Work-study salary: how much do you earn in 2025?
Salaries under apprenticeship contracts or professionalisation contracts for work-study students are strictly regulated. But the rules on pay are constantly changing, and depend in particular on increases in the SMIC (the French minimum wage). For example, new measures have been in place since 1 March 2025. So what salary can you expect from a work-study placement in 2025? Let us take the time to make things clearer.
What does a work-study salary depend on?
When you are looking for a work-study placement, the question of pay comes up very quickly. And that is perfectly normal: being a work-study student means both learning a profession and holding a real job in a company. So how much do you actually earn in 2025? The answer depends on several factors: your age, your level of study, the year of your contract... and above all the type of contract you sign.
Apprenticeship contract vs professionalisation contract
The apprenticeship contract is linked to initial training. It is aimed mainly at young people aged 16 to 29 (or older in certain special cases) and leads to a state-recognised degree or a vocational qualification. The work-study student's pay is set according to a precise scale, which depends on their age and the year of the contract (1st, 2nd or 3rd year).
The professionalisation contract, for its part, falls more within continuing education. It aims at the acquisition of specific professional skills, and is aimed at young people aged 16 to 25 or at jobseekers aged 26 and over.
Work-study pay under a professionalisation contract also varies according to age and level of qualification. That is why, in the end, the pay scale is slightly different, as we will see below.
Pay scales applicable in 2025
In 2025, work-study pay scales remain regulated by law, with rates set as a percentage of the SMIC. In 2025, the SMIC is €1,801.80 gross per month and €1,426.30 net per month (for 35 hours a week). The pay scales take two essential criteria into account: the work-study student's age and their level of study or progress through the contract. But be careful: the rules differ depending on whether you are on an apprenticeship contract or a professionalisation contract.
Salary under an apprenticeship contract
The apprenticeship contract is aimed mainly at young people aged 16 to 29. It leads to a state-recognised degree or a vocational qualification. Pay depends on the apprentice's age and the year of the contract. The older you are and the further you progress over time, the more your salary increases.
For example, an apprentice under 18 in their first year will receive roughly 27% of the SMIC, or €486 gross per month. Pay will be 39% of the SMIC in the second year, or €702 gross per month. This rate rises to 55% in the third year, or a little over €990 gross. A student aged 18 to 20 will receive between 43% and 67% of the SMIC, and a student aged 21 to 25 will receive between 53% and 78% of the SMIC, depending on the year of training. And from the age of 26, the apprentice is paid 100% of the SMIC, whatever their level of study or progress through the contract. These amounts may be increased if a collective agreement provides for it, particularly in certain sectors of activity.
Salary under a professionalisation contract
The professionalisation contract works on a different logic. It is aimed at young people aged between 16 and 25, but also at jobseekers aged 26 and over. Here, pay depends both on the age of the person concerned and on their level of qualification when they enter the contract.
A work-study student under 21 who does not hold a vocational baccalaureate will receive roughly 55% of the SMIC, or €991 gross per month. This figure rises to 65% if the student holds a vocational baccalaureate or an equivalent qualification, reaching more than €1,000 gross. Those aged 21 to 25 can expect between 70% and 80% of the SMIC, depending on their level of qualification, while those aged over 26 receive pay at least equivalent to the SMIC, or even more if the collective agreement applicable to the company provides for higher pay.
In all cases, these scales represent legal minimums: some companies may offer more, depending on the role, the sector or their human resources policy. It is therefore always worth asking at the interview, while remaining realistic and consistent with your level of experience.
Increases, special cases and changes
Although work-study pay is governed by a national scale, some situations entitle you to increases or to specific conditions. It is therefore important to know about these special cases to avoid unpleasant surprises... or missing out on a legitimate pay rise.
First of all, a salary increase applies when the work-study student renews their contract with the same company for a course at an equivalent level. In this case, pay cannot be lower than that received under the previous contract, even if the student changes year or cycle. Likewise, if you repeat a year under an apprenticeship contract, your salary is maintained at its original level and cannot revert to that of a first-year repeater.
