, or Corsica, the average salary barely exceeds €2,370. In even more rural areas like Creuse, located in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the average net salary drops to around €2,058 per month, nearly €1,500 less than in Île-de-France. These significant gaps reflect structural differences in terms of economic fabric, sectors of activity, and the concentration of skilled jobs. While the cost of living is generally lower in these areas, territorial wage inequality remains a strong marker of French economic dynamics.
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