Wages in the private sector: in 2018, the average net wage increased by 0.4% in constant euros

In 2018, an employee in the private sector earned on average 2,369 euros net a month per full-time equivalent. Given that prices accelerated, the average monthly net wage in constant euros slowed down in 2018: it increased by 0.4%, after +0.9% in 2017. The 2018 increase stood slightly below the average trend observed over the last two decades (+0.6% each year).

Half of the employees in the private sector earned less than 1,871 euros net a month per full-time equivalent. One employee out of ten earned less than 1,282 euros net, while one out of ten made more than 3,776 euros. As in 2017, wages increased slightly more among the better paid. Wage discrepancies thus rose a little again, in line with a trend that began in 2010.

Women earned on average 16.9% less than men per full-time equivalent. This gap narrowed by 0.3 point compared to the previous year and by 4.0 points over the last ten years.

The wages of the employees working on the same site from January 1st, 2017 to December 31st, 2018 (encompassing slightly more than half of the employees in the private sector) increased by 2.5% in constant euros. This increase is largely due to the seniority and career advancements of this group.