Carpenter salary in France
Average monthly net salary in full-time equivalent in the French private sector, according to INSEE (occupation group “Charpentiers en bois qualifiés”).
- Average net per month
- €2,107
- full-time equivalent, 2024
- Estimated monthly gross
- €2,662
- estimate with 2026 non-executive contributions
- Gap to the average
- -23%
- compared with all private-sector employees (€2,733 net)
- Compared with the SMIC
- 1.4 × the net SMIC
- 2026 net monthly minimum wage: €1,478
Source: INSEE, all-employees database 2024 (average net private-sector pay, full-time equivalent) · Data downloaded on 18 October 2026
Source: French minimum wage (SMIC) as of 1 June 2026 · Data downloaded on 18 October 2026
By age
| Under 30 | €1,925 |
|---|---|
| 30 to 39 | €2,147 |
| 40 to 49 | €2,192 |
| 50 to 59 | €2,252 |
| 60 and over | €2,248 |
Working as a carpenter in France
Working as an employed charpentier is not regulated in France, but employers expect a French qualification or equivalent experience: the CAP charpentier bois, the BP charpentier bois, the Bac pro technicien constructeur bois the Titre professionnel charpentier bois, or for heritage work the Bac pro interventions sur le patrimoine bâti (option charpente). Training with the Compagnons du Devoir carries real weight. Be careful with titles: search « charpentier », « charpentier bois », « charpentier poseur » or « charpentier ossature bois » for structural work, and « menuisier » only if you want joinery. Work at height and lifting require specific safety training, and some roles ask for a CACES for telehandlers.
How to read these figures
The salary shown is an average, not a median: a few high salaries pull the average up. It is net pay before income tax, converted to full time.
The gross figure is an estimate: it applies 2026 employee contributions for a private-sector worker to the net salary. It leaves out bonuses, overtime and health insurance.
Salaries are from 2024 while the minimum wage is the 2026 one, so the comparison gives an order of magnitude.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary of a carpenter?
According to INSEE, a carpenter employed in the private sector earns on average €2,107 net per month in full-time equivalent (2024), about €2,662 gross based on our estimate with 2026 contributions.
Does a carpenter earn more than the minimum wage?
The average net salary for the occupation (€2,107, INSEE 2024) is 1.4 times the 2026 net monthly minimum wage (€1,478). Early in a career, pay is often closer to the minimum wage than to this average.