How much do teachers earn in France? Teacher salaries depend on the type of school, teaching qualification, professional experience, grade, career step, employment status and additional responsibilities.
France has a national salary structure for many teachers working in public education. Primary-school teachers, known as professeurs des écoles, and several categories of secondary-school teachers follow national public-service salary scales. Teachers progress through grades and steps during their careers.
However, there is no single salary for every teacher in France. A public-school teacher, a private-school teacher, a contract teacher, an international-school teacher and a language-school instructor may have different employment arrangements.
The 2026 gross basic monthly salary for a primary-school teacher or a teacher on the common certified-teacher scale starts at approximately €1,944 at the first step of the normal career grade.
At the 11th step of the normal grade, the gross basic monthly salary is approximately €3,338.
These are basic salary figures before individual deductions and do not include all possible bonuses, allowances or additional duties.
The salary table below uses the 2026 index-grid reference and the €4.92 monthly gross value of the public-service index point. It is not a promise of the exact amount on an individual payslip.
Public-school teacher salaries are generally calculated using an index-based system. The amount depends on the teacher's professional body, grade and step.
The main elements are:
The monthly gross basic salary is calculated using the teacher's salary index and the value of the public-service index point.
In simplified terms:
The value used for the 2026 reference table on this page is €4.92 per index point.
The following table shows the 2026 gross basic salary for the normal career grade (classe normale) used by primary-school teachers and several secondary-school teaching categories, including certified teachers.
The table is useful for understanding the progression of the basic salary during a public-school teaching career. Additional allowances can increase total remuneration.
| Career Step | Index Majoré | Gross Monthly Basic Salary | Gross Annual Basic Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 395 | €1,944.49 | €23,333.88 |
| 2 | 446 | €2,195.56 | €26,346.72 |
| 3 | 453 | €2,230.02 | €26,760.24 |
| 4 | 466 | €2,294.01 | €27,528.12 |
| 5 | 481 | €2,367.85 | €28,414.20 |
| 6 | 497 | €2,446.62 | €29,359.44 |
| 7 | 524 | €2,579.53 | €30,954.36 |
| 8 | 562 | €2,766.60 | €33,199.20 |
| 9 | 595 | €2,929.05 | €35,148.60 |
| 10 | 634 | €3,121.04 | €37,452.48 |
| 11 | 678 | €3,337.64 | €40,051.68 |
These figures represent gross basic salary, not total compensation. They exclude individual allowances, bonuses, special-duty payments and personal deductions.
The salary scale is not the same as a guaranteed starting salary for every person recruited by a school. A teacher's initial step can depend on the recruitment route, recognized previous experience and employment status. Contract teachers may have different remuneration arrangements.
Many public education teaching careers have three main grades. A teacher normally progresses through the career structure over time, subject to the applicable rules.
| Grade | Meaning | Career Position |
|---|---|---|
| Classe normale | Normal career grade | Most teachers begin their established career in this grade. |
| Hors-classe | Higher career grade | Experienced teachers may progress to this grade under promotion rules. |
| Classe exceptionnelle | Advanced career grade | A higher career level subject to eligibility and promotion conditions. |
The exact structure and number of steps can vary by teaching corps. The normal grade shown in the previous table should not be used as the complete salary scale for every teaching profession.
Primary-school teachers in France are known as professeurs des écoles. They teach children in nursery and elementary schools, including subjects such as French, mathematics, science, history, geography and arts.
Public-school primary teachers follow a national salary structure. Their basic salary depends on their grade and career step, with additional payments such as the indemnité de suivi et d'accompagnement des élèves (ISAE).
The common normal-grade salary scale shown above starts at approximately €1,944 gross per month and reaches approximately €3,338 gross per month at step 11, before additional payments.
See also: Primary Teacher Salary in France
Secondary-school teachers work in collèges and lycées. Their teaching subjects can include mathematics, French, English, history, geography, physics, chemistry, biology, economics, technology and other academic disciplines.
A common route into secondary teaching is the CAPES, which leads to the status of professeur certifié. Other recruitment routes include the CAPET, CAPEPS and CAPLP, depending on the subject and type of education.
Certified teachers generally follow the same normal-grade index structure shown in the salary table above. Their total remuneration can differ according to subject-related responsibilities, teaching duties, additional assignments and personal circumstances.
See: Secondary Teacher Salary in France
France has a distinctive early-years education system. Public nursery schools (écoles maternelles) are part of the national education system, and teachers working in these schools are generally primary-school teachers (professeurs des écoles).
