A new ranking has calculated where in France people earn the most, particularly in regions outside of Paris (as Ile-de-France has the highest salaries, but they may not go as far due to higher costs of living).
The ranking by Le Figaro looked to highlight “other geographical areas [that] stand out by offering attractive levels of pay that will remain interesting once living expenses have been deducted”.
It analysed data on average salary levels from national statistics bureau Insee, for 287 employment zones in France, to rank areas in which the best-paid workers in each socio-professional category live (from managers to intermediate professionals and employees, to blue-collar workers).
Insee defines an ‘employment zone’ as “a geographical area within which most of the working population lives and works, and in which establishments can find most of the labour required to fill the jobs on offer”.
Average net hourly wage
The figures show that in mainland France in 2022, the average net hourly wage was €15.05.
However, it varied significantly by geographical area.
From a low of €12.90 in Saint-Flour (Cantal, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)
To a high of €23.80 in Versailles-Saint-Quentin (Yvelines, Ile-de-France)
It also varied by socio-professional category.
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The ‘special case’ of Ile-de-France
People with degrees and jobs were overrepresented in the Paris region, the figures show, although the report calls the Ile-de-France region “a special case”.
It also highlights similar trends around the Lyon-Grenoble axis.
In 2022, employees living in one of the 15 employment zones in Ile-de-France earned on average 24.8% more than in the rest of mainland France.
This also varied, unsurprisingly, by seniority of role:
Managers (Another 10.4% more)
White-collar workers (10%)
Intermediate occupations (9.3% more)
Blue-collar workers (5%).
The Paris Region was found to account for 21% of all jobs in France. More than two in 10 of the region’s working population (22.2%) have spent at least five years in higher education, twice as many as in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
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Paris is described as the country’s “economic hyper-pole”, with a high number of “the most highly-skilled occupations”.
However, Le Figaro pointed out that salaries in the Ile-de-France region typically appear attractive in comparison to other regions, but that they conceal a number of downsides, and these could prompt people to leave the apparently golden area.
Similarly, in 2021, Insee wrote that “the nuisances associated with the concentration of activity (pollution, transport congestion) and the higher land prices in large urban areas can encourage companies and workers to move to less densely populated areas”.
Best regions for professionals away from Paris
Away from Paris, the ranking suggests that the Cannes area was particularly attractive for white-collar workers, professionals, and managers.
Cannes
Average earnings of €29.73 net per hour for managers
Strong cultural and creative industries, tourism and events
New technologies (artificial intelligence, biotechnologies, etc.) in the Sophia-Antipolis technology park, with its 2,500 companies offering highly skilled jobs.
Le Figaro also highlighted:
Aix-en-Provence (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur), 16.3% more than median, at €29.34 per hour
Compiègne (Hauts-de-France), 13.7% more, at €28.66 per hour
Honfleur / Pont-Audemer (Normandy), 13.5% more, at €28.63 per hour
Saint-Malo (Brittany), 13.4% more, at €28.60 per hour
As per the above, these employment areas pay at least 13% more than the French median for managers, hitting between €28-29 per hour net, in an area that has a lower cost of living and lower population density than the Paris region.
Just behind these were Lyon (12.1% more, €28.28), Annecy (11.7% more, €28.16), and Le Havre (11.5% more, €28.13).
Best region for blue-collar workers away from Paris
When it comes to blue-collar workers, however, the best region is Savoie.
In the employment areas of La Maurienne and La Tarentaise, the average net hourly wage is €15.19 and €14.52 respectively. This is at least 17% higher than the median employment areas in mainland France. The department also has the second-lowest unemployment rate in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region (5.2% in 2023).
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Other good areas for blue-collar workers are:
Epernay (Grand Est), 15.3% more than median, at €14.31 per hour
Le Havre (Normandy), 15.2% more, at €14.30 per hour
Le Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie), 14.5% more, at €14.21 per hour
Le Chablais (Haute-Savoie), 13.7% more, at €14.12 per hour
Yvetot-Vallée du Commerce (Normandy), 12.6% more, at €13.97 per hour
The areas of La Maurienne and La Tarentaise in Savoie are particularly bolstered by their popular ski stations, which attract wealthy winter holidaymakers. Plus, seasonal jobs are becoming harder to fill, meaning that companies are having to offer ever-more attractive packages to attract staff.
“Hotels, restaurants, working in ski lifts... These are difficult jobs that are hard to fill,” said Marc Beggiora, President of the Savoie Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Blue-collar employment in La Maurienne has also been boosted by work on the Lyon-Turin rail link - including the creation of a 57.5km tunnel. This has added 3,500 jobs in the area, of which 600 were still available in March 2024, figures show.
The work is set to continue until at least 2032.
The full ranking, including a departmental map of the average hourly wage, can be seen on the Le Figaro website (in French).
