Median salary in French private sector

The median salary in the French private sector in 2025 was 2,238 euros net per month, slightly higher than the 2,190 euros recorded in 2024. This figure is 20% lower than the average net salary of 2,797 euros, showing a greater number of lower salaries compared to higher ones.

Average salary growth and inflation

The average net salary in full-time equivalent (FTE) increased by 1.5% in 2025, following a 0.8% rise in 2024. Inflation dropped to 0.9% in 2025 from 2.0% in 2024, allowing the net average wage purchasing power to exceed its 2019 level for the first time since the end of the Covid-19 crisis.

Purchasing power increase

In 2025, the purchasing power of private sector employees increased by 1.5%, the strongest increase since 1996, according to Insee. This followed a decline in purchasing power in 2022 and 2023 due to high inflation, but the long-term average increase in purchasing power from 2019 to 2025 was 0.2% per year.

Salary increases by income level

Salary increases were more pronounced for better-paid employees. The top 10% of earners saw their purchasing power grow by 1.6%, while the top 1% experienced a 2.2% increase, compared to 1% for lower-paid employees. This contrasts with previous years when minimum wage increases preserved the purchasing power of low wages while inflation eroded that of higher wages.

Sectoral and gender differences

Across socio-professional categories, the increase in purchasing power was similar: +1% for intermediate professions, +1.1% for workers and employees, and +1.1% for managers. The construction sector had the highest increase in purchasing power at 2.3%, compared to 1.5% in industry and services. Women experienced a slightly higher increase in purchasing power (1.7%) compared to men (1.5%) in 2025.

Salary distribution and structural changes

One in ten private sector employees earned less than 1,519 euros net per month, with those earning less than 1,300 euros generally being apprentices or interns. Conversely, 10% of employees earned more than 4,441 euros net per month, and 1% earned at least 10,552 euros. A third of the 1.5% increase in average salary is attributed to changes in the structure of positions, particularly the increase in the number of managers at the expense of less well-paid categories.