Their salary is therefore based on the applicable primary-school teacher career scale, rather than a separate national kindergarten-teacher salary table.
It is important to distinguish qualified school teachers from childcare workers, nursery assistants and early-years support staff. These jobs have different qualifications, responsibilities and salary arrangements.
See: Kindergarten Teacher Salary in France
Special education in France includes several types of teaching and support roles. Teachers may work with pupils who have disabilities, learning difficulties or specific educational needs.
Some teachers obtain additional specialist training, including qualifications associated with the CAPPEI (certificat d'aptitude professionnelle aux pratiques de l'éducation inclusive).
The salary depends on the teacher's underlying professional category, grade, experience and any additional duties or allowances associated with the position. There is no single separate salary that applies to every special-education role.
See: Special Education Teacher Salary in France
Experience is an important factor in teacher remuneration, but the relationship between years worked and salary is not identical for every teacher.
Public-school teachers progress through salary steps according to the applicable career rules. Previous professional experience may also be considered when a new teacher is classified or recruited.
| Career Stage | Typical Situation | Salary Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| New Teacher | Recently recruited or beginning a teaching career | Initial grade, step and recruitment status. |
| Early Career | Several years of teaching experience | Progression through the normal-grade steps. |
| Experienced Teacher | Established professional experience | Higher steps and possible eligibility for promotion. |
| Senior Teacher | Long teaching career | Potential progression to a higher grade. |
| Specialist or Leadership Role | Additional qualifications or responsibilities | Role-specific allowances and career arrangements. |
Teachers arriving in France with experience from another country should ask the recruiting authority how their previous employment can be considered.
The treatment of previous experience depends on the recruitment route, the type of employment, the supporting documents and the applicable classification rules. Recognition of a diploma and recognition of professional experience are separate questions.
A foreign teacher should prepare:
The professeur agrégé is a secondary-school teacher who has passed the agrégation competitive examination. This is a distinct teaching corps with its own salary progression.
Agrégés generally have a different index structure from certified teachers and can receive higher basic salaries at comparable career stages. Their assignments may include teaching in collèges, lycées and classes préparatoires, depending on their specialization and appointment.
The actual salary depends on the grade, step, duties and any additional responsibilities. It should not be calculated using the certified-teacher table above.
See: Agrégé Teacher Salary in France
Vocational education is an important part of the French education system. Teachers in lycées professionnels help students develop practical and academic skills for specific professions.
The CAPLP is one of the main competitive recruitment routes for teachers in vocational high schools. Depending on the subject, teachers may need academic qualifications, professional experience or a combination of both.
Salary depends on the relevant teaching corps, grade, step and any additional professional responsibilities.
See: Vocational Teacher Salary in France
School leadership roles in France have different responsibilities and remuneration arrangements from ordinary classroom teaching positions.
In primary schools, the school director (directeur d'école) may receive specific allowances and additional compensation linked to the role and the size or circumstances of the school.
In secondary education, principals and deputy principals belong to specific management career structures. Their salaries should not be confused with the standard classroom-teacher salary scale.
See: School Principal Salary in France
A teacher's total remuneration can be higher than the basic salary because the French education system provides several allowances and additional payments.
Some important examples include:
| Allowance or Payment | Purpose | Important Detail |
|---|---|---|
| ISAE | Primary-school pupil monitoring and support allowance. | The Ministry lists an annual gross amount of €2,550 for the standard allowance. |
| ISOE | Secondary-school student monitoring and guidance allowance. | The fixed component is listed at €2,550 gross annually. |
| Attractiveness allowance | Additional remuneration for eligible teachers, particularly during earlier career steps. | The Ministry lists an annual gross range of €400 to €3,370 for eligible steps. |
| Computer equipment allowance | Contribution towards professional digital equipment. | The Ministry lists €176 gross annually. |
| REP allowance | Work in a priority education network. | The Ministry lists €1,734 gross annually. |
| REP+ allowance | Work in an enhanced priority education network. | Includes a fixed component and a possible additional variable component. |
| Additional missions | Voluntary additional work under the Pacte enseignant. | The Ministry lists €1,250 gross annually per mission. |
Allowances depend on the teacher's position and eligibility. Not every teacher receives every payment, and the amounts should be checked against the latest official rules.
Gross salary is the amount before employee social contributions and other deductions. Net salary is the amount remaining after applicable deductions, before or after income tax withholding depending on the payslip figure being discussed.
For public-school teachers, deductions can include pension contributions, social contributions and other applicable deductions. The precise net amount depends on employment status and individual circumstances.