Another frequent case: work-study students over 18 who already have previous work-study experience can sometimes negotiate pay above the legal minimum. This increase then depends on the goodwill of the employer or on the collective agreement in force in the sector of activity.
Some companies also apply internal pay scales that are more generous than the legal minimums. This is particularly the case in large groups and in the luxury, banking and IT sectors, where competition for good candidates is stronger.
In addition, you should be aware that the SMIC is revalued every year, in line with inflation. This has a direct impact on work-study pay, since the percentages are always calculated in relation to the SMIC in force. In 2025, a slight increase was anticipated, which automatically leads to a rise in work-study salaries, even if it is fairly small.
Finally, some profiles benefit from wider access to work-study, with specific conditions. This is the case for people with disabilities, elite athletes and young company founders. In these special cases, age limits can be relaxed, and additional support is sometimes offered by the State or the Regions.
Additional benefits for work-study students
Beyond the salary paid each month, being a work-study student in 2025 entitles you to several other benefits that can make a real difference day to day. Because we must not forget that a work-study student is both a student and an employee, and that this hybrid status opens up specific rights.
The first benefit, and probably the main one, is that tuition fees are free. In the vast majority of cases, the company bears the cost of the training, through the skills operator (OPCO) to which it contributes. This is one of the main advantages of work-study for students.
On the company side, you also receive paid leave, in the same way as any employee. You therefore accrue days off (2.5 working days per month), which you can take according to the internal rules of the organisation that hosts you. You are also entitled to full social protection: health insurance, daily allowances in the event of sick leave, retirement pension and so on.
Another benefit that is often appreciated: partial reimbursement of commuting costs. Like any employee, you can have 50% of your public transport pass covered. Some companies go even further, reimbursing the full amount or offering housing or mobility assistance.
Finally, some work-study students may receive additional bonuses or gratuities, linked to performance, attendance or simply the company's HR policy. These bonuses are not compulsory, but may be offered at the end of the contract or when specific objectives are met.
Focus on the sales sector and careers in business development
The sales sector remains one of the pillars of the economy. It brings together a wide variety of careers, all centred on one fundamental objective: growing a company's business. Whether by prospecting for new clients, developing strategic partnerships or running sales campaigns, business development professionals are at the heart of growth challenges.
Companies are always looking for agile, responsive profiles, able to analyse needs and propose concrete solutions. Today's business developer must of course master sales techniques, but also know how to use data, understand digital levers and anticipate client expectations.
Work-study is an excellent way into this sector. It allows you to acquire skills directly linked to what recruiters expect, while developing the attitude and reflexes of a real field professional. Many companies recruit work-study students for roles such as account executive, sales assistant, area manager or junior business developer.
EDC Paris Business School offers a work-study Master Business Development and Commercial Management, specially designed to train the future leaders of commercial development. Taken over two years, this programme combines specialist courses with practical experience in a company to prepare you for roles in management, negotiation and strategic development. The curriculum includes: sales strategy, sales techniques, CRM, team management, digitalisation of the client relationship, and much more. Thanks to an alternating rhythm (3 weeks in the company / 1 week at the School), you develop your skills while applying them directly in the field.
We also offer EDC's Master in Management, a high-level general programme, with work-study specialisations in the final year. It allows you to build a complete path, combining academic excellence, an international outlook and progressive professionalisation. The Master Digital Marketing, for its part, is aimed at students drawn to the challenges of digital marketing. It trains experts able to steer a brand's digital strategy, from client acquisition to retention, including social media, SEO and data.
Work-study is not worthwhile for the salary alone: it is first and foremost a first real experience and a springboard to the future. Whether you are aiming for digital marketing, business development or a more general path, one thing is certain: you have everything to gain. So arm yourself with a good CV and a good dose of motivation, read all our other articles on the subject carefully... and go for it!