Last verified: October 2026 — Source: Service-Public.fr
The SMIC (Salaire Minimum Interprofessionnel de Croissance) is the legal minimum wage in France. If you work as an employee on French territory, your employer cannot pay you less than this amount per hour worked. This guide explains how much it is in 2026, how to calculate gross to net, and when it is reviewed.
SMIC in 2026: current figures (since 1 June)
The SMIC was revised twice in 2026. The figure in effect since 1 June 2026 is:
| Item | Gross | Net (approximate) |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | €12.31 | ~€9.74 |
| Monthly (35 h/week) | €1,867.02 | ~€1,477.93 |
| Annual | ~€22,404 | ~€17,735 |
Between January and May 2026 the SMIC was €1,823.03 gross per month (€12.02/hour). The June increase amounted to €43.99 gross per month, i.e. a 2.41% rise.
Why are there two different amounts in 2026?
The SMIC is automatically revalued every 1 January, based on inflation and wage trends. In addition, the government can apply an extra increase during the year if inflation exceeds certain thresholds. In 2026 both happened:
- 1 January 2026: +1.18% → €12.02/hour (€1,823.03/month gross).
- 1 June 2026: +2.41% → €12.31/hour (€1,867.02/month gross).
How the monthly SMIC is calculated
The legal working week in France is 35 hours. The monthly salary is calculated using the official formula:
Monthly SMIC = hourly SMIC × 151.67 hours
The 151.67 hours represent the monthly average of a 35-hour week: (35 × 52) ÷ 12 = 151.67. With the current SMIC: €12.31 × 151.67 = €1,867.02.
Gross vs. net SMIC: what’s the difference
The gross salary is what your employer pays. The net salary is what you receive in your bank account, after deducting the employee’s social contributions (approximately 21–22% of gross).
Important: the net amount shown on your payslip (net à payer avant impôt sur le revenu) does not yet include income tax withholding (prélèvement à la source). Depending on your tax situation, your actual take-home pay will be slightly lower.
Part-time SMIC
If you work part-time, your monthly SMIC is reduced proportionally:
| Hours/week | Hours/month | Monthly gross | Monthly net (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35 h (full-time) | 151.67 h | €1,867.02 | ~€1,477.93 |
| 28 h (80%) | 121.33 h | €1,493.57 | ~€1,182 |
| 24 h | 104.00 h | €1,280.24 | ~€1,014 |
| 20 h (50%) | 86.67 h | €1,066.88 | ~€845 |
SMIC history: evolution table (2020–2026)
| Date | Gross hourly SMIC | Gross monthly SMIC (35 h) | Net monthly SMIC (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | €12.31 | €1,867.02 | ~€1,477.93 |
| January 2026 | €12.02 | €1,823.03 | ~€1,443.11 |
| November 2024 | €11.88 | €1,801.80 | ~€1,426.30 |
| January 2024 | €11.65 | €1,766.92 | ~€1,398.69 |
| January 2023 | €11.27 | €1,709.28 | ~€1,353 |
| August 2022 | €11.07 | €1,678.95 | ~€1,329 |
| May 2022 | €10.85 | €1,645.58 | ~€1,302 |
| January 2022 | €10.57 | €1,603.12 | ~€1,269 |
| October 2021 | €10.48 | €1,589.47 | ~€1,258 |
| January 2020 | €10.15 | €1,539.42 | ~€1,219 |
Can you be paid less than the SMIC?
In principle, no. There are two legal exceptions:
- Under 18: with less than 6 months’ experience in the sector, the SMIC is reduced by 20% (under 17) or 10% (17 to 18).
- Apprentices (apprentis): they receive a percentage of the SMIC depending on their age and year of contract (from 27% to 100%).
Some collective agreements (conventions collectives) set minimum wages above the SMIC for certain positions. Your employer must always apply whichever is more favourable to you.
SMIC and overtime
Hours exceeding 35 per week are paid with surcharges:
- From hour 36 to 43: +25% (€12.31 × 1.25 = €15.39 gross/hour).
- From hour 44 onwards: +50% (€12.31 × 1.50 = €18.47 gross/hour).
The collective agreement may set different percentages, with a minimum of 10%.
When is the next increase?
The next automatic revaluation will be on 1 January 2027, unless a spike in inflation triggers an early adjustment before that date (as happened in June 2026).
Official sources
- Service-Public.fr — Montant du SMIC
- aide-sociale.fr — SMIC horaire brut et net
- LégiSocial — SMIC 2026
This article is updated with each SMIC revaluation. Net figures are approximations based on a standard contribution rate (~21–22%) and do not account for income tax withholding, which depends on each worker’s personal situation. For an estimate adapted to your circumstances, use the official URSSAF gross-to-net salary simulator. Your payslip shows the amounts actually calculated.