Outils

Salary Simulator 2026 | Market, Sectors and Negotiation

Free salary simulator 2026: discover the market salary for your position by sector, region and experience. Prepare your salary negotiation.

9 min de lecture
55,000€
Median salary executives France (2026)
+18 to +25%
Salary gap Paris vs regions
+60% on average
Impact of 10 years experience
87%
Employers willing to negotiate

How does the salary simulator work?

Our salary simulator aggregates 2026 market data from major compensation surveys (Michael Page, Hays, Robert Half, Apec, HR Consulting Firms) to give you a realistic salary range according to your profile.

The simulator takes into account four key variables: the position and job family, the business sector (finance, tech, industry, healthcare, etc.), geographic location (Île-de-France, regions, overseas territories), and experience level (junior 0-3 years, confirmed 3-7 years, senior 7-15 years, expert 15+ years).

Results display a low/median/high market range, the total salary package (fixed + variable + benefits), and tips for positioning your request during negotiation.

Simulateur de salaire
Estimez votre salaire en fonction de votre profil et situation géographique

Sélectionnez un poste pour voir l'estimation salariale

Salary scales 2026 by job family

Annual gross salaries — confirmed profiles (3-7 years experience)

Job FamilyLow RangeMedianHigh Range
Full Stack Developer42,000€52,000€70,000€
Data Scientist / ML Engineer48,000€60,000€85,000€
Product Manager50,000€62,000€80,000€
B2B Sales (excluding variable)38,000€48,000€60,000€
Digital Marketing Manager40,000€52,000€68,000€
Financial Controller42,000€54,000€70,000€
HR Manager / HR Director SME45,000€58,000€75,000€
Consultant / Management Consultant50,000€70,000€95,000€
Manufacturing Engineer / Methods40,000€50,000€65,000€
IT Project Manager45,000€58,000€75,000€

The 5 components of the salary package

1

Annual gross fixed salary

The negotiated base. This is the guaranteed amount regardless of performance. For permanent contracts, it is defined in the employment agreement and cannot be reduced without employee consent.

  • Negotiated at hire, reviewed at annual review
  • Collective agreement: check minimum wage
  • Paid in 12 or 13 monthly instalments depending on agreements
2

Variable pay and bonuses

For sales roles, up to 30-50% of base in variable. For support functions, performance bonuses (5-15% of base) or annual bonus.

  • Commission on sales for sales teams
  • Performance bonuses on individual and team targets
  • Profit-sharing and employee ownership (companies > 50 employees)
3

Benefits in kind

Company car, phone, laptop, company housing. Should be valued in negotiation as they reduce personal expenses.

  • Company car: 400-800€/month value
  • Remote work: savings of 200-500€/month in transport
  • Restaurant vouchers: up to 200€/month net
4

Social protection

Company health insurance, disability insurance, supplementary retirement. Coverage quality can represent 1,000 to 3,000€/year additional value.

  • Health insurance: mandatory employer contribution min 50%
  • Executive disability insurance: often better than legal minimum
  • Collective pension plans in large companies
5

Other benefits

Works council budget/CSR, additional paid time off, extra holidays, stock options, warrants (startups), training, international mobility.

  • Warrants in startups: potentially highly valued
  • Additional paid time off: 8-12 days/year plus legal holidays
  • Training budget: 1,000 to 5,000€/year depending on company

Impact of location on salaries

Paris vs Regions: key figures 2026

Île-de-France offers salaries 18 to 25% higher than national average for same positions. However, cost of living (especially housing) is 30 to 50% higher. Cities with strong salary premium: Lyon (+8%), Bordeaux (+5%), Nantes (+4%), Toulouse (+3%). Best-paying sectors: fintech and finance (strong Paris premium), tech and startups (high variable in Île-de-France), consulting (uniform national scales). Since remote work boom, some Paris companies apply 'neutral' scales without geographic premium, reducing the gap.

Salary negotiation guide

Prepare your salary negotiation

  • Know your market value

    Use our simulator + 2-3 other sources (LinkedIn Salary, Glassdoor, industry surveys)

  • Define your negotiation range

    Optimistic target (high), realistic target (median), absolute minimum (non-negotiable)

  • Value the full package

    Don't negotiate just fixed salary: remote work, extra days off, training, bonus can compensate

  • Wait for employer proposal

    Don't state your expectations first. Let employer open negotiation

  • Justify with concrete data

    Quantified results, projects completed, rare skills — not 'I have expenses'

  • Negotiate after offer received

    Negotiation is legitimate AFTER a verbal offer, not during interviews

0/6 effectué(s)0%

FAQ salary simulator

How is the salary range calculated in the simulator?
Our simulator aggregates data from multiple complementary sources: annual compensation surveys from recruitment firms (Michael Page, Hays, Robert Half, Apec), declarative data from platforms (LinkedIn, Glassdoor, PayScale), INSEE data on salaries by sector and qualification, and our own database from recruitments supported by Aurelia. Data is updated quarterly and segmented by sector, region, company size and experience level.
Is the displayed range gross or net salary?
The simulator displays annual gross salaries by default, which is the standard reference in professional salary negotiations in France. You can switch to estimated net display via our integrated gross/net calculator, which applies 2026 contribution rates. Note: net salary depends on your personal situation (health insurance, disability insurance, specific contributions). The estimate provided is indicative based on a standard employee profile.
My current salary is below market. How do I approach a raise?
Start by documenting the gap with objective data (our simulator results + external sources). At your annual review, present: 1) the gap with market for position and experience, 2) your contributions and year results, 3) your raise request with a specific range. If your company refuses without valid reason, explore external market: a competing offer is often the best negotiation lever. Warning: leaving a job for less than 15% increase is rarely worthwhile short-term.
How do I negotiate salary for a first job with no experience?
For a first job, your main leverage is not experience but potential and differentiating strengths: specific training, personal projects, significant internships, rare skills (languages, emerging technologies). Document your concrete added value. Avoid positioning yourself below market thinking it's easier: it gives a bad impression. Target junior market median and negotiate on non-salary elements if fixed is constrained: training, remote work, accelerated review (6 months vs 12).
Are salary data available for overseas territories?
Yes, our simulator includes overseas territory data with regional specifics. Gross salaries overseas are often similar to mainland for executives, but increased by cost of living allowance (IVC) in Martinique, Guadeloupe and Reunion (between 20 and 40% depending on local agreements). In New Caledonia and French Polynesia, salary scales are different and governed by local law. Data is less detailed than mainland due to smaller market size.

Simulate your market salary 2026

Low/median/high range based on your position, sector, region and experience. Prepare your next negotiation.

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