The average annual income of an official is higher than that of an employee in the private sector, but this apparent superiority is reversed as soon as we reason full of equivalent. Behind the figures, the reality of wage gaps between public and private is much more nuanced than it seems.
In France, the question of knowing who earn the most between civil servants and private workers Regularly returns to the public debate. At first glance, public service agents seem to be advantaged. But what about when compared to equal work? The study INSEE First n ° 2043published in March 2025, sheds precious light on this subject, based on the data of the year 2021. And the conclusions are less decided than one might think. Depending on the calculation method, the results change throughout. Annual income, working time, status, socio -professional category … plunged into real differences between public and private.
Is the average annual income higher in the public service?
Yes, but it’s not that simple. In 2021, The average annual annual employee income is € 24,070, compared to € 22,040 for a private employeeor a gap of 9.3 % in favor of the public. This figure measures all the income received in the year, taking into account periods of inactivity. Why such a gap? Because civil servants know fewer contract interruptionsespecially thanks to the stability of their job. Even if public officials are slightly more often part -time, They work more days in the year. Result: a higher total income. But this observation is reversed when compared to equal work volume, in other words, to Full time in a full year. In this case, The average full -time equivalent net salary (EQTP) is € 29,450 in the public, against € 30,600 in the private sector. The gap is then -3.7 % against the publica reversal that has taken place since 2013, according to INSEE.
Are executives better paid in the private sector?
Absolutely. The gap is even very significant. In 2021, a private manner earned € 52,500 net per year in EQTP, compared to € 42,150 in the publicor a differential 19,7 %. The explanation lies in the very nature of remuneration. In the private sector, wages are more individualized And evolve faster thanks to individual promotions or negotiations. INSEE emphasizes that “All levels of wage distribution in the private sector are higher than those of the public service”. The private sector more rewards performance, seniority or even positions of responsibility. On the other hand, The public works on more rigid index gridswith often less dynamic revaluations. Other difference: The variable share of remuneration (bonuses, bonuses) is much more common in the private sector. So, for a frameworkworking in the private sector is generally Synonymous of better wage prospectseven if this can be accompanied by greater career instability.
Do employees and workers better earn their life in the public?
Yes, and in a marked way. INSEE study shows that Public employees earn € 23,480 net per year in EQTP, against € 21,750 in the private sectoreither 8 % more. And if we take into account the frequent contract interruptions in the private sector, the total income difference climbs to 30.6 % in favor of the public. Same observation for workers. In the public service, a worker receives € 23,320, against € 22,790 in the private sectorwith a higher work volume of 24.5 %. Total salary income is therefore 27.4 % higher in the public. These differences are explained by the continuity of missions, contractual stability (fewer fixed -term contracts) and a more homogeneous valuation of low wages. Unlike the private sector, where wages are often close to the minimum wage and vary strongly depending on the sectors, the public provides more linear remuneration, especially in execution professions such as technical agents, garbage collectors or administrative agents.
Does the private sector allow you to access very high wages?
Yes, undoubtedly. The private sector concentrates the extremes: both more very low et More high wages. In 2021, 13 % of private employees exceed € 3,650 net monthlyagainst 9 % in the public. Et 0.9 % of private employees earn more than € 10,000 per monthagainst 0.2 % in the public service. Conversely, 27 % of private employees receive less than € 1,650 net per monthagainst 18 % in the public. This dispersion reflects a stronger inequality in the remuneration of the private sector, but also more opportunities for exceptional gains, especially in commercial functions, management positions or very competitive sectors (Finance, Tech, Industry). In the public, the high wages are capped by the grids and the clues, even for high -level frames. Result: the public service guarantees a certain salary equity, but offers little access to very high remuneration.
Sources
This article was written with the help of an artificial intelligence, reread, corrected and supplemented by the journalists of the editorial staff
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