# Software engineer salaries in France: Paris, Lyon and Toulouse (2026)

> According to Apec's 2025 study, the median pay for software development roles in France is €50,000 gross a year, and 80% of people in these roles earn between €38,000 and €74,000. In Île-de-France (Paris and its region) the median is €55,000, against €46,000 in the other regions.

Source: France Dev Jobs, https://francedevjobs.com/guides/software-engineer-salaries-france
Category: Salaries. Last updated: 2026-09-25.

How much does a software engineer earn in France? This guide uses two kinds of data. The first is **Apec**, the French body that supports and surveys managerial and professional staff (*cadres*), whose 2025 salary study is the most detailed public source for tech roles. The second is **our own job data**: salary ranges that employers post in English-speaking job ads on this board.

**Work out your own figure:** the [salary after tax calculator](https://francedevjobs.com/salary-after-tax) shows your take-home pay for any salary in France, under the 2026 rules.

We don't estimate or guess salaries. Every figure below comes from a named source.

## The short answer

- Apec's median pay for **software development roles** is **€50,000 gross a year** (fixed pay plus variable). 80% of people in these roles earn between **€38,000 and €74,000**.
- In **Île-de-France** (Paris and its region) the median for development roles is **€55,000**, against **€46,000** in the other regions.
- Pay rises with age and experience: the median is **€44,000 under 35** and **€57,000 over 45**.
- Security, big data and IT management roles have higher medians than general development.

## Salaries by role (Apec 2025)

Apec's study *Les rémunérations des cadres dans 111 familles de métiers* (December 2025) gives annual **gross** pay, **fixed plus variable** (bonuses and performance pay, but not profit-sharing). It covers *cadres* in the private sector and combines Apec's surveys from 2021 to 2025. About 26,000 *cadres* were surveyed in 2025 ([Apec, 2025 edition](https://corporate.apec.fr/files/live/sites/corporate/files/Nos%20etudes/PDF/Les%20remunerations%20des%20cadres%20dans%20111%20familles%20de%20metiers%202025.pdf)).

| Apec job family | Lowest 10% earn less than | Median | Top 10% earn more than |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software development (*développement informatique*) | €38,000 | €50,000 | €74,000 |
| Networks and telecoms | €38,000 | €51,000 | €76,000 |
| Big data | €40,000 | €54,000 | €98,000 |
| IT project management | €41,000 | €57,000 | €79,000 |
| IT production and maintenance (infrastructure, operations) | €37,000 | €58,000 | €99,000 |
| IT security | €43,000 | €60,000 | €99,000 |
| IT management (*direction informatique*) | €49,000 | €77,000 | €130,000 |
| All *cadres*, all fields | €38,000 | €55,000 | €95,000 |

The software development family includes Apec's "developer", "development architect" and "IT studies and development engineer" job profiles.

## Paris and the regions

Apec splits each job family between **Île-de-France** and **other regions**. It doesn't publish separate figures for Lyon, Toulouse or other cities.

| Job family | Île-de-France median | Other regions median |
|---|---|---|
| Software development | €55,000 | €46,000 |
| Big data | €58,000 | €48,000 |
| IT security | €63,000 | €57,000 |
| IT management | €91,000 | €65,000 |

For software development, 80% of people in Île-de-France earn between €43,000 and €77,000. In the other regions the range is €36,000 to €67,000 ([Apec](https://corporate.apec.fr/files/live/sites/corporate/files/Nos%20etudes/PDF/Les%20remunerations%20des%20cadres%20dans%20111%20familles%20de%20metiers%202025.pdf)).

For Lyon, Toulouse and other cities, the best current guide is the salary ranges in real job ads. See our own data below, and the [Lyon](https://francedevjobs.com/jobs/in/lyon) and [Toulouse](https://francedevjobs.com/jobs/in/toulouse) job pages.

## Salaries by age

For software development roles, Apec gives these medians by age:

| Age | Lowest 10% | Median | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | €36,000 | €44,000 | €60,000 |
| 35 to 45 | €41,000 | €52,000 | €74,000 |
| Over 45 | €42,000 | €57,000 | €85,000 |

Managing a team also makes a difference. Development *cadres* who manage people have a median of €58,000, against €49,000 for those who don't.

## Salaries in English-speaking jobs on our board

The table below is generated from jobs on this board where the employer posted a salary. It only uses salaries stated by employers; we never estimate. It updates every time the site is deployed.

_This table is generated automatically from salary ranges posted by employers in active jobs on this board. It updates on every deploy._

Only some employers publish a salary range, so treat these figures as a sample, not a survey. For the latest jobs with a posted salary, browse the [Paris](https://francedevjobs.com/jobs/in/paris), [Lyon](https://francedevjobs.com/jobs/in/lyon) and [Toulouse](https://francedevjobs.com/jobs/in/toulouse) pages, or search by technology, such as [Python](https://francedevjobs.com/jobs/tech/python), [Java](https://francedevjobs.com/jobs/tech/java) or [TypeScript](https://francedevjobs.com/jobs/tech/typescript).

