A Function Group is the grading system used for Contract Agents in the EU institutions. There are four function groups (FG I, FG II, FG III and FG IV), each tied to a level of qualification, a salary band, and the type of tasks a contract agent can be asked to perform.
FG I covers manual and administrative support tasks and requires either compulsory education plus relevant experience or a vocational diploma. FG II covers clerical and secretarial work and requires a post-secondary diploma or equivalent professional experience. FG III covers executive tasks such as basic financial management, project support, IT administration and translation revision, and requires a post-secondary diploma of at least two years. FG IV covers administrative, advisory, linguistic and equivalent technical tasks broadly comparable to AD-grade officials' work, and requires a 3-year university degree. Within each function group there are grades (for example FG IV runs from grade 13 to grade 18), and within each grade there are seven steps for FG II to FG IV and five for FG I. Salary increases happen automatically through step progression every two years; grade promotion within a function group is rarer for contract agents than for officials. Function Group salaries in 2026 range from around EUR 2,400 at FG I step 1 to over EUR 7,500 at FG IV step 7 before allowances and country correction coefficients.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between FG III and FG IV?
- FG III is for executive tasks requiring a post-secondary diploma of at least 2 years and pays around EUR 3,200-5,400 at the basic step. FG IV is for administrative and advisory tasks requiring a 3-year university degree and pays around EUR 3,800-7,500 at the basic step, broadly comparable to junior AD official roles.
- How are Function Group salaries adjusted for cost of living?
- A correction coefficient is applied to the basic salary depending on the duty station. Brussels is the reference (coefficient 100). Cities with higher cost of living receive a coefficient above 100, lower-cost cities below 100. The coefficient is updated annually by the Council.