The salary table on this page shows gross basic salary. It is not a net salary table and does not include every allowance. For a more accurate estimate, use the official Ministry of Education remuneration simulator.
Official simulator: Ministry of Education – Teacher Remuneration
There is no general automatic 13th-month salary for all public-school teachers in France comparable to arrangements found in some other countries.
Public-school teacher remuneration is generally based on the monthly index salary, together with applicable allowances and other payments.
Private schools, international schools and other employers may have different contractual arrangements. Teachers should check their employment contract rather than assume that a 13th salary is included.
Public-school teacher salary is usually discussed as a monthly gross amount. For example, a gross basic salary of €2,500 per month corresponds to €30,000 in annual gross basic salary over twelve months, before additional allowances.
The actual amount paid each month can differ because of allowances, deductions, part-time work, additional duties and individual circumstances.
Teachers may work part time or under arrangements that involve a reduced teaching workload. In many cases, remuneration is adjusted according to the employment percentage.
For example, a teacher working at 80% of a full-time position will generally receive a lower basic salary than a teacher in the same career position working full time.
However, the exact calculation can depend on the type of part-time arrangement, employment status and applicable rules.
Not every teacher in France is a tenured civil servant. Public schools and academies also recruit contract teachers (enseignants contractuels) to meet staffing needs.
Contract teachers may work in primary or secondary education depending on the recruitment requirements and available positions. Their remuneration can depend on qualifications, experience, the academy and the applicable contractual framework.
A contract teacher should not automatically assume that the same salary progression or career conditions apply as those of a tenured teacher who has passed a competitive recruitment examination.
France has a large private education sector, including private schools under contract with the State and independent private schools.
Teachers in private schools under contract who have passed the relevant recruitment examination generally have a remuneration scale aligned with that of public-sector teachers. However, their legal status and pension arrangements are not identical to those of civil servants.
Independent private schools can have different employment contracts and salary arrangements. Pay depends on the employer, qualifications, experience, teaching hours and responsibilities.
See: Private School Teacher Salary in France
International schools in France recruit teachers for a range of curricula and educational programmes. These may include English-language instruction and international qualifications.
Salary packages vary considerably by school. Important factors include:
Teachers should compare the complete employment package rather than looking only at the advertised annual salary.
See: International School Teacher Salary in France
English-speaking teachers can find opportunities in international schools, private language schools, universities, training centres and other educational institutions.
However, being a native English speaker does not automatically qualify someone to teach in the French public-school system. Public-school teaching positions normally have specific recruitment and qualification requirements.
Private language schools and training providers may have different requirements. Some employers value a teaching certificate such as CELTA, a relevant university degree or previous classroom experience.
See: English Teacher Salary in France
University teaching is a separate career path from primary and secondary school teaching. French higher education includes roles such as maître de conférences and professeur des universités.
These positions have their own recruitment procedures, academic requirements, career structures and salary scales. A university lecturer's salary should not be estimated using the primary or secondary school teacher table.
See: University Professor Salary in France
Yes. Foreign nationals can find teaching opportunities in France, but the requirements depend on the type of school, recruitment route, nationality, qualifications and right to work.
The rules for entering the public teaching profession through a competitive examination are not identical to the rules for working as a contract teacher or being recruited by a private or international school.
French is generally essential for teaching in the French public-school system. Teachers need to communicate with pupils, parents, colleagues and school administrators, and must be able to teach the relevant curriculum.
The exact language requirements depend on the role and recruitment process. International schools may recruit teachers to teach in English or another language, but French can still be useful for daily life and communication with families.
For private language schools, requirements vary by employer and course type. A strong command of the language being taught, relevant teaching qualifications and classroom experience can improve employment prospects.
Teachers who obtained their degrees or professional qualifications abroad should check the requirements for the specific position they want to pursue.
France distinguishes between academic comparability, professional recognition and eligibility for a particular recruitment competition. These are not necessarily the same procedure.
For certain foreign diplomas, the ENIC-NARIC France centre can issue a statement of comparability indicating the level of a qualification in the French education system. Such a statement does not automatically grant a professional teaching authorization or guarantee admission to a recruitment competition.
For public teaching competitions, the relevant Ministry guidance explains which foreign diplomas may be accepted and when additional documentation or a certified translation is required.
Do not assume that a teaching degree from another country automatically gives you the right to teach in every French school. Check the requirements of the relevant recruitment competition, academy or employer before relying on a salary estimate or accepting a position.
France has a large education sector, with opportunities in public schools, private schools, international schools, universities, language centres and vocational education.
Foreign applicants should identify the type of school they want to work in before choosing a recruitment route.
