How EU Salaries Work
EU institution salaries are set by the EU Staff Regulations and are the same across all EU institutions and agencies. Your salary is determined by your grade (AD5, AST3, FG IV, etc.) and step within that grade. Each grade has five steps, with automatic advancement to the next step every two years of service.
The salary figures below represent the basic monthly salary in Brussels (the reference location). Actual take-home pay includes additional allowances and is adjusted by country correction coefficients for staff posted outside Brussels.
EU staff salaries are exempt from national income tax. Instead, a progressive EU community tax (8-45%) is deducted at source. Social security contributions and pension contributions are also deducted. The effective tax rate is generally lower than in most EU member states, making EU salaries particularly competitive.
Administrator (AD) Salary Table
AD grades cover policy officers, lawyers, economists, scientists, managers, and directors. AD5 is the entry level for university graduates.
| Grade | Monthly Min (Step 1) | Monthly Max (Step 5) | Open Positions |
|---|---|---|---|
| AD5 | €4,917 | €5,565 | 10 |
| AD6 | €5,565 | €6,137 | 7 |
| AD7 | €6,137 | €6,767 | 12 |
| AD8 | €6,767 | €7,461 | 2 |
| AD9 | €7,461 | €8,225 | 1 |
| AD10 | €8,225 | €9,066 | 6 |
| AD12 | €9,993 | €11,015 | 2 |
Assistant (AST) Salary Table
AST grades cover administrative, technical, and financial support roles.
| Grade | Monthly Min (Step 1) | Monthly Max (Step 5) | Open Positions |
|---|---|---|---|
| AST1 | €2,823 | €3,196 | 5 |
| AST3 | €3,523 | €3,883 | 5 |
| AST4 | €3,883 | €4,280 | 2 |
Contract Agent (FG) Salary Table
Function Groups cover contract agent positions, from manual tasks (FG I) to advisory and equivalent administrator tasks (FG IV).
| Grade | Monthly Min (Step 1) | Monthly Max (Step 5) | Open Positions |
|---|
Allowances and Benefits
On top of the basic salary, EU staff receive several allowances that can significantly increase total compensation:
- Expatriation allowance (16% of base salary): Paid to staff working outside their home country. This applies to the majority of EU employees and is the single largest supplement.
- Household allowance (~2% of base salary): For staff with a spouse or registered partner.
- Dependent child allowance: A fixed monthly amount per dependent child, plus education allowances covering school fees up to a ceiling.
- Installation allowance: A one-time payment upon taking up duties (typically one or two months' basic salary).
- Annual travel allowance: Contribution towards travel costs to your home country, based on distance.
Example: AD5 Step 1 Take-Home Estimate
For an AD5 Step 1 official living in Brussels with expatriation allowance:
- Basic salary: ~EUR 4,917/month
- Expatriation allowance (16%): ~EUR 787
- Gross total: ~EUR 5,704
- Less EU tax and social contributions (~20-25%): ~EUR 1,140-1,425
- Estimated net: ~EUR 4,280-4,560/month
This is a simplified estimate. Actual amounts depend on family situation, step, and specific deductions.
Country Correction Coefficients
Salaries for staff posted outside Brussels are adjusted using country correction coefficients to maintain equivalent purchasing power. Brussels is the reference point at 100%.
| Location | Approximate Coefficient | Effect on Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Bulgaria (Sofia) | ~55% | Salary reduced, but much lower cost of living |
| Poland (Warsaw) | ~70% | Lower salary, lower cost of living |
| Czech Republic (Prague) | ~80% | Slightly lower salary |
| Malta (Valletta) | ~85% | Slightly lower salary |
| Belgium (Brussels) | 100% | Reference point |
| Luxembourg | ~100% | Similar to Brussels |
| France (Paris) | ~115% | Salary increased |
| Netherlands (The Hague) | ~110% | Salary increased |
| Sweden (Stockholm) | ~120% | Salary increased |
| Denmark (Copenhagen) | ~130% | Salary increased |
Coefficients are updated annually by the Council based on Eurostat data. The coefficient adjusts the basic salary but not allowances (expatriation allowance is always calculated on the Brussels basic salary).
Pension
EU staff contribute approximately 10.1% of their basic salary to the EU pension scheme. After 10 years of service, staff are entitled to an EU pension payable from age 66 (or earlier with reduced benefits from age 58). The maximum pension is 70% of the final basic salary, achieved after approximately 35 years of service. The accrual rate is 1.8% per year of service.
Pension rights are fully portable within the EU system. Staff who leave before qualifying for a pension can transfer their contributions to a national or private pension scheme.