Kitchen assistant salary in France
Average monthly net salary in full-time equivalent in the French private sector, according to INSEE (occupation group “Aides de cuisine, apprentis de cuisine et employés polyvalents de la restauration”).
- Average net per month
- €1,652
- full-time equivalent, 2024
- Estimated monthly gross
- €2,087
- estimate with 2026 non-executive contributions
- Gap to the average
- -40%
- compared with all private-sector employees (€2,733 net)
- Compared with the SMIC
- 1.1 × 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 sex
| Women | €1,652 |
|---|---|
| Men | €1,652 |
By age
| Under 30 | €1,542 |
|---|---|
| 30 to 39 | €1,748 |
| 40 to 49 | €1,767 |
| 50 to 59 | €1,796 |
| 60 and over | €1,824 |
Working as a kitchen assistant in France
Search for "aide de cuisine", "commis de cuisine" or "plongeur aide de cuisine" when the role includes dishwashing. No diploma is required, though a CAP Cuisine or a CAP Production et service en restaurations (rapide, collective, cafétéria) opens the way to commis and cook positions. Employers range from restaurants and hotels to school, hospital and company canteens, where hours are often more regular. Seasonal contracts in ski resorts and on the coast are a common way in for newcomers. Restaurants usually apply the HCR collective agreement, with split shifts and weekend work. Basic French is enough to start, but you will need to understand instructions called out during service.
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 kitchen assistant?
According to INSEE, a kitchen assistant employed in the private sector earns on average €1,652 net per month in full-time equivalent (2024), about €2,087 gross based on our estimate with 2026 contributions.
Do women and men earn the same as a kitchen assistant?
According to INSEE (2024), the average full-time equivalent net salary is €1,652 for women and €1,652 for men in this occupation. The gap can come from the positions held, seniority or actual working time.
Does a kitchen assistant earn more than the minimum wage?
The average net salary for the occupation (€1,652, INSEE 2024) is 1.1 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.