The highest-paid education professionals are not necessarily those with the same job title. Career grade, specialist qualifications, seniority, additional duties and management responsibilities can all affect total remuneration.
Teaching and education careers with different or potentially higher salary structures include:
These are different career paths and should not be treated as a single salary ranking.
A teacher's salary should be compared with the cost of living in the area where the job is located. Housing is often one of the most important differences between French cities.
Living costs in Paris and some major metropolitan areas can be substantially higher than in smaller cities and towns. Rent, transport, childcare and everyday expenses can affect how much of a teacher's salary remains available each month.
Useful guides:
Salary negotiation depends on the type of employer and the teacher's employment status.
For tenured public-school teachers, salary is primarily determined by the national grade and step structure. A teacher generally cannot negotiate an entirely different basic salary in the same way as an employee in a private company.
Contract teachers, independent private schools and international schools may have different arrangements. When comparing offers, consider:
| Teaching Career | Salary Information |
|---|---|
| Primary School Teacher | Generally follows the national professeur des écoles salary structure. |
| Secondary School Teacher | Often follows the professeur certifié or another relevant teaching corps scale. |
| Kindergarten Teacher | Public nursery-school teachers are generally professeurs des écoles. |
| Special Education Teacher | Depends on the underlying teaching corps, qualifications and additional duties. |
| Professeur Agrégé | Uses a separate salary structure from certified teachers. |
| Vocational Teacher | Often recruited through the CAPLP or another applicable route. |
| Private School Teacher | Depends on whether the school is under contract or independent. |
| International School Teacher | Depends on the school, curriculum, qualifications and experience. |
| English Teacher | Depends on the employer, teaching qualification and type of institution. |
| University Professor | Uses separate higher-education career and salary structures. |
| School Principal | Management roles have separate responsibilities and remuneration arrangements. |
The 2026 gross basic monthly salary for a teacher on the common normal-grade scale starts at approximately €1,944 and reaches approximately €3,338 at step 11. The total salary can be higher after eligible allowances and additional payments.
There is no single average that accurately represents every teacher in France. Salary depends on the teaching corps, grade, step, experience, school type and additional allowances. The national salary scale is a more useful reference for public-school teachers than an unqualified average from a salary website.
Public primary-school teachers are generally professeurs des écoles. Their normal-grade gross basic monthly salary ranges from approximately €1,944 at step 1 to €3,338 at step 11 using the 2026 index-grid reference. Allowances can increase total remuneration.
Many secondary-school teachers who are professeurs certifiés follow the common normal-grade index scale. Their gross basic monthly salary starts at approximately €1,944 and can reach approximately €3,338 at step 11, before applicable allowances. Agrégés follow a separate scale.
Teachers in public écoles maternelles are generally professeurs des écoles. They therefore follow the applicable primary-school teacher salary structure. Childcare workers and nursery assistants have different employment and salary arrangements.
Yes. Depending on their role and eligibility, teachers may receive payments such as ISAE or ISOE, an attractiveness allowance, computer equipment allowance, priority education allowances and additional-mission payments.
There is no general automatic 13th salary for all public-school teachers in France. Other employers may have different contractual arrangements.
Yes. Foreign teachers may work in France, but the conditions depend on nationality, work authorization, qualifications and the type of school. Public recruitment competitions have specific eligibility conditions.
French is generally essential for teaching in the French public-school system. International schools and some private institutions may offer positions where another language is used for instruction.
Possibly. The requirements depend on the position and recruitment route. Foreign degrees may need to be assessed for academic comparability, and some recruitment procedures require additional documents or certified translations.
Previous experience may be considered depending on the recruitment route and applicable classification rules. Applicants should provide employment certificates and detailed records of their previous teaching responsibilities.
They are different teaching corps in the French education system. Certified teachers commonly enter through the CAPES or another relevant examination, while agrégés pass the agrégation. They have different career and salary structures.
Teachers in private schools under contract who pass the relevant recruitment examination generally have a gross remuneration scale aligned with public-school teachers. Their legal status and pension arrangements differ. Independent private schools may have different employment conditions.
There is no single maximum for all teachers. The highest possible remuneration depends on the teaching corps, grade, career step, management responsibilities and additional duties. Agrégés, senior academics and school leaders follow different salary structures.
Teaching can provide a structured career, national salary progression and opportunities to work in different regions. However, applicants should also consider workload, housing costs, location, employment status and the requirements for entering the profession.
IsFrance provides guides to salaries, professions, employment and living costs across France. Explore the following pages to compare career opportunities.