Sheet metal worker salary in France
Average monthly net salary in full-time equivalent in the French private sector, according to INSEE (occupation group “Chaudronniers-tôliers industriels, opérateurs qualifiés du travail en forge, conducteurs qualifiés d'équipement de formage, traceurs qualifiés”).
- Average net per month
- €2,351
- full-time equivalent, 2024
- Estimated monthly gross
- €2,970
- estimate with 2026 non-executive contributions
- Gap to the average
- -14%
- compared with all private-sector employees (€2,733 net)
- Compared with the SMIC
- 1.6 × 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 | €2,071 |
|---|---|
| Men | €2,360 |
By age
| Under 30 | €2,003 |
|---|---|
| 30 to 39 | €2,363 |
| 40 to 49 | €2,471 |
| 50 to 59 | €2,493 |
| 60 and over | €2,613 |
Working as a sheet metal worker in France
The job is not regulated, but employers look for a CAP réalisations industrielles en chaudronnerie ou soudage, a Bac pro Technicien en chaudronnerie industrielle, a BTS Conception et réalisation en chaudronnerie industrielle or the Titre professionnel technicien en chaudronnerie. Welding qualifications under ISO 9606 are often required, and some sectors such as nuclear or aeronautics have their own training. Search « chaudronnier », « chaudronnier soudeur », « tôlier industriel », « chaudronnier tuyauteur » or « opérateur en chaudronnerie ». Avoid « tôlier » alone, which can point to car body repair.
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.
Your job search, on autopilot
Start my sheet metal worker job scan
JobFast searches the major job boards for listings that fit you, scores each one out of 10 and prepares a tailored CV and cover letter. You review, you approve.
No credit card · No account to get started
Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary of a sheet metal worker?
According to INSEE, a sheet metal worker employed in the private sector earns on average €2,351 net per month in full-time equivalent (2024), about €2,970 gross based on our estimate with 2026 contributions.
Do women and men earn the same as a sheet metal worker?
According to INSEE (2024), the average full-time equivalent net salary is €2,071 for women and €2,360 for men in this occupation. The gap can come from the positions held, seniority or actual working time.
Does a sheet metal worker earn more than the minimum wage?
The average net salary for the occupation (€2,351, INSEE 2024) is 1.6 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.