## How to read a French salary

- **Salaries are quoted gross per year** (*brut annuel*). Social contributions and income tax come off before you are paid. The official [URSSAF simulator](https://mon-entreprise.urssaf.fr/) converts gross to net. Our [tax basics guide](https://francedevjobs.com/guides/tax-basics-france-tech-workers) explains the deductions.
- **Offers often split fixed and variable pay.** Apec's figures include variable pay. Only about a third (34%) of development *cadres* had a variable part, with a median of €3,000.
- **Some pay is not in the salary.** By law, you get 5 weeks of paid holiday a year ([Service-Public](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2258)). Your employer pays at least half of your company health cover ([Service-Public](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F20739)) and half of your public transport pass ([Service-Public](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F19846)). Profit-sharing, meal vouchers and equity (such as BSPCE in startups) vary by company.

## Salary and your work permit

If you need a work permit, your salary decides which Talent route you can use ([Service-Public](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F16922)):

- **Talent – qualified employee** and **Talent – employee of an innovative company**: at least **€39,582** gross a year.
- **Talent – EU Blue Card**: at least **€59,373** gross a year.

Apec's median for development roles in Île-de-France (€55,000) is above the first threshold and below the Blue Card threshold. See our [French Tech Visa and Talent permit guide](https://francedevjobs.com/guides/french-tech-visa-talent-permit) for the other conditions.

## Limits of this data

- Apec covers **salaried *cadres* in the private sector**. Most software engineers in France have *cadre* status, but the data doesn't cover freelancers or public-sector jobs.
- The figures combine surveys from 2021 to 2025, adjusted for changes in pay. They describe the market as a whole, not English-speaking jobs in particular.
- Big international tech companies and well-funded startups may pay above these ranges. Many don't publish salaries, so no public source measures them reliably.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the average software engineer salary in Paris?

Apec's median for software development roles in Île-de-France, which includes Paris, is €55,000 gross a year, and 80% earn between €43,000 and €77,000. Big international tech companies and well-funded startups may pay above these ranges, but many don't publish salaries. Compare offers with the ranges employers post on our [Paris page](https://francedevjobs.com/jobs/in/paris).

### How much do software engineers earn in Lyon or Toulouse?

Apec doesn't publish figures for individual cities outside Paris. For development roles in the regions other than Île-de-France, its median is €46,000 gross a year, and 80% earn between €36,000 and €67,000. For [Lyon](https://francedevjobs.com/jobs/in/lyon) and [Toulouse](https://francedevjobs.com/jobs/in/toulouse), the best current guide is the salary ranges employers post in real job ads.

### How much does a junior developer earn in France?

The closest official figure is Apec's median for software development roles among people under 35: €44,000 gross a year. The lowest 10% of that group earn less than €36,000 and the top 10% more than €60,000. Pay rises with age and experience, reaching a median of €57,000 for people over 45.

### Are French salaries quoted gross or net?

Gross. French salaries are quoted gross per year (*brut annuel*), and social contributions and income tax come off before you are paid. Offers often split fixed and variable pay too. To see your take-home pay, use the official URSSAF simulator, and read our [tax basics guide](https://francedevjobs.com/guides/tax-basics-france-tech-workers) for the deductions.

### Is a typical developer salary enough for an EU Blue Card in France?

Often not. The EU Blue Card needs at least €59,373 gross a year, which is above Apec's €55,000 median for development roles in Île-de-France. The Talent qualified employee and innovative company routes need at least €39,582, which that median clears. Our [Talent permit guide](https://francedevjobs.com/guides/french-tech-visa-talent-permit) explains the other conditions.

### What benefits come on top of a French salary?

By law you get 5 weeks of paid holiday a year, and your employer pays at least half of your company health cover and half of your public transport pass. Profit-sharing, meal vouchers and equity, such as BSPCE in startups, vary by company, so ask about them when you compare offers.

## Related guides and jobs

- [Cost of living in Paris for tech workers](https://francedevjobs.com/guides/cost-of-living-paris-tech-workers)
- [Tax basics for tech workers in France](https://francedevjobs.com/guides/tax-basics-france-tech-workers)
- [Companies in France that hire English speakers](https://francedevjobs.com/guides/companies-hiring-english-speakers-france)
- Browse [all jobs](https://francedevjobs.com/jobs) and [visa sponsorship jobs](https://francedevjobs.com/visa-sponsorship-jobs)

*Apec figures are from the 2025 edition of its study, published in December 2025. We check for a new edition each quarter.*

## Sources

- https://corporate.apec.fr/files/live/sites/corporate/files/Nos%20etudes/PDF/Les%20remunerations%20des%20cadres%20dans%20111%20familles%20de%20metiers%202025.pdf
- https://corporate.apec.fr/home/nos-etudes/toutes-nos-etudes/les-remunerations-des-cadres-dans-111-familles-de-metiers-edition-2025.html
- https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F16922
- https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2258
- https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F20739
- https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F19846
- https://mon-entreprise.urssaf.fr/