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Since 2005, the gross minimum wage per hour in France has been gradually increasing. In July 2005, the gross minimum wage per hour in France amounted to 8.03 euros. Twenty years later, the hourly minimum wage increased by almost four euros, reaching 12.02 euros in January 2026. In 2024, France had an average annual wage higher than countries like Spain and Italy, but lower than those in Germany or Belgium. 

Minimum wage is increasing

For years now, wages in France have been increasing progressively. In 2013, the gross minimum wage per month in France was 1,430.22 euros, compared to 1801.8 euros in 2024. Thus, the average annual wage in France has risen since the beginning of the 2000s, despite the 2008 financial crisis. 

The issue of purchasing power

In recent years, purchasing power has become one of the most worrying issues for households in France. In 2024, a large part of the French perceived their purchasing power as decreasing, while six years before it had become one of the main causes of the Yellow Vests protests in the country. Studies have shown that the purchasing power in the country reached its lowest level between 2010 and 2014. Household expenditure doubled since 1990, while 52.4 percent of French middle-income households stated having difficulties making ends meet in 2017.