Optician salary in France
Average monthly net salary in full-time equivalent in the French private sector, according to INSEE (occupation group “Opticiens lunetiers et audioprothésistes salariés”).
- Average net per month
- €2,530
- full-time equivalent, 2024
- Estimated monthly gross
- €3,196
- estimate with 2026 non-executive contributions
- Gap to the average
- -7%
- compared with all private-sector employees (€2,733 net)
- Compared with the SMIC
- 1.7 × 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 | €2,410 |
|---|---|
| Men | €2,774 |
By age
| Under 30 | €2,027 |
|---|---|
| 30 to 39 | €2,832 |
| 40 to 49 | €2,994 |
Working as an optician in France
Search for opticien or opticienne, opticien lunetier, opticien collaborateur, or opticien responsable de magasin. Optician is a regulated health profession in France: you need the BTS Opticien-lunetier or a recognised equivalent, and every store must have a qualified optician. Foreign qualifications must be recognised by the French authorities before you can practise. Opticians can perform sight tests and adapt recent prescriptions within limits set by law. Work includes handling reimbursement with mutuelles and the regulated '100% Santé' offer. Many jobs are in chains and franchises, with Saturday work.
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 an optician?
According to INSEE, an optician employed in the private sector earns on average €2,530 net per month in full-time equivalent (2024), about €3,196 gross based on our estimate with 2026 contributions.
Do women and men earn the same as an optician?
According to INSEE (2024), the average full-time equivalent net salary is €2,410 for women and €2,774 for men in this occupation. The gap can come from the positions held, seniority or actual working time.
Does an optician earn more than the minimum wage?
The average net salary for the occupation (€2,530, INSEE 2024) is 1.7 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.