France Italy

Updated 2026-03-02

France

Minimum Wage

€12.02 /hr

$13.68 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

€3,500 /mo

Italy

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

€2,600 /mo

Avg. salary: +35% France vs Italy

Unlike Italy, which has no statutory minimum wage, France mandates a wage floor of $14/hr. Average salaries are higher in France at $3,984/mo compared to $2,960/mo in Italy.

France has higher GDP per capita ($62,557 vs $62,014). France's unemployment rate is 7.5% compared to Italy's 6.4%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between France and Italy
Metric	France	Italy	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	€12.02 $13.68	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	€1,823.03 $2,075.16	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	€21,876.36 $24,901.95	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	€3,500 /mo $3,984.06	€2,600 /mo $2,959.59	+34.6%
Avg. net salary /mo	€2,700 /mo $3,073.42	€1,850 /mo $2,105.86	+45.9%
Median individual income /yr	€24,000 /yr $27,319.29	€22,500 /yr $25,611.84	+6.7%

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means France is higher.

Work Week

France: 35 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.25x pay

Legal workweek is 35 hours. Overtime: 25% premium for hours 36-43, 50% premium beyond 43 hours. Annual maximum 220 overtime hours unless collective agreement states otherwise.
Italy: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Standard workweek is 40 hours (Legislative Decree 66/2003). Maximum average weekly hours including overtime is 48 hours over a 4-month reference period, per EU Working Time Directive. Overtime compensation is regulated by collective agreements, typically 15-30% surcharge depending on hours and sector.

What This Means for Workers

Standard work weeks differ: France mandates 35 hours while Italy mandates 40 hours.

See this comparison from Italy's perspective: Italy vs France

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in France or Italy?

In France, the minimum wage is €12.02/hr ($13.68 USD). In Italy, it is no statutory minimum wage.

How much more does the average worker earn in France compared to Italy?

The average gross salary in France is €3,500/mo ($3,984.06 USD), compared to €2,600/mo ($2,959.59 USD) in Italy. In USD terms, workers in France earn approximately 35% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between France and Italy is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in France earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Italy.

How do work hours compare between France and Italy?

Italy has a longer standard work week at 40 hours, compared to 35 hours in France. Workers in France work 35 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in France working fewer hours may have comparable or better effective hourly earnings depending on the wage levels of each country. Total annual compensation depends on both the wage rate and the number of hours required.

What is the cost of living difference between France and Italy?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. France has the higher GDP per capita at $62,557, which is 1.0x that of Italy at $62,014. From France's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a higher economic level. A higher GDP per capita generally correlates with higher wages, higher consumer prices, and greater availability of goods and services. Workers moving between these two countries should expect significant differences in rent, food, and transportation costs.