When Choosing a job in France, salary is the most important consideration. No other factor has a greater impact on a person’s life or lifestyle than their income. A good salary even elevates a person’s self image and social image. Obviously, it is not hard to see why most people give so much importance to the pay packet. Having said that, salary cannot be the only consideration when choosing a job. Job satisfaction is equally important. The job should pay well; it should provide satisfaction as well. To conclude, remuneration should definitely be the first thing to consider when choosing a job because it is impossible to lead a comfortable life without a decent salary. However, money alone cannot make people happy and hence other factors like job satisfaction and working hours too should be considered before taking up a job. Let’s find out more about earnings in France – the minimal and average wages!
Earnings in France
What is SMIC?
Smic is the French acronym for interprofessional minimum wage.
The SMIC concerns any adult employee, „whatever the form of his remuneration (time, performance, task, piecework, commission or tip.
Minimum wages
Minimum wages were revised in France, with effect from 01 January 2023.
The minimum wage (SMIC) has been increased to €1709 per month and to €11.27 per hour.
The minimum wages for apprentices and other employees under 25 years are also increased. Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average 36% more than those with five years or less of work experience. Employers in France who fail to pay the Minimum Wage may be subject to punishment by France’s government.
How to calculate your gross monthly salary on the basis of the SMIC
To calculate the amount of your gross monthly salary based on the SMIC, multiply the hourly rate of the minimum gross wage (11.27 euros) by the number of hours worked in the month. You can calculate your annual salary on the same calculation.
If you work 92 hours a month, you have a part-time job. You perform the following calculation:
● 92 x 11.27 = 1036,84 euros gross monthly. Your salary per month on the basis of the hourly SMIC will therefore be 1036,84 euros gross.
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