Salary: civil servant or employee, who really earns the most?

This Thursday, INSEE unveils the remuneration differences between private and public, which depends heavily on the status of the worker.

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Are civil servants less well paid than private employees? This is a question of workers in France. In a study published on March 20, INSEE provides some answers. By relying data from 2021, the survey thus compares salaries between public and private sector. First observation: on average, public service agents receive an annual net salary income of 24,070 euros, against 22,040 euros in the private sector – a salary 9.3% higher.

This does not necessarily mean that the public service pays its workers better. This remuneration gap is explained above all by a greater stability in public employment. Civil servants “Thus know much fewer work interruptions during the year, between two employment contracts for example”underlines INSEE. In other words, since they work more days in the year, they have mechanically better income. However, when compared to equal work volume (that is to say full-time over the year), the report is reversed. The average net equivalent wages (ETP) is then 3.7% lower in the public Compared to the private sector (29,450 euros against 30,600 euros). A reversal of steam which “Performed in 2013”specifies the institute. Previously, the public service was always the most generous full -time.

The public service, more favorable to employees and workers

If we look at the figures more closely, the gap between public and private varies strongly depending on Professional category. Among executives, the private sector takes a clear advance. In 2021, a private sector perceived an average of 52,500 euros net per year in ETP, against 42,150 euros for a public manager. A difference of more than 20%or 10,000 euros per year! It is not surprising: in the private sector, wages are more individualized and the salary increases often faster. “For executives, (…) All levels of the distribution of wages in the private sector are higher than those of the public service”confirms INSEE.

But these are the employees and workers who rebuild the cards. These categories, often less well remunerated, are better paid in the public service. An employee of the public thus earns 23,480 euros per year in ETP, against 21,750 euros in the private time. And like THE public employees work more days in the year (fewer fixed -term contracts, fewer interruptions), their annual salary income (by integrating periods of inactivity) appears at 17,640 euros, against 13,500 euros in the private sector. Or 30.6% more! Ditto at The workers : a worker from the public service (like a technical agent or an army maintenance worker for example) receives 20,150 euros net per year, against 15,820 euros in the private sector. Result : In these low -skilled trades, work for the State or a local community reports more.

The private sector, kingdom of very high (and very low) wages

Note that these income differences are a lot more marked in the private. In 2021, one in two in private employees earned less than 2,050 euros net per month full -time, compared to 2,210 euros in the public. And if we look at the bottom of the scale, 27% of private employees received less than 1,650 euros net monthly, against only 18% in the public.

Conversely, the private concentrates most of the very high incomes : 13% of private employees exceed 3,650 euros net monthly, compared to 9% in the public. Better still (or worse, depending on the point of view): 0.9% of private employees earn more than 10,000 euros net per month, when they are only 0.2% in the public. By working in the private sector, you are therefore much more likely to have a very big salary, but also the risk of staying at the bottom of the scale.