FG III is the Contract Agent function group for administrative, drafting, accounting and technical tasks that require a post-secondary diploma or equivalent professional experience. It sits below FG IV and is a common entry point into the EU institutions for staff with a couple of years of relevant experience but not necessarily a full university degree. Basic monthly salary in FG III starts at €3,475.62 and reaches into the €6,000 range at the top grades and steps, before allowances and the correction coefficient. The listings below cover FG III vacancies across the Commission and the agencies.

What FG III covers and who qualifies

Function Group III is defined in the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants for administrative, drafting, accounting and other technical tasks. Eligibility typically means a post-secondary diploma or a secondary diploma plus around three years of relevant experience. You need EU nationality and two official EU languages. As with FG IV, most recruitment starts from the CAST Permanent database: you register, pass the reasoning and job-related competency tests for the FG III level and your profile, and recruiting services then search the database. Agencies also run their own FG III procedures. Contract Agents receive the same allowances and JSIS cover as officials on a lower grid. See /contract-types/contract-agent/ for detail.

Salary and progression

FG III basic salary starts at €3,475.62 per month (grade 8, step 1) and rises across grades 8 to 12 into roughly the €6,000 range at the top steps, with automatic step increases every two years. On top of basic salary you may receive the 16% expatriation allowance, household and dependent-child allowances, and the duty-station correction coefficient. Reclassification within FG III typically follows three to five years of seniority plus a positive appraisal cycle. Moving up to FG IV requires a new CAST selection at the higher function group, since function-group moves are not automatic. Our /guide/eu-salaries/ page details the gross-to-net calculation.

Project Officer

EACEA Brussels

[![Image 1: European Commission logo](https://www.eacea.ec.europa.eu/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/ec/images/logo/logo-ec--mute.svg)](https://commissio...

€3,476 - €3,932/month Deadline: 31 Dec 2026

Financial Officer

EACEA Brussels

[![Image 1: European Commission logo](https://www.eacea.ec.europa.eu/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/ec/images/logo/logo-ec--mute.svg)](https://commissio...

€3,476 - €3,932/month Deadline: 31 Dec 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is FG III in the EU institutions?
FG III is the third Contract Agent function group, covering administrative, drafting, accounting and technical tasks. It requires a post-secondary diploma or equivalent experience and sits between FG II and FG IV on the contract-agent salary grid.
How much does an FG III contract agent earn?
FG III basic salary starts at €3,475.62 per month at grade 8 step 1 and rises across grades 8 to 12 into roughly the €6,000 range at the top steps, before the expatriation allowance, family allowances and the duty-station correction coefficient.
Do I need a university degree for FG III?
No. FG III requires a post-secondary diploma, or a secondary diploma plus around three years of relevant professional experience. The full university degree requirement applies to FG IV and to the Administrator grades, not to FG III.
Can I move from FG III to FG IV?
Yes, but not automatically. Moving between function groups requires taking a new CAST selection at the higher function group, FG IV, which has its own reasoning and competency tests. Reclassification within FG III itself follows seniority and a positive appraisal.
Remove ads and unlock all features Go Premium