in short
According to Apec, an HR manager in France earns €56k gross a year in median pay, from €51k under 35 to €60k after 45. Region and company size weigh heavily: €60k in the Paris region against €52k elsewhere, €60k at large companies against €52k at smaller ones.
what's the median salary of an HR manager in France?
According to Apec's 2025 pay study, HR managers earn €56k gross a year in median pay, against €55k for managers overall. 80% sit between €41k and €83k.
€56k
median gross annual pay for an HR manager in France, 80% of the role earning between €41k and €83k
53%
of HR managers receive variable pay, a median of €5,000
To hire for this role, see our HR manager recruitment page. For the whole HR function (HR director, HR business partner, recruiter), see our HR page.
does age and experience change this salary?
Yes, sharply. According to Apec, the gap between an HR manager under 35 and one over 45 is more than €9k in median pay.
| age bracket | median salary | 80% of the role between |
|---|---|---|
| under 35 | €51k | €39k and €71k |
| 35 to 45 | €56k | €41k and €78k |
| over 45 | €60k | €43k and €91k |
does managing a team or owning the budget change the salary?
Line management matters more than budget ownership. According to Apec, an HR manager who manages a team earns €58k gross median a year, against €53k without. Managing a budget adds barely €1k (€56k against €55k).
€58k
median salary with line-management responsibility, against €53k without
is an HR manager paid more in the Paris region?
Yes, the gap is clear. According to Apec, the median is €60k in the Paris region, where 80% earn between €44k and €88k. In the rest of France, it's €52k, within a €40k to €77k range.
€60k
median salary in the Paris region (80% between €44k and €88k), against €52k in the rest of France
does company size affect this salary?
A lot, as much as location: an €8k gap according to Apec, between a €52k median at companies with fewer than 250 staff and €60k at larger ones.
€52k
median salary in companies with fewer than 250 staff, against €60k above that threshold
At an SME, a single HR manager often covers the whole field, from hiring to staff elections. At a group, the role specialises and often sits under an HR director: a different, better-paid job (an €89k median for HR director roles according to Apec).
what duties and profile justify this salary?
An HR manager handles the day-to-day HR work of a site or an SME: hiring, payroll, dealings with staff representatives, contracts and individual files. The scope actually held, more than the job title, sets the salary.
- HR manager at an SME or site: a generalist covering most HR topics alone, from hiring to employee relations.
- Deputy HR manager: supports an existing HR director, focuses on one area (recruitment, employee relations).
- Head of HR at a mid-sized company: carries HR policy to leadership, with no HR director above them.
To understand how that rate gets negotiated, see our guide on how much a recruitment agency costs. For payroll, see our payroll manager page; for general administration, our office manager page.
frequently asked questions
What salary for an HR manager under 35?
Around €51k gross a year in median pay according to Apec (2025 edition), with a 1st decile of €39k and a 9th of €71k.
Is an HR manager paid more in the Paris region?
Yes. According to Apec, the median is €60k in the Paris region, €8k more than in the rest of France (2025 edition).
Does an HR manager's salary depend on company size?
A lot. According to Apec, the median is €52k in companies with fewer than 250 staff, against €60k above that threshold (2025 edition), a gap as wide as the regional one.
Does managing an HR team change the salary?
Yes. According to Apec, the median is €58k gross a year with line-management responsibility, against €53k without (2025 edition). Managing a budget matters little by comparison.
How does Muzzo help you hire an HR manager?
You set the fee yourself, between 5 and 30%, based on how hard the role is, and only pay it when you hire. Your search goes to the headhunters who have hired the most HR managers, with the discretion the role needs.